Basil I: The Peasant who became an Emperor.

My Contender for the historic Littlefinger.
/ jabzy
/ jabzyjoe

[@JabzyJoe]

So this is a new format I'm trying out. Think of them like a longer version of "Stuff that I find interesting." Next I'll be covering things like a lost Polish nation on the borders of China, some forgotten battles, why stars are used to rate things etc. etc. etc. What do you think?

[@acuriouscase1931]

More Jabzy is a good thing

[@DanielStarbuck]

The Polish one sounds particularly interesting, my partner is Polish so I really like hearing little known history about her homeland, especially stuff her dad wouldn't know.

[@DawidWarpas]

The art style definitely takes a lot more effort than your old videos. Looks really good! I liked your previous videos, but the audio and video quality left a lot to be desired. Glad to see your videos evolve!

[@FirstNameLastName-tg3rc]

Maybe Michael was less a better Joffrey and more a Tommen with Balls (don't click read more unless you've seen the end of GoT Season 6 or don't mind spoilers). As Tommen wasn't a fan of his mother right before he died and had also clashed with her in various points in both the show and books (I believe).

[@LucidFL]

If there is something I’ve learned from history it is to get romantically involved with a rich widow.

[@ElBandito]

Yep, even the Prophet Muhammad PBUH had the same experience, marrying a rich widow.

[@TheLordboki]

Or widower.

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

ah the hail mary play

[@lamebubblesflysohigh]

but first you have to spread your cheeks to relative of the empress who will later introduce your to that widow :)

[@arcadehacker1162]

Loll u need the necessary physical appearance to get your shot with the widow too..

[@kostashliopoulos9293]

Actually Basil and the Macedonian dynasty were Greeks from Thrace (from the theme of Μακεδονία Macedonia). The claim that the dynasty was of Armenian descent was made generations later in order to claim royal blood from an old Armenian dynasty.

[@powerist209]

On the other hand, he was popular with Armenian nobles and curried favor with them (either using that claim or Basil was a polyglot* despite being illiterate). * wouldn't be uncommon since Byzantines would resettle different ethnicities, which Basil might be part Armenian or pick up their language.

[@etrice25]

I would think Talleyrand is the closest real life littlefinger. He was more of a consistent schemer. Also, since littlefinger was born into a noble family (albeit a lesser one), that matches more than being a true peasant to start out with.

[@nicmagtaan1132]

Talleyrand is closer to varys for me, a survivor and Talleyrand doesn't really have the aspirations to be king

[@yaketysaks]

This is the first time that I’ve heard of an Emperor literally sleeping their way to the top

[@TheWazzoGames]

He didn't though, it's the speculation of one historian.

[@noriskguarantee15]

You should read more

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

impressive he was able to do it as a man maybe he has a very large.... lol

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@therearenoshortcuts9868 well he was a horse...groom

[@matheuroux5134]

Interesting new style! I also like how in-depth you go here. Thanks Jabs!

[@hollin220]

The first ultra-cunning historical figure that comes to mind is Talleyrand from the French Rev / Napoleonic Era. As for dramatic rise to power (rags to riches) the Gilded Era US capitalists like Carnegie and Ford come to mind. Both died absurdly wealthy and powerful and both came from relatively humble beginnings

[@rsync9490]

I wasn't unusual for 'peasants' to become emperors in the ERE.

[@powerist209]

Justin I being the example. A swine herd from Illyria who is uneducated, knows more Latin than Greek, and entered the Royal Guard.

[@firstlast5454]

Constantine was lowborn too

[@powerist209]

Oh, Michael III's granddad--Michael II the Amorian--was one...who was almost thrown into a furnace with an ape but saved at the last minute because the Emperor wanted to celebrate Christmas before doing such an act but was assassinated before he could do that (mostly sending a letter to his accomplices). And surviving a revolt by Thomas the Slav. Then said exhausting civil war led to Crete being lost by Arab pirates. Only good thing is that his empire survived long enough for his more capable and educated son--Theophilos--to take over.

[@MaximusCircus]

Well in middle age Japan a pesent become Oda Nobunaga favoritt person. He called him Saru "Monkey" because he was fun and wierd. When Oda Nobunaga died Saru ende up as the the Shogun of all Japan after an intens power strugle. This was Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

[@SamAronow]

Funny, I always imagined you looking like Vlad the Impaler.

