John met his end in the way described; the right to rule now passed to Basil and Constantine, the sons of Romanos [II], in the month of December, am 6468, fourth year of the indiction, Basil being then in his twentieth year, Constantine three years younger. But they only became emperors in appearance and name, for the administration of the affairs of state was undertaken by Basil [Lekapenos] the president on account of the youth of the emperors, their immaturity and their as yet undeveloped aptitude. As soon as the right to rule had passed to the sons of Romanos [II], [the president] sent messengers speeding to bring their mother back from exile and into the palace. He feared an uprising against the government, and more than any other he feared the magister Bardas Skleros who was always lying in wait for a chance to rule and forever labouring to bring forth an uprising. He had been arrested for conspiring against the emperor John and condemned to have his eyes put out but the punishment was stayed by the same emperor. He was especially to be feared as the entire Roman army was now in his hands; he could easily take it wherever he wished and take risks with it for he had been promoted commander of the entire east. [Basil the president] thought it would benefit the security of the empire to cut down this great force, rendering Skleros less powerful for undertaking the uprising which he was suspected [of fomenting]. So he relieved Skleros of his command and appointed him duke of the regular troops in Mesopotamia; his orders were to watch over and guard against the inroads of the Saracens. He devised the same fate for Michael Bourtzes, [315] who also was suspected, quickly detaching him from Skleros’ company (for he was with Skleros, in command of a unit). This [Michael] he raised to the rank of magister and appointed him duke of Antioch on the Orontes. As superintendent and overseer of all the forces of the east he appointed the patrician Peter, the creature of Phokas, with the title of camp commander; he was a eunuch but very dynamic and highly experienced in military matters.