LEO VI., styled the Philosopher, probably on account of his writings, for his conduct gave him no claims to the appellation, was the son of the Emperor Basilius the 3Iacedonian, whom he succeeded in 586. His brother Alexander was his nominal colleague, but through indolence left the government entirely to Leo. The reign of Leo, which lasted twenty-five years, was not a prosperous or glorious one for the empire, for while the armies were beaten both by the Saracens and Bulgarians, the capital and the palace were disturbed by the intrigues and excesses of the courtiers, and by the emperer'er own irregularities. He again exiled the turbulent Photius, whom his father had reinstated in his see. In the year 904 the Saracens took and plundered Theasalonica, one of the principal cities of the empire, and carried away its inhabitants into slavery. Leo died in 911, at forty-six years of age, leaving the crown to his son Constantine Porphyrogen nitus, whom he had by his fourth wife Zoo. Although not a deserving
sovereign, Leo ought to be remembered as an author ; he completed and published the Basilica, or Greek compilation of the laws of the empire, undertaken by his father, and extracted it in great measure from the Justinian body of laws. It does not seem to be ascertained however whether the work has descended to us as it was completed by Leo, or as it was afterwards reformed by his son Constantine. Leo wrote also a treatise on Tactics, which has been published by Meursius; and a collection of Oracles or Prophecies (for he laid claim to an insight into futurity), which has also been published ; a poem on the calamities of Greece, other verses, moral orations, &c.