Basil one founded the Macedonian Dynasty in Macedonia that's why it was known as Macedonian. Remember many Armenians were resettled to Macedonia prior to the Maceodnian dynasty to counter invasions from the North-West. These emperors pursued and placed the interests of Byzantium first and their Armenian descent played a secondary role and a factor in their policy in Greater Armenia and later on in Cilician Armenia as well. Same applies to all Chalcedonian Armenians, since the various Armenian feudal states outside Byzantium were non-Chalcedonian.
All Greek cources say they were Armenian except one shady Arab source that says Slavic (yeah right). The point is the overwhelming majority of scholars, especially Greeks say they were Armenian.
Here's what confused Slavo-Skopjian FYROmanians says now:
http://www.historyofmacedonia.org/RomanMac...nianDynasty.htm
The question of the origin of the founder of the Macedonian dynasty has called forth many contradictory opinions, mainly because sources vary greatly on this point. While Greek sources speak of the Armenian or Macedonian extraction of Basil I, and Armenian sources assert that he was of pure Armenian blood, Arabic sources call him a Slav. On the one hand, the generally accepted name "Macedonian" is applied to this dynasty, but on the other hand, some scholars still consider Basil an Armenian, and still others, especially Russian historians prior to the seventies of the nineteenth century, speak of him as a Slav. The majority of scholars consider Basil an Armenian who had settled in Macedonia, and speak of his dynasty as the Armenian dynasty. But in view of the fact that there were many Armenians and Slavs among the population of Macedonia, it might be correct to assume that Basil was of mixed Armeno-Slavonic origin. According to one historian who has made a special study of Basil’s time, his family might have had an Armenian ancestry, which later intermarried with Slays, who were very numerous in this part of Europe, and gradually became very much Slavonized.A more exact definition of the Macedonian dynasty from the point of view of its ethnographic composition might be Armeno-Slavic. In recent years scholars have succeeded in determining that Basil was born in the Macedonian city of Charioupolis.
This is in Wikipedia taken from 1911 Encyclopedia Brittanica:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basil_I
Basil I (known as the Macedonian), Byzantine emperor, was born to a family of Armenian (not Slavonic) descent, settled in Macedonia.
He inaugurated a new age in the history of the empire, associated with the dynasty which he founded. This is usually called the Macedonian Dynasty, although it would be more accurate to call it the Armenian dynasty. It was a period of territorial expansion, during which the empire was the strongest power in Europe.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Emperor_John_I
He was born c. 925 to a father belonging to the Kourkouas family and to a mother belonging to the Phocas family. Both were distinguished Cappadocian families, believed to be of Armenian origin, and among the most prominent of the emerging military aristocracy of Asia Minor. Several of their members had served as prominent army generals, including the brother of John's mother, Nicephorus Phocas.
He died suddenly in 976 on his return from his second campaign against the Saracens. John's surname was apparently derived from the Armenian tshemshkik, meaning "red boot".
http://www.wegm.com/coins/byzantine/basili.htm
Born into a Thracian or Macedonian peasant family - probably originally deportees from Armenia during the empire's efforts to repopulate the reclaimed Balkans -
From "Armenia: A Historical Atlas" By Robert H. Hewsen:
If Armenia was strongly influenced by Byzantium, Byzantium was influenced by Armenia in return and, to paraphrase Tournanoff, Armenia gave more than it received. Apart from the Armenians living directly under imperial rule, a continuous stream of Armenians entered the empire for one reason or another over a period of several centuries: adventurers, scholard, clerics, refugees, and large numbers of common people-including the heterodox Paulician sectarians, forced to migrate from Byzantine-occupied Armenia to other parts of the empire by the imperial government itself. These immigrants early distinguished themselves in three environments: the army, the administration, and the general population.
Armenia, as we have seen, was a society dominated by a class of warrior nobility. Thus, when driven from their homeland for whatever reasons, it was natural for Armenian princes to enter the Byzantine military service, and from the time of Justinian I, we find them reaching the highest rank. Justinian himself, who fought wars on three fronts, had no fewer than nineteen Armenian generals in his service, including Narses of the house of Kamsarakan, who was probably the greatest general of his time. Thereafter, we hear of nearly two hundred Armenian officers who distinguished themselves in the imperial service: generals, admirals, officials, exarchs, provincial governors, courtiers, and members of the emperor's entourage.
