Editing Michael III (section)

===Photian schism and Christianisation of Bulgaria===
{{see also|Photian schism|Christianization of Bulgaria}}
[[File:57-manasses-chronicle.jpg|220px|thumb|right|The baptism of Boris I of Bulgaria]]
Bardas justified his usurpation of the regency by introducing various internal reforms. Under the influence of both Bardas and [[Photios I of Constantinople|Photios]], Michael presided over the reconstruction of ruined cities and structures, the reopening of closed monasteries, and the fostering of intellecutal life in the form of the reorganisation of the imperial [[University of Constantinople|university]] at the Maganaura palace under [[Leo the Mathematician]].{{sfn|Tougher|1997|p=69}}{{sfn|Tougher|2008|p=293}}

Photios, originally a layman, had entered holy orders and was promoted to the position of patriarch on the dismissal of the troublesome [[Patriarch Ignatius I of Constantinople|Ignatios]] in 858.{{efn|On 19 December 858, Photios was a layman, on the 20th he was tonsured and over the next four days was ordained lector, sub-deacon, deacon and priest; on 25 December he was consecrated Patriarch of Constantinople. Photios was a kinsman of both Bardas and Michael III.{{sfn|Tougher|1997|p=69}}}} Ignatios was a castrated son of [[Michael I Rhangabe]] ({{reign|811|813}}) and had deposed one of his predecessor [[Methodios I of Constantinople|Methodios]]' associates, [[Gregory Asbestas]], the archbishop of [[Syracuse, Sicily|Syracuse]]. Gregory appealed to the [[Bishop of Rome]]. While Gregory awaited a reply, Ignatios was deposed. In spring 859, Ignatios' supporters met in [[Constantinople]] and claimed they had deposed Photios, who responded with a synod attacking Ignatios. The stalemate prompted Michael and Photios to send an embassy to [[Pope Nicholas I]], whose legates Radoald of Porto and Zacharias of Anagni approved the deposition of Ignatios at the [[Council of Constantinople (861)|Council of Constantinople]] of 861. However, perhaps partly due to the presence of Ignatios' supporters in [[Rome]], Nicholas convened a council in 863 to overrule his legates, declaring that Photios and Asbestas were deposed, leading to the [[Photian schism]]. Michael then wrote a contemptuous letter about the alleged barbarity of Latin Rome.{{sfn|McCormick|2008|pp=420–22}}

Fearing the potential conversion of [[Boris I of Bulgaria]] ({{reign|852|889}}) to [[Christianity]] under [[Franks|Frankish]] influence, Michael III and the Caesar Bardas invaded [[Bulgaria]], imposing the conversion of Boris according to the [[Byzantine rite]], as part of the peace settlement of 864. Michael stood as sponsor, by proxy, for Boris at his baptism. Boris took the additional name of Michael at the ceremony. The Byzantines also allowed the Bulgarians to reclaim the contested border region of Zagora.{{sfn|Fine|1991|pp=118–119}} In 866, Boris appeared to have second thoughts and sought patronage from the Franks and [[Pope Nicholas I]], requesting a Latin [[archbishop]]. He corresponded with Nicholas, who responded to him by expressing approval of Bulgar customs and severely criticising those of Byzantium. Photios responded by enumerating western doctrinal and disciplinary deviations in an [[encyclical]], deposing Nicholas and requesting [[Louis the German]]'s aid in overthrowing him. Michael presided over a synod in 867 in which Photios and the three other eastern patriarchs excommunicated Pope Nicholas and condemned the Latin ''[[filioque]]'' clause concerning the procession of the Holy Spirit.{{sfn|Fossier|1986|p=325}} The conflict over the patriarchal throne and supreme authority within the church was exacerbated by the success of the active missionary efforts launched by Photios. In the same year, Michael was assassinated and Basil reinstated Ignatios. Despite Ignatios' papal leanings in the Photian schism, he allowed Boris to procure a Byzantine-rite archbishop in 870, and the eastern patriarchs forcefully denied any Roman authority in Bulgaria. Byzantine cultural hegemony was secured, and relations between the two empires remained peaceful throughout Michael's reign.{{sfn|Tougher|2008|pp=298–99}}{{sfn|McCormick|2008|pp=420–22}} The conversion of the Bulgarians has been evaluated as one of the greatest cultural and political achievements of the Byzantine Empire.{{sfn|Gregory|2010|p=240}}

Under the guidance of Patriarch Photios, Michael sponsored the mission of [[Saints Cyril and Methodius|Saints Cyril and Methodios]] to the [[Khazar]] [[Khagan]] in an effort to stop the expansion of [[Judaism]] among the Khazars. Although this mission was a failure, their next mission in 863 secured the conversion of [[Great Moravia]] and devised the [[Glagolitic]] alphabet for writing in [[Slavic languages|Slavonic]], thus allowing Slavic-speaking peoples to approach conversion to Orthodox Christianity through their own rather than an alien tongue.{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=452}}