Leo VI was Byzantine Emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty. He was very well-read, leading to his epithet; the Wise.
During his reign, the renaissance of letters, begun by his predecessor Basil I, continued; but the Empire also saw several military defeats in the Balkans against Bulgaria and against the Arabs in Sicily and the Aegean.
Leo VI caused a major scandal with his numerous marriages which failed to produce a legitimate heir to the throne. His first wife Theophano, whom Basil had forced him to marry and whom Leo hated, died in 897, and Leo married Zoe Zaoutzaina, the daughter of his adviser Stylianos Zaoutzes, though she died as well in 899. He eventually had a son by a mistress, Zoe Karbonopsina, who would later reign as Constantine VII. Leo died in 912 and was succeeded by his younger brother, Alexander.
During his reign, the renaissance of letters, begun by his predecessor Basil I, continued; but the Empire also saw several military defeats in the Balkans against Bulgaria and against the Arabs in Sicily and the Aegean.
Leo VI caused a major scandal with his numerous marriages which failed to produce a legitimate heir to the throne. His first wife Theophano, whom Basil had forced him to marry and whom Leo hated, died in 897, and Leo married Zoe Zaoutzaina, the daughter of his adviser Stylianos Zaoutzes, though she died as well in 899. He eventually had a son by a mistress, Zoe Karbonopsina, who would later reign as Constantine VII. Leo died in 912 and was succeeded by his younger brother, Alexander.
Epithet: ho Sophos ("the Wise")
(1)
Leo VI
An
AE
Follis
struck 886-912
in
Constantinopolis
Obverse: +LЄOҺ bAS-ILЄVS Rom. Crowned and draped bust facing, holding akakia.
Reverse: +LЄOҺ/ЄҺ ӨЄO ЬA/SILЄVS R/OmЄOҺ in four lines.
Diameter:
25 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.86 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 3.86 g
No notes for this coin
DOC 8; SB 1729
(2)
Leo VI
An
AE
Follis
struck 886-912
in
Constantinopolis
Obverse: +LEON bAS-ILEVS ROM, crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys, holding akakia
Reverse: +LEOh Eh ΘEO bA-SILEVS R-OMEOh, legend in four lines.
Diameter:
23 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.58 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.58 g
No notes for this coin
Sear 1729; DOC 8
(3)
Leo VI
.jpg)
An
AE
Follis
struck 886 - 912 AD
in
Constantinople
Obverse: +LEON bAS-ILEVS ROM / crowned bust facing with short beard, wearing chlamys, holding akakia
Reverse: +LEOh Eh ΘEO bA-SILEVS R-OMEOh / legend in four lines
Diameter:
-
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.87 g
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 7.87 g
No notes for this coin
Sear 1729