In the Byzantine administration, civil and ecclesiastical, Kaisar Bardos, who reestablished higher instruction at Constantinople in the ninth century, Leo the Philosopher, who was the most eminent scholar of his day, and the patriarchs Photios(857-858, 877-886) and John the Grammarian (837-843) were all Armenians. In a surprisingly short time, we find Armenians reaching the imperial throne itself, for the Armenians not only served the empire, they ruled it as well, and did so for almost a third of its history. No fewer than sixteen emperors and eleven empresses were of Armenian origin, including Mavridios (Maurice, 582-602), Heraklios (610-642), John Tzimiskes (969-976), and Basil II (976-1025), and Armenians founded three imperial dynasties: the Heraclids (of royal Arsacid origin, 610-711), the Basilids (876-1056), and the Lekapenoi, who interupted the Basilids for twenty five years (920-944). In addition, there were a number of isolated emperors of Armenian origin: Bardanes (Vardan, 711-713), Artabazdes (Artavazd, 742-743), Leo V "the Armenian" (813-820), and John Tzimiskes (969-976), who, though an emperor, was one of the greatest Byzantine military commanders as well. In addition, there were many Armenians who attempted the throne but failed to achieve it. In the ninth century, the throne, the patriarchate, and the command of the imperial armies were all held by Armenians, and the empire was, in effect, in Armenian hands. Most of these Armenians, of course, were thoroughly hellenized, membership in the Greek Church being the sine qua non for advancement in the Byzantine world. Others such as the protospatharios John, who commissioned an Armenian Gospel manuscript that still survives remained linked to their own culture. Yet as the Armenians became hellenized, there seems to be evidence that they, in turn, added something to the oriental influences that pervaded Byzantine civilization, and, as Der Nersessian notes, these appear to have been particularly stong in the realm of decorative arts precisely in the ninth and tenth centuries, when the role of Armenians in the highest levels of Byzantne society was at its height.
Of particular interest is the Basilid Romanus II, who was instrumental in the conversion of the Russians to Christianity and whose sister Anna married Vladimir the Great (980-1015), first Christian prince of Kiev, whose descendants ruled in Muscovy until 1598. One of the daughter of Vladimir and Anna was sent to France, where she married Henry I. One of their granddaughters married the last Saxon king of England; another married a king of Poland. In this way, the blood of the great houses of Armenia passed into those of Europe, east and west.
Apart from the dynasties of Armenian origin, we know of many families of Armenian ancestry that figured in the political and military life of the empire: the Koutikes; the Phokades and the houses of Vrakhamios and Musle or Krinites; the Skleroi; the houses of Kourkouas, Makhitar, and Theodorokanos; Melias, Dalassenoi, and Kekaumenoi; and Taronites and their offshoot, the Tornikoi.
The third impact of the Armenians was in the realm of sheer manpower, whereby the Armenians simply added to the general population. Throughout the period of the Roman Empire, the Armenians living in Roman Armenia were eligible to serve in the Roman army, and doubtless many did so. After the loss of the West, however, these Armenians would have become a much higher percentage fo the total. Then, after the temporary loss of the Balkans in the sixth century, Armenia replaced this area as the empire's chief recruiting ground. The size of Roman Armenia had grown, moreover with the annexations of 387 and 390; they grew even further with those of 591. This would have meant even more Armenians available to the Byzantine army, and by the late Arab period, the Armenians are estimated to have been some 20%-25% of the total Byzantine troops. The Armeniakon theme (military province) had a large Armenian population, and the increasing size of this jurisdiction suggests an increasing influx of Armenian settlers. Many Armenians, as we have seen, immigrated to the empire as well, some following their princes, some preferring imperial rule to Persian or Arab, some fleeing the Arab, Khazar, or Turkish invasions, some fleeing justice, some fleeing debt, some who adhered to the imperial church, some simply seeking land or a new life. All of these newcomers swelled the Armenian population upon which the empire was able to draw. Not all the immigration was voluntary, as we have seen, and the Byzantine government often forcibly transferred Armenians from Armenia to various parts of the empire. Some were settled in the Danube Valley to defend the Macedonian passes; others were shipped to Thrace, SIcily, Calabria, Greece, Cyprus, and Crete, or settled in Kilikia after it was recovered from Arab rule. There was a strong pro-Byzantine element in Armenia thoroughout the Byzantine era, and many Armenians adhered to the Byzantine faith.
