introduction: coexistence with the caliphate

As earlier chapters have shown, the empire’s military situation was alleviated by political upheavals in the Muslim world and the abatement of hammer blows directed by the Abbasid leadership. The caliphate itself had more recourse to diplomacy, recognising Ashot I Bagratuni (‘the Great’) (884–90) as paramount prince among the Armenians and bestowing a crown on him. Soon afterwards, Basil I (867–86) responded with démarches of his own towards Ashot. The later ninth century probably saw the elaboration of the basileus’ diplomatic web eastwards, drawing in political elites in central and eastern Caucasia such as ’the chiefs of Azia’, lords of the Caspian Gates. By the reign of Leo VI (886–912) the court was maintaining well-to-do Turks from the Fergana valley as well as Khazars, and these young men were making substantial down payments of gold in order to receive annual rogai as members of a unit of the imperial bodyguard. The chinks in Muslim power were shown up in other forms, such as the prisoners-of-war kept at court. The more prominent among them were enrobed in the white garments of catechumens at the emperor’s Christmas and Easter banquets, as if to affirm willingness to adopt the religion of the Christians. Triumphal parades of Basil I, as of Theophilos (829–42), celebrated with spectacular props the emperors’ occasional forays into Muslim-held regions, and a poet could write of Basil as a new David, who with God’s help will vanquish the enemy hosts.