Byzantine and Western relations in the Basileios I Period (867-886)

The Byzantine Empire entered a difficult period, religiously and politically, with the act of hurtfulness depicted by Leon III. (717-726) in 726. Byzantine, which had a difficult situation in both internal and external politics, entered a comfortable period with the end of this movement in 843. Imperial policy changed with the missionary activities initiated by Mikhael III (856-867). Basileios I, a Macedonian Armenian, murdered Emperor Mikhael III. in 867 and sat on the Byzantine throne. He dismissed Patriarch Photios, who was in conflict with the papacy, and brought Ignatios to his place. Basileios carried out missionary activities to link the Danube Bulgarians, Slavs and Russians to the Orthodox Church. However, the question of whether the Danube Bulgars will be connected to the Catholic Church or the Orthodox Church in line with their missionary activities caused the relations between Rome and Constantinople to be disrupted again. Basileios tried to form an alliance with the Franks in the struggle against the Aghlebids, in order to prevent the destruction of the imperial lands in Southern Italy. When Basileios I. died, his son Leon VI. was replaced. We also discussed the political and religious policy that Basileios I. pursued in relations with the west.