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Birth:           827 of Adrianople
Death:          29 Aug  889 

Notes
another source has b 812
per Stuart, parentage of Leo VI is in dispute.... could be son of Emperor Michael III to 
whom Eudoxia Ingerina was a mistress.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_I
Basil I, called the Macedonian (Greek: ?as??e??? ? ?a?ed??, Basíleios o Maked?n; 
811 – August 29, 886) was a Byzantine Emperor who reigned from 867 to 886. Born a 
simple peasant in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia, he rose in the Imperial court, 
and usurped the Imperial throne from Emperor Michael III (r. 842–867). Despite his 
humble origins, he showed great ability in running the affairs of state, leading to a 
revival of Imperial power and a renaissance of Byzantine art. He was perceived by the 
Byzantines as one of their greatest emperors, and the Macedonian dynasty, which he 
founded, ruled over what is regarded as the most glorious and prosperous era of the 
Byzantine Empire.
From peasant to emperor[edit]

Basil was born to peasant parents in late 811 (or sometime in the 830s in the 
estimation of some scholars) at Charioupolis in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia (an 
administrative division corresponding to the area of Adrianople in Thrace).[1][2]

The name of his father is unknown, but the name of his grandfather was Maďktes; his 
mother was named Pankalo (Pagkalo?), and her father was called Leo.[3] His ethnic 
origin is unknown, and has been a subject of debate. During Basil's reign, an 
elaborate genealogy was produced that purported that his ancestors were not mere 
peasants, as everyone believed, but descendants of the Arsacid (Arshakuni) kings of 
Armenia, and also of Constantine the Great.[4][5] The Armenian historians Samuel of 
Ani and Stephen of Taron record that he hailed from the village of Thil in Taron.[3] In 
contrast, Arab writers such as Hamza al Isfahani,[6] or al-Tabari call both Basil and his 
mother Saqlabi, an ethnogeographic term that usually denoted the Slavs, but can also 
be interpreted as a generic term encompassing the inhabitants of the region between 
Constantinople and Bulgaria.[7] Claims have therefore been made for an Armenian,[8] 
Slavic,[6][9] or indeed "Armeno-Slavonic"[2] origin for Basil I. The name of his mother, 
Pankalo (?a??a??), points to a Greek origin on the maternal side.[7] The general 
scholarly consensus is that Basil's father was "probably" of Armenian origin, and 
settled in Byzantine Thrace.[3] The author of the only dedicated biography of Basil I in 
English has concluded that it is impossible to be certain what the ethnic origins of the 
emperor were, though Basil was definitely reliant on the support of Armenians in 
prominent positions within the Byzantine Empire.[10]

One story asserts that he had spent a part of his childhood in captivity in Bulgaria, 
where his family had, allegedly, been carried off as captives of the Khan Krum (r. 
803–814) in 813. Basil lived there until 836, when he and several others escaped to 
Byzantine-held territory in Thrace.[1] Basil was ultimately lucky enough to enter the 
service of Theophilitzes, a relative of the Caesar Bardas (the uncle of Emperor 
Michael III), as a groom. While serving Theophilitzes, he visited the city of Patras, 
where he gained the favour of Danielis, a wealthy woman who took him into her 
household and endowed him with a fortune.[11] He also earned the notice of Michael 
III by his abilities as a horse tamer and in winning a victory over a Bulgarian champion 
in a wrestling match; he soon became the Byzantine Emperor's companion, confidant, 
and bodyguard (parakoimomenos).[12]

On Emperor Michael's orders, Basil divorced his wife Maria and married Eudokia 
Ingerina, Michael's favourite mistress, in around 865.[11] During an expedition against 
the Arabs, Basil convinced Michael III that his uncle Bardas coveted the Byzantine 
throne, and subsequently murdered Bardas with Michael's approval on April 21, 866. 
Basil then became the leading personality at court and was invested in the now 
vacant dignity of kaisar (caesar), before being crowned co-emperor on May 26, 866. 
This promotion may have included Basil's adoption by Michael III, himself a much 
younger man. It was commonly believed that Leo VI, Basil's successor and reputed 
son, was really the son of Michael.[11] Although Basil seems to have shared this belief 
(and hated Leo), the subsequent promotion of Basil to caesar and then co-emperor 
provided the child with a legitimate and Imperial parent and secured his succession to 
the Byzantine throne. It is notable that when Leo was born, Michael III celebrated the 
event with public chariot races, whilst he pointedly instructed Basil not to presume on 
his new position as junior emperor.[13]

When Michael III started to favour another courtier, Basiliskianos, Basil decided that 
his position was being undermined. Michael threatened to invest Basiliskianos with the 
Imperial title and this induced Basil to pre-empt events by organizing the assassination 
of Michael on the night of September 23/24, 867. Michael and Basiliskianos were 
insensibly drunk following a banquet at the palace of Anthimos when Basil, with a 
small group of companions (including his father Bardas, brother Marinos, and cousin 
Ayleon), gained entry. The locks to the chamber doors had been tampered with and 
the chamberlain had not posted guards; both victims were then put to the sword.[14] 
On Michael III's death, Basil, as an already acclaimed co-emperor, automatically 
became the ruling basileus.[15
Family[edit]

Aspects of the family relationships of Basil I are uncertain and open to a variety of 
interpretations, the information given below should not be treated as comprehensive or 
definite.[23]

By his first wife Maria, Basil I had several children, including:
Bardas.
Anastasia, who married the general Christopher.
Constantine (circa 865 – September 3, 879), co-emperor to Basil from January 6, 868 
to his death. According to George Alexandrovic Ostrogorsky, Constantine was 
betrothed to Ermengard of Provence, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Louis II and 
Engelberga in 869. The marital contract was broken in 871 when relations between 
Basil and Louis broke down.

By his second wife, Eudokia Ingerina, Basil I officially had the following children:
Leo VI, who succeeded as Byzantine emperor and may actually have been a son of 
Michael III.
Stephen I, Patriarch of Constantinople, who may also actually have been a son of 
Michael III.
Alexander, who succeeded as Byzantine emperor in 912.
Anna Porphyrogenita, a nun at the convent of St. Euphemia in Petrion.
Helena Porphyrogenita, a nun at the convent of St. Euphemia in Petrion.
Maria Porphyrogenita, a mother of nuns at the convent of St. Euphemia in Petrion.

In culture[edit]
Harry Turtledove, a historian noted for his speculative fiction based on alternative 
history, has written several series set in a place called Videssos, which is a thinly 
disguised Byzantine Empire. The Tale of Krispos trilogy – Krispos Rising (1991), 
Krispos of Videssos (1991), and Krispos the Emperor (1994) – are fictionalized tellings 
of the rise of Basil and his sons.
Stephen Lawhead's book, Byzantium (1996), uses the succession of Basil I as seed 
for the conspiracy which occupies most of the novel.

Parents
____ Konstantinos (ABT  785 - )
____ Pancalo (ABT  785 - )

Siblings
____ Bardas (ABT  815 - )
____ Basil I "the Macedonian" ( 827 - 29 Aug  889)

Marriage To INGERINA Eudoxia (ABT  835 - ABT  882)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
MARTINAKIOS Inger ()
----- ----- ()

Children by INGERINA Eudoxia ABT  835 - ABT  882
____ Leo VI "the Philosopher" (1 Sep  866 - 12 May  912)

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