http://www.wegm.com/coins/byzantine/romanusi.htm
Son of the wonderfully named Theophylact the Unbearable, an Armenian pesant who had somehow saved Basil I from the Saracens at Tephricearond and had been rewarded with a place in the Imperial guard, seemingly shortly after Romanus' birth in about 870. The Armenians long found success in Constantinople - Leo V, "The Armenian" was an Armenian adventurer; Basil I the son of Armenian deportees; and John I Tzimises an Armenian nobles - but Romanus I reign saw an Armenian in the position of senior emperor, running the church, and, in the person of John Curcuas, the army.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cousin/html/p98.htm
Basileios I Makedonios, basileus Rhomaiôn was an Armenian.2 Some say he was from T'il village in Taron.3 He was of a peasant family that had settled in Macedonia, perhaps of Armenian origin.4 The genealogy of Basil the Macedonian (if it be not the spurious offspring of pride and flattery) exhibits a genuine picture of the revolution of the most illustrious families. The Arsacides, the rivals of Rome, possessed the sceptre of the East near four hundred years: a younger branch of these Parthian kings continued to reign in Armenia;
About the rest, you're looking at names. Who cares about the names? 90% of all the names in Byzantium were Greek, names can be made to sound Greek or be Greek too. Greece was the official language as well as the dominant culture so most names given in the Empire were Greek. Some of the names in that list were Armenian pronounciations eg: Basil=Barsegh etc
Regarding Byzantium,
There were a bunch of Armenian Emperors in the Eastern Roman Empire. The entire Macedonian Dynasty aka Armenian Dynasty which was formed by Barsegh/Basil in Macedonia and several who were in other Dynasties such as Leo Artsruni V the Armenian, Morick Oshakanatsi (Mavrikiy), Vardan Pikick(Bardanes), Artavazd(Artabasdus).
Aside from Emperors there were Sittas (528), Buz (538), Balisarios (545), Nerses (555), Smbat Bagratouny (582), Atat Khorkhrouny (601), Vardan Pilick (711), Vasack Patrik (741), Musheg Alex (792), Arshavir Patrik (807., Manuel Mamikonian ("Byzantian Ahiless" 830.), Hobgan Kurkuas (941., conquered 1000 cities and was called "the Greatest"), Mlag (Melios), the "Great" (went down in Byzantian epos "Diogonis - Akritas" (934), Vard Skleros (976), Vard Pokas (987), Magistros Bagratouny (990), Grigor Taronatsy (996), Nikapor Tsrviz (1022), Levon - Tornick Bagratouny (1047), and others.
Patriacrhs: Melitos (360), Apgtikos (406-427), Isaak (625-643), Hovanes Karahan (loan Grammatick 837-843), Stepanos (888), Teopilintos (931-1057), Bagrat (Pankratios) (9th c.).
Families of the Koutikes; the Phokades and the houses of Vrakhamios and Musle or Krinites; the Skleroi; the houses of Kourkouas, Makhitar, and Theodorokanos; Melias, Dalassenoi, and Kekaumenoi; and Taronites and their offshoot, the Tornikoi.
DO YOU KNOW...?
That there were 20 emperors of armenian origin
Here they are:
1. Morick Oshakanatsi (Mavrikiy) 582-602.
2. Vardan Pikick 711-713.
3. Artavazd - 742-743.
4. Levon (Lion the V) Artsruni - 813-830.
5. Barseg Arsha - kuni (Vasil the I - the founder of armenian Makedonian dinasty) - 867-886.
6. Levon Arshakuni (Lion the VI, philosopher) 886-912.
7. Alexander 912-913.
8. Kons tandin the VII Bagrianorodny 913-959.
9. Romanos Vashtakian (Roman the I) 919-949. Ruled with Konstandin the VII Bagrianororodny).
10. Romanos the II - 959-963.
11. Nikiphor the II Phoka (the Great) - 963-969.
12. Hovanes Chimishk (Ioan Tsimiskhy) 969-976.
13. Vasily the II Bulgaroboyts 976-1025.
14. Konstandin the VIII - 1025-1028.
15. Roman the III 1028-1034.
16. Mikhael Paflagon (Mikhael the IV) - 1034 1041.
17. Mikhael Kalapat (Mikhael the V) - 1041-1042.
18. Konstandin the IX Monomakh - 1042-1054.
19. Teodora the II (Phedora the II) empress - 1054-1056.
20. Mikhael Stratiotik (Mikhael the II) - 1056-1057.
...that among Byzantian military leaders more than eighty were armenians and among them: Sittas (528), Buz (538), Balisarios (545), Nerses (555) Vardan Mamikonian (571), Smbat Bagratouny (582), Atat Khorkhrouny (601), Vardan Pilick (711), Vasack Patrik (741), Musheg Alex (792), Arshavir Patrik (807., Manuel Mamikonian ("Byzantian Ahiless" 830.), Hobgan Kurkuas (941., conquered 1000 cities and was called "the Greatest"), Mlag (Melios), the "Great" (went down in byzantian epos "Diogonis - Akritas" (934), Vard Skleros (976), Vard Pokas (987), Magistros Bagratouny (990), Grigor Taronatsy (996), Nikapor Tsrviz (1022), Levon - Tornick Bagratouny (1047), and others.
