Caesar CXXXVII Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 When Michael III celebrated his chariot race victory at a banquet at the palace of St Mamas, the patricius Basiliscianus was invited by him to put on the imperial shoes (the very essence of imperial status). Basiliscianus hesitated (because he knew that Basil I was the designated emperor) and Michael said to Basil: "They suit him better than they do you. I made you emperor, don't I have the authority to make another?" Eudocia (Basil I's wife) replied: "The imperial dignity, O my lord, is a great thing and I too was unworthy to have been honoured with it. But it is not right that it should be treated with contempt" And Michael III concluded: "Do not distress yourself , it is my firm intention to make Basiliscianus emperor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kosmo Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 The purple shoes were indeed the sign of imperial authority until 1453 and only the emperors were allowed to wear them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted December 22, 2008 Report Share Posted December 22, 2008 So they had two emperors? Or did Basil I basically just get "deposed"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar CXXXVII Posted December 23, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 So they had two emperors? Or did Basil I basically just get "deposed"? Basil I was co emperor (with Michael III but only as no. 2) before the shoes accident, he saw the new situation and organized the assassination of Michael III (23-34 September, 867) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted December 23, 2008 Report Share Posted December 23, 2008 And why is it referred to as the "shoes accident"? Was it not intentional on Micheal III's part? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caesar CXXXVII Posted December 24, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 And why is it referred to as the "shoes accident"? Was it not intentional on Micheal III's part? We can call it "the shoes incident" . In my language the word "accident" have double meaning . Michael III knew what he was doing, but he did not eveluate (that is the word ?) the outcome of his action . Basil I saw the shoes on Basiliscianus' feet and acted . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lost_Warrior Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 Oh OK. Accident has slightly different connotations here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honorius Posted December 24, 2008 Report Share Posted December 24, 2008 might be good to point out that the 'shoes' that the byzantine emperors wore were Purple Buskins that were calf length half boots, and not slippers, incase anyone interpreted shoes that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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