Stephanos and Constantine Lekapenos
Take two brothers, Emperors Stephanos and Constantine — the Lekapeni. They have had an easy life; their father, who happens to be Emperor Romanos I, has long dominated the Byzantine Empire political scene, overshadowing Constantine VII ever since he seized control in 919 by blockading Constantinople with the imperial fleet. It has been easy sailing since then. Stephanos and Constantine have enjoyed the perks of power, to order around and insult the imperial palace staff. They have married and have sons. But it is not enough. They want 'the old man' to retire.[1]
Rebellion[edit]
This was the situation in late 944. Allied with other disappointed office seekers the brothers deposed their father and had him sent into 'a long and happy retirement' on what was called 'Prince's Island'. It lay in the Sea of Marmara, that short stretch of water between Gallipoli and the straits themselves. It had been used before as a handy place to dump Byzantine family troublemakers or inconvenient heirs.
Romanos wasn't mutilated as many previous emperors had suffered. He had to take a 'monastic haircut' as his place of house of arrest was a church but otherwise it seemed a cushy place to stay. Now would they give the same treatment to Constantine VII, despite the latter being quite happy to have played second (or third, or fourth) fiddle as ruler for the last 30 years. Constantine VII was a dedicated book worm. His wife Helena wasn't. She was also well versed in what Stephanos and Constantine Lekapenos were upto. She was their sister.
Counter-rebellion[edit]
In early 945, Helena became aware that her brothers were keen to get rid of her husband — and her. This would also endanger their young son Romanos (later Romanos II), not to mention possible castration. Helena struck quickly. At a family dinner party held by her and her husband, the two co-emperors were arrested and deposed. The brothers were dispatched to the same prison island where Romanos was languishing. The old man is said to have laughed when he saw his sons being led off the ship to start their own new lives as monks. Like their father, they were not mutilated or hacked around with but their sons were 'nipped in the bud'.[2]
Later Fate[edit]
Old Romanos wasn't released and or returned to Constantinople. He died on his island. Constantine Lekapenos apparently tried to escape but was killed in 948 by his guards. Stephanos lived on till 963. Conflicting reports say he just died but it is more likely that Empress Theophano (who was by this time the widow of Romanos II) had him killed in case of an attempted encore as emperor. Since Theophano is blamed for the murders of Constantine VII, Romanos II and a heavy involvement with the assassination of her second husband Nikephoros II, one would not have bet against her from arranging the demise of Stephanos.
References[edit]
| Preceded by: Romanos I |
Byzantine Emperor 944–945 |
Succeeded by: Constantine VII |