[@connor4435]

Basil is more impressive than Littlefinger because Basil started out with nothing but Littlefinger started out as a Lord (even though he was a low level lord) and as a ward of house Tully, one of the most powerful houses in the realm

[@secret5816]

When you casually scroll through youtube and you get a video recommend about a guy whose dynasty you‘re currently playing in Crusader Kings 3 then that’s just great. Btw you have my subscription

[@cameronsmith1339]

Loving the new format, can't wait to see what you do in the future

[@marygebbie6611]

I would love to see this story as a historical drama!

[@devina8812]

"rejoice in each other" biggest euphemism I've ever heard

[@matheuroux5134]

It feels like a biblical way to say they had sex.

[@justinpachi3707]

It’s probably a bad/rough translation. I’d want to see the original text in Medieval Greek to see the quote’s full context.

[@justinpachi3707]

I’m not a fan of Boswell as his inferences are often circumstantial. If anything the Byzantine practice of “brother-making” is a continuation of the old Roman patrician system of adoption. Many prominent Byzantines were adopted into the households of their predecessors to gain power after all.

[@michaelfisher7170]

Its an interesting thing about Byzantium...their aristocracy was just as exclusive as any aristocracy at any time in history...but a peasant seizing the throne was something they might grumble about, and cast dispersions on, but wouldn't actively oppose. I've read that it was due to the belief that a man successfully grabbing the throne, no matter his birth status, had the approval of God to do so..which, In the context of the Orthodox Empire I suppose makes sense, but its still strange that an entrenched elite would consent to such goings on, even with the pressure of the church on the side of the usurper. Of course plots within plots within plots swirled through the reign of nearly every emperor..so maybe the "consent" part is overstated.

[@powerist209]

Same goes with Michael III's grandfather Michael II, who was a soldier-turned-general about to be given the most cartoonishly evil death involving an ape and furnace by Leo V if not for his wife's persuasion to postpone it after dinner but got assassinated by Michael II's friends. Then he was crowned as an emperor while still in chains.

[@user-iu1eg2pt7i]

Little finger? More like The Thumb.

[@Zeruel3]

Leo seems to have considered or wanted Michael to have been his real father (AFAIK he and his own son didn't have the same big, intimidating build as Basil), considering how Basil treated him it's not surprising. If he was Michaels son then the Macedonian Dynasty was really the Amorian Dynasty but under a different name

[@nobudgetfilms4628]

One of history's biggest mysteries. Then this could mean Constantine VII, Romanos II, Basil II and the rest of the dynasty are all part of the Amorian Dynasty while only Basil I and Alexander would be the Macedonian emperors.

[@CivilWarWeekByWeek]

Good video, I really like the new style

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

The thing is... we don't know how far Petyr Baelish wants to go. High Lord? King? Emperor of Mankind?

[@tonyfriendly4409]

Honestly, I don't think we will ever know

[@nunyabiznes33]

Doesn't matter though, he'll never get there.

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

@@nunyabiznes33 Hope at least that we got to see his ambitions

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@miguelmontenegro3520 yeah, even a single POV would be useful, like Melisandre's.

[@makouras]

The Game of Thrones references were great. Also, the new format works for me. I was put off a little at first, but ultimately I think it's better.

[@edusam666]

Uncle Bardas the Badass

[@divifilius2357]

I like these longer vids

[@Albukhshi]

For those wondering: Basil I's hunting accident happened when he was chasing a stag. Apparently (and this is the source talking), the stag snagged Basil on his antlers, and dragged the emperor some 16 miles, before dropping dead. An attendant found him and cut him away from the stag. For his trouble, Basil had the attendant executed before he himself died--apparently he thought the poor fellow was out to pwn him.

[@michaelfisher7170]

None of the story ever made sense to me. A big man like Basil dragged 16 miles? The attendant ordered killed? Uh huh. Methinks something is rotten in...Constantinople.

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@michaelfisher7170 well, it's Contantinople so they were all pretty byzantine...

[@GarkKahn]

My favourite character from crusader kings

[@Ruby_V_]

I had a little bit of trouble keeping all of the names straight. Great video though!

[@bobmcbob9856]

Isn’t the actual “real littlefinger” Thomas Cromwell?

[@bobmcbob9856]

He’s from the main period that GRRM drew from, the wars of the roses & Tudor period and Robert has strong Henry VIII vibes obviously. He was the son of a blacksmith who travelled the world as a mercenary before coming back (much like Basil, he’s quite a bit stronger than littlefinger). He rose to power as what amounts to a financial advisor, & was a very skilled politician, banker, & administrator & used quiet power plays & conspiracies along with personal charisma to increase his influence. Cromwell even had birds on his coat of arms like littlefinger

[@kohgoomah0105]

Toyotomi Hideyoshi- Sandal Bearer to the unifier and ruler of all Japan.

