Basil II the Byzantine Ruler

 Does anybody know specifically who Basil shared the throne with in his early years?

TY!!!

The days before Nikephoros Phocas's  assassination , it was spread  a rumor  for a supposed  plan of the emperor  to castrate  Basil II and Konstantinos. It was probably just another part of Theophanos's and Jemiskes's plan, so that the people of Constantinople would accept the new situation without any serious protest. Finally Theophano was exiled to Pringeponessa after Patriarch's will. Basil the eunuch was a really powerful person, maybe the most powerful in the palace(that's the importance of his title"the one who sleeps next to the emperor").For many years Basil II was observing these moves and plots inside the palace and finally , when he got the power he deposed him. It's a matter of fact that Basil II never wanted to have intelligent people in important positions (at least not intelligent enough to claim the throne with acts and plots) but only loyal and good soldiers.
I also believe that the bitter experience he had from his mother (and the brainwashing he got by basil the eunuch) forced him to have a different confrontation to women, especially after the unlucky siege of Sofia which in combination with the civil , had closely cost his throne and his life. Aftrer that ,he devoted his life in military only.

Originally posted by Athanasios The days before Nikephoros Phocas's  assassination , it was spread  a rumor  for a supposed  plan of the emperor  to castrate  Basil II and Konstantinos. It was probably just another part of Theophanos's and Jemiskes's plan, so that the people of Constantinople would accept the new situation without any serious protest.

Which is quite remarkable and shows how successful the Macedonian Dynasty was since there was no notion of dynasties in Byzantium, if you were strong enough to overthrow the emperor and rich enough to appease the mob and the imperial guard, you were emperor. A remnant of the old Roman past no doubt.

Never before would the people protest for something like that and the Macedonian Dynasty even managed to keep women in power just cause of their birthright, something really rare. Usually empresses would get dethroned by an ambitious general quite quickly. Basil's niece ruled many years and quite badly but the people allowed it cause she was of that dynasty.