Can anybody come up with an example of when a son "born in the purple" displaced a son born earlier due to purple status?
Example for Basil I the initial heir was his son from the first marriage Constantine. After he died the eventual successor was Leo VI even with disputed paternity. The son born in the purple - Alexander was co-emperor with daddy and older brother but was Junior emperor until he died.
Now the son of Manuel II - Demetrios did try to seize the throne after the death of John VIII possibly on this theory. But he was unsuccessful.
The only case that I can think of is Manuel I who was born a few months after John II became emperor - though that succession may have been a result of fotuitous placement next to the emperor and army when John II died unexpectedly.
Example for Basil I the initial heir was his son from the first marriage Constantine. After he died the eventual successor was Leo VI even with disputed paternity. The son born in the purple - Alexander was co-emperor with daddy and older brother but was Junior emperor until he died.
Now the son of Manuel II - Demetrios did try to seize the throne after the death of John VIII possibly on this theory. But he was unsuccessful.
The only case that I can think of is Manuel I who was born a few months after John II became emperor - though that succession may have been a result of fotuitous placement next to the emperor and army when John II died unexpectedly.