[@skeletorrobo]

Helps to be a giant.

[@kralle98]

YOOO what an upgrade

[@nicolascavadini3570]

It s 2021 man, nobody remember who tf littlefinger or varris are anymore

[@theblackprince1346]

Liking the new art style.

[@joinville4003]

Would you help me writing a screenplay about Basil I? Discord: Proletariado#4420

[@TNS10000]

*started from the bottom now we here*

[@langlsd1604]

There’s another fantasy version of this. The Tales Of Krispos, by Harry Turtledove. Reading that series, and others set in that world, got me interested in the Eastern Roman Empire.

[@guide2elections853]

Not a fan of the "little finger" angle

[@insaneweasel1]

Yeah that show died in 2019

[@nicolascavadini3570]

If all his video compare historic figures with GoT character rather than the other way around ... Very unappetizing

[@TheBlazeraider]

If you're open to suggestions, could you up the volume on your videos a bit? You sound quieter than the other videos I watch on youtube.

[@mikesands4681]

So Basil 🌿 had a spicy love life to rise up the ranks?

[@etherflows3059]

Bertie Ahern is Irelands Littlefinger.

[@anthonybird546]

Clearly he had a lot of roommates

[@Babbler49]

IIRC, in China, the Han and Ming dynasties were founded by peasants who were able to reunite the country and create regimes that last for centuries.

[@HxH2011DRA]

GOATS

[@SantomPh]

they were founded by peasants who rose in rank via the military.

[@celebalert5616]

I mean... the *real* real-life Little Finger is obviously Thomas Cromwell ... but cool video

[@tcc5750]

2:45 What a chad.

[@tcc5750]

7:25 dang emperor's sister got shafted

[@oriffel]

i like the old style more. talking heads tend to get stale. I also have a request, please mix your voice much, much louder. I had to turn it way up and your still being drowned out by the music every couple bars. Kinda hard to hear.

[@justinpachi3707]

I kinda wish he'd show the maps like he used to. HIs maps were pretty clean too.

[@Austrian_Butcher]

The ming Dynasty was so established by a peasant

[@tonyfriendly4409]

Favorite CK character

[@Ladscastlads]

This sounds similar to Justinian I of the east roman empire.

[@johnrohde5510]

"The Plutarch of Constantinople"?!

[@DeguzmanFrancisco]

Well Michael 3rd was blinded by friendship

[@lucyfaire1980]

MANY of R.R. Martin's characters are based on Eastern roman Emperors. King Baelon for example, is based on Leo VI the Wise (886-912).

[@sneedmando186]

*Chaos* 🪜

[@kevinbourke1847]

From Nothing to emperor

[@Crytica.]

Justinian was also a farmer but he had more luck and less epic than this kinda tale.

[@yoshi55208]

I'd say another Littlefinger was the Emperor Augustus

[@tonyfriendly4409]

He was Caesar's heir, not exactly rags to riches.

[@yoshi55208]

​@@tonyfriendly4409 Good point but Octavian was adopted by Caesar posthumously. He went after Caesar's death from being a political nobody to being the most powerful person in the Roman world. It's perhaps not as dramatic as other stories but still worthy of admiration. I guess another difference between Augustus and Littlefinger was that Augustus succeeded whereas Littlefinger didn't.

[@elliottprats1910]

Who is littlefinger, I thought I was a good student of European history but I can’t recall ANYONE named littlefinger - is he known by another name like Maimonides is also by Moses ben Maimon.

[@therearenoshortcuts9868]

i thought this was gonna be a video about Joe Stalin lol

[@anilkarakaya9343]

He literally went hunting at 75

[@RealConstantinusMagnus]

His birthdate is not known for sure, many modern estimates place his birth in the 830s, meaning he would be in his 40s or 50s

[@migukmoonpark4312]

The 48 Laws of Power has ommitted so much details of this story just to justify their anecdotes.

