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 made to the Latins. These, however, led to no permanent reconciliation. The emperor resumed some of the lavish gifts made by the drunken Michael to his favourites, and in this way collected 30,000 pounds weight of gold without taxation. He never, indeed, increased the taxes—a policy which largely contributed to the popularity which clung to his race for more than a hundred years. He published first a new Manual of Law, and subsequently a complete new code called the Revision of the Old Law; and he maintained the army in efficiency. The wars of his reign were those which were waged with the Saracens, and a military expedition against the Paulicians. Basil extended the power of the empire in Italy, lost Syracuse, and regained Cyprus, which he held only for seven years.

He received a visit while emperor from Danielis, a Peloponnesian matron, to whom he owed his first rise from the lowest rank of society. She brought him splendid gifts, including hundreds of young men, eunuchs, and girls, for the service of the imperial household, immense stores of rich drapery and woven stuffs, and a service of cups, plates, and dishes in gold and silver. After Basil's death she made Leo VI. heir to her prodigious wealth. One wonders if there were many ladies of the Peloponnese so richly endowed. Her slaves were so numerous that the emperor sent 3,000 of them into Apulia to cultivate the land; and her estates were so vast, that after paying all the numerous legacies, her heir remained the possessor of eight villages.

Basil was carried off by a fever, the result of an acci-