Abstract: Covers the complexities of the marriage problems of Emperor Leo VI (886–912), who much against the canonical rulings of the Orthodox Church was allowed to marry four times in order to legitimize his only son. The patriarchs in power during the relevant period were Stephen (886–93), Antony II Cauleas (893–901), who is said to have achieved the union of the Church, Nicholas I Mysticus (901–7), upon whom the brunt of the problem of Leo VI's marriages lay and who was deposed in 907, and Abbott Euthymius (907–12), who was involved to a lesser extent in the marriage problems. The various happenings and conflicts during this period are discussed. Nicholas I Mysticus returned to a second patriarchy in 912 (912–25), and the interdependence of the Church and state during this period is discussed.

Keywords: Byzantium, Emperor Leo VI, marriage, mediaeval history, Orthodox Church, Patriarch Antony II Cauleas, Patriarch Euthymius, Patriarch Nicholas I Mysticus, Patriarch Stephen,