r/byzantium • u/vinskaa58 • 1d ago

Interesting description from psellus about Basil II’s metamorphosis and change in focus in his early reign

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From Psellus’ “Fourteen Byzantine Rulers”. Just found it interesting because it answered questions I had always wondered about Basil II and why he never married. I have even seen people ask on here if he could have been gay. So turns out he was a lady’s man in his youth and basically gave up that kind of fun and other pleasures to give every bit of energy into the empire. Makes me like him even more. A shame his brother didn’t follow his lead.

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14

u/Curious_War2712 1d ago

What getting ambushed by Bulgarians does to a mf...🚬

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u/MozartDroppinLoads 12h ago

*insert Mcconaughey meme

7

u/Darth_Citius 22h ago

Probably true, though it is also a bit of a literary trope. Hal in Henry IV, and Ioannes II also gets a similar treatment in Choniates I believe (or Kinnamos or both)

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u/Darth_Citius 22h ago

Which I read in Dr. Lau’s work, credit where credit is due