[@araf351]

Amir timur or timurlane. From shoe thief to Genghis khan 2.0

[@BroadwayRonMexico]

Timur was a real life Mount And Blade character

[@DearChanel]

contender of little finger, more than basil I? I have one, he is Ken Arok. born from poor farmer, became bandit, became attendant of local lord, kill and upsurp the local lord title even take his wife, wage war and win againts the king to found his own kingdom and dynasties that rule eastern java for centuries start son from poor farmer that too poor to raise a child then throw it away in a rivers just to be adopted by a thief and bandit named Lembong, of course ken arok also learning the craft his adopted father have as a thief and bandit. One day Ken Arok met with Mpu Lohgawe, an Indian rishi who patiently taught Ken Arok to abandon his sinful life and start a new life. Lohgawe proclaimed Arok as an avatar of Vishnu. His effort was successful and later he managed to get Ken Arok to become an attendant of Tunggul Ametung, a powerful regional leader of the Tumapel area. By chance Ken Arok accidentally saw Ken Dedes, a beautiful wife of Tunggul Ametung, when she was taking a bath. Legend says when the wind blew over her dress and revealed her legs, Ken Arok said that he saw a beautiful light shining. He later told this to his teacher, who stated that it was a sign that Ken Dedes would bear a royal dynasty and any man that took her as wife would be a King. Ken Arok, already infatuated by her beauty, became even more eager to take her by any means -including killing Tunggul Ametung if necessary. By this time, Ken Arok had actually had a wife, a woman named Ken Umang from his village, and left her pregnant. Tunggul Ametung however was a very powerful man and held an important position. Thus, Ken Arok needed an exceptionally strong weapon to defeat him, and also had to find a way to do so without himself being punished for the crime. He managed to get this by ordering a kris from a famous smith called Mpu Gandring. However the kris casting took a very long time. After several months, an impatient Ken Arok visited Mpu Gandring to check on the kris's progress. He saw that the kris had already taken shape and was strong enough to be called an exceptional weapon. However, Mpu Gandring stated that he still needed several months to perform rituals to imbue the kris with more magical power, not only to make it strong but also to prevent it from becoming an evil weapon.[citation needed] Ken Arok became furious on hearing this. Knowing that Ken Dedes was pregnant, and determined to murder Tunggul Ametung before his wife gave birth to a possible son and heir,[citation needed] Ken Arok took the kris from its maker and stabbed Mpu Gandring. With his last breath, Mpu Gandring famously cursed Ken Arok, foretelling that he himself and seven generations of his descendants would be killed by that cursed kris. Now owning an exceptional weapon, Ken Arok got ready for the next step of his plan. He gave the kris to Kebo Ijo, another attendant of Tunggul Ametung, a greedy man known to be fond of collecting krises. As Ken Arok expected, Kebo Ijo showed his new kris to every man he met. The kris was not only strong but also had a unique pattern that made it easily recognized. It wasn't long when almost everyone in Tumapel knew about the kris. One night, Ken Arok stole the kris back from Kebo Ijo while he was asleep. He then secretly went to Tunggul Ametung's room and stabbed him to death, and left the kris at the scene. In the morning, everyone in Tumapel was shocked to hear of Tunggul Ametung's death. When they found the kris, they accused Kebo Ijo of being the assassin, just as Ken Arok had planned. Before Kebo Ijo was able to defend himself, Ken Arok stabbed him to death, on the pretext of revenging Tunggul Ametung. And so Ken Arok was able to kill Tunggul Ametung, take Ken Dedes to be his wife, and proclaim himself the new ruler of Tumapel. The ambition of Ken Arok did not stop in Tumapel. In 1222, at the battle of Ganter, he defeated king Kertajaya of Kediri and founded the new kingdom of Singasari. Kediri became a fief under the kingdom of Singasari. Ken Arok thus founded a new kingdom and started a new dynasty. He took the title Sri Ranggah Rajasa Bhatara Amurwabhumi (The rainbow king of universe and all lands), and his dynasty was called the Rajasa Dynasty. His new kingdom was centered in Singasari (now in Malang municipality), about 50 kilometres east of Kediri. To legitimate his ascension, he claimed to be a son of Siwa. Ken Arok's rule however was short. Anusapati, son of Ken Dedes and Tunggul Ametung and thus Ken Arok's stepson, had suspected for a long time that Ken Arok was responsible for his father's death. One day, after finding out the truth, he went after and killed Ken Arok. Legend says that Anusapati used the kris of Mpu Gandring to kill Ken Arok; the same kris that Ken Arok used to kill Tunggul Ametung and thus fulfilling the beginning of Empu Gandring's curse. In the end, Anusapati was also killed by his stepbrother, Panji Tohjaya with the same kris.

[@MrGreekACE]

byzantines : Adelphopoiesis (brother making) westerners : so they were gay

[@greas1233]

Stupidest part is that the ERE was Christian by this point and they claim a Christian monk had a gay union with someone? Ridiculous.

