![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b8/INC-3051-r_%25D0%25A1%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B4._%25D0%2592%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9_I._%25D0%259E%25D0%25BA._867%25E2%2580%2594886_%25D0%25B3%25D0%25B3._%2528%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D1%2581%2529.png/640px-INC-3051-r_%25D0%25A1%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B4._%25D0%2592%25D0%25B0%25D1%2581%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9_I._%25D0%259E%25D0%25BA._867%25E2%2580%2594886_%25D0%25B3%25D0%25B3._%2528%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D1%2581%2529.png&w=640&q=50)
Constantine (son of Basil I)
Byzantine emperor from 868 to 879 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Constantine (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, translit. Kōnstantīnos; born between 855 and c. 865, died 3 September 879) was a junior Byzantine emperor, alongside Basil I as the senior emperor, from January 868 to 3 September 879. His parentage is a matter of debate, but historians generally assume him to be the son of Emperor Basil I (r. 867–886) and his first wife Maria or second wife Eudokia Ingerina; other theories include him being the son of Emperor Michael III (r. 842–867) and Eudokia. Constantine was made co-emperor by Basil in c. January 868. He was engaged to Ermengard of Italy, the daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Louis II, in 870/871, but it is not known if he married her; some sources suggest he did, and others argue that there is no concrete evidence.
Constantine | |
---|---|
Emperor of the Romans | |
![]() Constantine (right) with Emperor Basil (left) | |
Byzantine co-emperor (with Basil I) | |
Reign | c. January 868 – 3 September 879 |
Predecessor | Basil I (alone) |
Successor | Basil I and Leo VI |
Born | Between 855 and c. 865 |
Died | 3 September 879 |
Betrothed | Ermengard of Italy |
Dynasty | Macedonian dynasty |
Father | Basil I, possibly Michael III |
Mother | Maria, possibly Eudokia Ingerina |
Constantine was the intended heir of Basil and as such received much attention from him and accompanied him on military campaigns, including one in Syria, for which he shared a triumph. In comparison, his younger brother, Leo VI (r. 886–912), was made co-emperor merely to secure the imperial lineage and bolster legitimacy. However, Constantine died of fever on 3 September 879, before his father. After his death, Leo became the primary heir, and another brother, Alexander (r. 912–913), was raised to co-emperor.