What was the Macedonian Renaissance and who were its major figures?

The Macedonian Renaissance, also known as the Byzantine Renaissance, was a period of cultural, intellectual, and artistic revival in the Byzantine Empire during the late 9th to mid-11th centuries. This period saw a renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman culture and art, as well as a resurgence in the study of philosophy, theology, and literature.

One of the major figures of the Macedonian Renaissance was the Emperor Basil I (867-886), who sponsored numerous cultural and artistic programs and founded the University of Constantinople. Another significant figure was his grandson, Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (905-959), who wrote several important works, including the De Ceremoniis, a treatise on Byzantine court protocol and ceremonial, and the Chronographia, a history of the Byzantine Empire from the time of Adam to his own reign.

Other notable figures of the Macedonian Renaissance include the historian and theologian Leo the Deacon, the philosopher and theologian Photios, and the artists of the Macedonian School, such as the painter and mosaicist Michael the Archangelos.