[@colinarensberg650]

Not that this comment will be seen, but the multiple game of thrones references pull away from the history that you are trying to present, as I have no clue who you are talking about. I think the comparisons would fulfill a better purpose in your video if they are minimized as pop culture references, or if you better explained the connections between the historical figures and the characters. Overall this is an interesting recount of Basil and your video quality is top notch!

[@phileon2323]

Who are all those people that you keep making parallels to?

[@roach_is_online]

Game of thrones

[@elliottfunkhouser4486]

Who is littlefinger?

[@maxruther9985]

Littlefiger was not a peasant. He had a last name and owned titles and property.

[@BackdoorPirate69]

Not a fan of the game of thrones references, The video will feel dated in a few more years (or even now) when people completely forget about game of thrones

[@JabzyJoe]

That's a fair point.

[@hazzmati]

GOT references are dated even know seeing how badly the show ended.

[@JabzyJoe]

@@hazzmati I still keep faith with the books

[@BackdoorPirate69]

@@JabzyJoe great content none the less, been a subscriber for a few years now.

[@oslonorway547]

But ... 2:27 did he later throw her out of a mountain rooftop window? Asking the important questions here. 😁

[@kingdom1872]

Yeah, except Little finger is not a peasant

[@fuckyoutube9305]

this guy is nothing like littlefinger besides the fact he is ambitious, they are totally opposite.

[@boromircutezatoru2835]

Basil II was Vlach

[@rickyhunt4075]

Robert didn't usurp the throne he won it by right of Conquest.

[@SantomPh]

that's usurpation in any case. It's not like he was a foreign invader, his father was Hand of the King at one point.

[@rickyhunt4075]

@@SantomPh There is no such thing as Usurping the king or queen is whoever has the throne same way the heavyweight champion of the world is the one with the belt

[@johnmanno2052]

Boswell's reading is "controversial" because of the pretty strong homophobia that we've seen in historians, the general public, and especially the Greek Orthodox Church for the past....oh...500 years...? At that time, perspectives were different.

[@phileon2323]

Who tf is this little finger and why is he always mentioned

[@IamAWESOME3980]

Lol

[@RuneR96]

Too many GoT references lol, but good video, very educational.

[@edge3620]

Good content but the sound quality is pretty low. *Lower the weird sound effects and speak closer to the mic. Just my opinion.

[@sceplicur8817]

Shit, only 13k views

[@joinville4003]

I would love to write a screenplay about him, anyone would like to help? Discord: Proletariado#4420

[@liamyoung979]

the homosexuality is overwhelming

[@RealConstantinusMagnus]

There is no evidence of him being gay. The Eastern Roman Empire was strongly Christian by this point and sodomy would have been frowned upon or illegal

[@kingofcards9516]

Overwhelming fictional.

[@sh-ez5xy]

I understand you're restructuring videos a bit. May I suggest changing the background audio a bit? Sounds a little too ominous, always bothered me. Maybe some light background audio relating to the topic. Some arabic sounding tune for when talking about the Middle East, idk. New graphic style is a bit distracting. I can't tell you exactly what to show visually, though. For me, as long as it isnt too distracting, but still something to give the eyes to look at. Maybe images relating to Byzantines or something is all you need.

[@JabzyJoe]

All feedback is pretty much appreciated at this point. At the minute I'm trying out the first hand sources, these as a sort of filler and then long form history. Still working out the kinks to see what fits.

[@VOTE_REFORM_UK]

Wait how is littlefingers family obviously foreign? I thought he was pretty obviously Westerosi.

[@JabzyJoe]

His family ancestor came from across the sea. Can't remember if it was his grandfather or great-grandfather.

[@SantomPh]

his great grandfather emigrated from Braavos. The house's sigil is in fact the head of the Titan of Braavos. That is why Petyr himself uses a mockingbird instead. He is Westerosi of course , being third generation.

[@nunyabiznes33]

IIRC great-grandfather was a sellsword from Braavos, grandfather was a hedgeknight and father was the first Lord Baelish after the War of 9 Penny Kings.

[@georgejpg]

every time you forced in a game of thrones reference i got less and less interested in the video. even as a fan of the show and books, im here for history not pop culture

[@yanaswastik]

Yes I do, its Narendra Modi - the PM of India. He's a good leader though, people like him very much.

[@makaan1932]

I do like the more detailed narration, but I dislike the slideshow narrator

[@JabzyJoe]

Ha that's just me... Afraid I can't get rid of me so quickly.