Basil Lekapenos

Basil Lekapenos was the parakoimomenos (chief administrator) of the Byzantine Empire from 945 until 985. His position was usually reserved for eunuchs, which he was. He was illegitimate son of the Emperor Romanos I Lakapenos (r. 920-944), and was castrated at a young age, probably to take away his ability to claim the throne, but also to give him the opportunity to build a career as a high administrative functionary.

Around 945 Basil was appointed parakoimomenos by Emperor Constantine VII, his brother-in-law. Politically skilled, he retained this position under emperors Romanos II, Nikephoros II, and John Tzimisces. Serving as the head of the Imperial administration, Basil was able to amass a large personal fortune. His gaining of power and estates rose tensions with the Emperor John Tzimisces shortly before the Emperor's death in 976. There are even suspicions that Basil himself poisoned the emperor.

Basil Lekapenos remained the most powerful person in the Empire under the next emperor Basil II. In 985 Basil II sensed that he was ready to govern the Empire without parakoimomenos guidance and had him removed from his office and placed him under house arrest in Constantinople. Lekapenos tried to organize a rebellion against Basil II but it resulted in his exile to the Stenon region where, shortly afterward, he died.