Alexander (Byzantine emperor)
A Byzantine emperor whose brief, turbulent reign exposed the fragility of imperial power and set the stage for a dramatic military comeback.
Born 870 (age 1156)·Byzantine emperor from 912 to 913·Birthday: November 23
Biography
Alexander was born into the powerful Macedonian dynasty, a younger brother destined to live in the shadow of his predecessor, Leo VI. When he finally ascended the throne in 912, his short rule was marked by a decisive and controversial break from his brother's policies. He alienated the powerful church patriarch and recklessly halted tribute payments to the Bulgarian Tsar Symeon, a move that invited immediate and devastating invasion. His death in 913, after less than a year in power, left the empire in a state of crisis, with Bulgaria at the gates of Constantinople. This precarious inheritance forced his nephew, the child Constantine VII, into a regency that would eventually see the brilliant general Romanos Lekapenos take control and salvage the situation, making Alexander's reign a cautionary prelude to one of Byzantium's great recoveries.
#1 When Alexander Was Born
The biggest hits of 870
Alexander's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
870Born
875Started school
883Became a teenager
886Could drive
888Could vote
891Turned 21
900Turned 30
910Turned 40
920Turned 50
930Turned 60
940Turned 70
950Turned 80
2026Age 1156 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became Byzantine Emperor in 912, continuing the Macedonian dynasty's line of succession.
- His cessation of tribute to Bulgaria directly triggered a major war with Tsar Symeon I.
- His reign, though brief, created the political vacuum that led to the rise of Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos.
Did You Know?
He was reportedly a heavy drinker, a habit contemporary sources blamed for his poor health and decisions.
Alexander reversed his brother Leo VI's religious policy, exiling the influential Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos.
Coins from his reign uniquely depict him holding a globus cruciger (orb and cross), a symbol of Christian world dominion.
“I have no intention of being the guardian of my brother's policies.”
