Leo VI the Wise.
886-912AD.
Æ Follis
Constantinople mint.
Obv: Crowned and draped bust facing, holding akakia
Rev: +LЄOҺ/ ЄҺ ӨЄO ЬA/SILЄVS R/OmЄOҺ in four lines.
DOC 8; Sear 1729.
29 mm, 6.5 grams
Before England's 6 wives of Henry VIII, there was Byzantium's 4 wives of Leo VI. Similar amounts of scandal, intrigue, and bitter disputes with the established church, all in pursuit of a male heir. There were some differences. Leo's first 3 wives had perished of natural causes (although there is a rumor that the first wife was killed by the family of the second wife, but I digress). However, the Byzantine church at the time would only allow for a second wife if the first died, but if the second wife died, then there was to be no third. And Leo did eventually get his male heir, with his mistress and fourth wife-to-be. As Leo was unable to marry her by the time his son was born, he had to make do with having her give birth at the imperial palace in the "Purple chamber" where children of emperors were typically born. So the heir was born out of wedlock, but "in the purple".
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