Basil I is a fascinating figure who went from a peasant migrant sleeping on the streets of Constantinople to one of the most successful emperors in the history of the Byzantine Empire. His beginnings, though, are rather raunchy by the uptight standards of the Byzantines. It's a story of gay love, sex, murder, and even possibly a same-sex marriage or two! Check out this episode where we will not only discuss the shady details of Basil's pre-imperial career, but delve into the sources and the question of how we think we know what we think we know. Sources: Boswell, John. "Same-Sex Unions in Pre-Modern Europe", rev. ed. (New York: Vintage Books, 1994). Rapp, Claudia. "Brother-Making in Late Antiquity and Byzantium: Monks, Laymen, and Christian Ritual" (New York: Oxford University Press, 2016). Tougher, Shaun. "Michael III and Basil the Macedonian: Just Good Friends?" in "Desire and Denial in Byzantium: Papers from the 31st Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies", ed. Liz James (Aldersho...