THE BYZANTINE PATRIARCH NIKOLAI I MYSTIKOS' SEARCH FOR A COMPROMISE WITH SIMEON I DURING THE 913 SEIGE OF CONSTANTINOPLE

The article is devoted to the nature of the concessions that the Patriarch of Constantinople Nicholas Mystikos (901-907; 912-925) made to the Bulgarian ruler Simeon I (864-927) in August 913. The author, analyzing a number of sources and different positions of researchers, comes to the conclusion that during a period of weak imperial power difficult for Byzantium, Nicholas Mystikos, as regent, sealed the promise of a dynastic marriage between Constantine Porphyrogenitus (913-945) and the daughter of Simeon I with a special blessing. This action was not a coronation. But at the same time, it was necessary to seal the agreement, thanks to which the Bulgarian siege of Constantinople was lifted.