...that from 837 till 843 the patriarck of Konstantinopulus was the famous armenian scientist Hoivanes Karahan (loan Grammatick).
...that the founder of an ancientslatinopolsky university of Magnavr was Levon, the great mathematician and astronomer of the IV century, Hovanes Karahan`s niece.
...that the creators of the ancientslavonic alphabet Kirill ( Konstandin ) and Mephody were the sons of Levon and the pupils of Hovanes Karahan in the University of Magnavr. They created the alphabet which consisted of 36 letters, as in armenian one, by Mesrob Mashtots, but not of 24 letters as in Greek one.
... that the sister of Vasily the II Bulgaroboyts Anna, in 988, married Kiev prince Vladimir Sviatoslav, on condition that he and the whole Kiev Russia adopts christianity. Russia was baptized by Armenian priests.
...that the patriarchs of Byzantine church, in different years, were armenian churchmen: Melitos (360), Apgtikos (406-427), Isaak (625-643), Hovanes Karahan (837-843), Stepanos (888), Teopilintos (931-1057), Bagrat (Pankratios) (9th c.).
... that Kiev was founded by the armenian prince Smbat Bagratouny in 585, and was named originally - Smbatos.
...that the mother of Vladimir Monomakh (1053-1125) Mariam (Maria) was the daughter of the emperor of armenian origin Konstandin the IX Monomakh (1042- 1054). From him Vladimir inherited the nickname "Monomakh". Mariam was married with Vsevolod, the son of Yaroslav Mudry (the Wise) - the Great prince of Kiev Russia - the son of Vladimir Monomakh, the Great prince Yuri Dolgorouky (1096- 1157) the founder of Moscow (1147) - is mentioned in the russian chronicles as "Grugy" or "Kriuk", that is to say George. The church of George was built in Vladimir, in his honour (1158-1164). The grandchild of Yury Dolgorouky and the husband of the queen of Georgia Tamar - was named George.
... the lion was represented on the emblem of armenian prince family of Dolgorouky - Argutinsky, as on the emblem of Bagratouny dynasty in Armenia, which was in family ties with it. This lion was represented also on the emblem of Yury Dolgoruky.
- the icon St. George in Moscow (12)- the patron of Yury Dolgoruky - represents the Great prince itself.
- the armenian historian Zenon Glack (5-6 cc, by Marr, 7- in "The history of Taron", writes about Kuar (Kie), Sheke (Meltey) and Chorean : "Kuar built the city of Kuar and it was named Kuar after him. And Meltey built its city on that field and named it Meltey (Shekovitsa). And Chorean built its own city in the district of Paluni and named it Khorean (Korevan).
Smbatas was founded on the mountain of Zamk (Kiselevka), soon near it "gradok Kiev" appeared on the mountain of Andreev, which was founded by Kie (on the place of Kiev historical Museum). Thus near Smbatas city situated on the Zamk mountain appeared three cities - Kiev, Shekovitsa and Korevitsa. According to Byzantine emperor of armenian origin, Konstandin Bagrianorodny (948) "Russ are going downstream the Dnepr and are gathering in the Kiev fortress, called Smbatas".
There were cities with armenian names: Armen (Romen), Artan, Artavet. They surrounded Kiev. In the arabian source of the 9-11 cc. "Huddud- al - aalem", is said that precious bladed for swords and swords, which can be bended, were produced in the city of Artavet. Artavet specialists so firmly kept the secrets of producing their weapon, that killed all foreighners,when they reached the city (Roden on the Dnepr).
Yury Dolgorouky, for the first time, gave the name of Moscow in March, 1142. "Come to my place, in Moscow, my brother", this armenian pronounciation (transcription) of Moscow reached to ourdays. The russian chronicler informes: "arrange the dinner party by Giurgy's will...". "Giurgy" - "Kiurk" - this is the form of name "Yury Dolgorouky" in the russian chronicles.
V.N. Tatishev describes Yury Dolgorouky, according to kiev sources, in this way: "This great prince was tall and stout with white face and small eyes, with long and curve nose, with short beard. He was the great lover of women, sweets and drinks. In a word, the powerfull founder and ruler of Moscow, Suzdal, Vladimir, Yaroslav, Rostov - Dmitrov and the other cities, wasn't deprived of courage".
In the capital Vladimir, the city of Yury Dolgorouky, after his death in 1157, the church of George was built in his honour in 1158 - 1164. And the famous "Golden gates" of Vladimir led to it.
http://www.arminco.com/hayknet/ellib/know.htm