greek high byzantine official armenian origin rising high rank byzantine emperor reigned rose prominence successor emperor wise close friendship possibly affair daughter leo leading minister half reign awarded unique title standing influence declined leo father law byzantine emperor married died year following attempted coup relatives clan deprived considerable power amassed biography origins early career armenian descent born macedonia historian son contemporary macedonia named son connection ultimately impossible prove according surname derives armenian word negro reflecting particularly dark vein known byzantines exact ancestry shared ethnic geographical origin emperor factor probably played important role ascent high office reign late young second son heir death elder brother constantine member family bride choice empress leo instead preferred company beautiful daughter actually mistress uncertain leo denied later accounts point held post commander junior regiment byzantine emperor mercenary bodyguard leo relations father strained informed affair reportedly enraged beat leo married furthermore leo denounced plotting imprisoned intervention patriarch blinded affair hurt standing career end reign senior commander rise prominence leo spent years prison released restored rank late july played major role personally pleaded byzantine emperor secure leo release time ailing august wounded hunt participation hunt raised suspicions conspiracy generally rejected survived days punish death leo crowned emperor awarded titles office effectively assumed control government directing state policy tradition based patriarch holds appointed regent sources indicate ascent power gradual indicative authority leo novels directed person succeeded getting protégé elected patriarch constantinople period emperor delivered church built orders constantinople rise prominence consolidated given newly created title father emperor promotion new enigmatic title subject controversy reasons creation title exact functions known early date elevation relation eventual rise daughter imperial throne leo empress gratitude support played role common theory office implied form emperor office certainly confirmed senior secular official byzantine_empire traditionally regarded powerful regent weak emperor small account provided actual relationship different careful evaluation source material led modern scholarship conclude leo actively involved government chief minister loyal master assessment record byzantine_empire minister difficult available sources career compiled years death extremely hostile seeking pin responsibility reign failures unpopular decisions preserve leo blame account colored fierce rivalry leo spiritual father influence byzantine emperor accuses responsible successful general elder army outbreak hostilities bulgaria allegedly moved main market bulgarian goods constantinople proceeded extract fees bulgarian merchants leo behest rejected merchants protests bulgarian found pretext attack byzantium recently suggested scholar transfer fact leo initiative aiming patron saint showed special favor fall favor death led enduring image leadership foreign military affairs explain despite resumption leo affair relationship emperor strained tales alleged plot son murder leo indicate rift involved major quarrel ensued shortly reconciled standing declined found guilty accepting bribes punished leo late summer following death december husband early leo married raising year died following deaths leo proposed marry choosing wife numerous relatives benefited patronage fearful losing positions new empress relations overthrow leo chief nephew plot betrayed servant conspiracy suppressed relatives exiled confined monasteries clan power broken richly rewarded taken imperial service rapidly promoted fell favor
Stylianos Zaoutzes