counted as nothing in the empire—began with the revolt of a general. We will not describe the suppression of this revolt. Enough that it was suppressed, and that, in great measure, by the prudence and skill of the young emperor.
Basil passed the whole of a long and vigorous reign in arms. He extended the boundaries of the empire on every side; under him it arrived at the culminating point of its greatness. He was the greatest of the Macedonian dynasty, and perhaps the greatest of all the emperors. But he has left nothing behind him, but a chronicle of wars and the title, "Slayer of the Bulgarians." He died at the age of sixty-eight.
Constantine VIII., his brother, three years younger, reigned three years alone. He was an Oriental caliph; his brother was a soldier. He spent his time among musicians and dancing-girls; Basil in the camp. Constantine succeeded to the throne after a tolerably long life spent entirely in amusements. He could not expect to live long. Who was to succeed him, and who would govern for him while he lived?
He had three daughters; one was already in a convent, two were unmarried. Of these two Theodora refused absolutely to marry; Zoe, already forty-eight years of age, consented to espouse Romanus Argyrus, whose own wife kindly retreated to a convent, and her husband was crowned emperor as Romanus III. two days before her father died.
The twenty-nine years which follow this marriage, and finish off the Macedonian dynasty, are the shameful
