Leo sent repeated messages inviting him to visit Constantinople, but Gigor refused, citing the vulnerability of his domains to Arab attack in his absence.
900, based on the traditional dating of a ceremonial reception of a "Prince of Taron" at the Magnaura palace that is recorded in Constantine VII's De ceremoniis, and Leo's death in 912, with ca.
In Constantinople Grigor received a lavish welcome, as well as the titles of "magistros and strategos of Taron", the use of the "House of Barbaros" as a residence in the imperial capital and a personal annual payment of ten pounds each of gold nomismata and of silver miliaresia.
[1] The De administrando imperio reports that the favour and honours heaped upon Grigor provoked the envy of the neighbouring Armenian and Iberian princes, who eventually protested to emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–944).
Romanos I responded that he could not withdraw the privileges granted by his predecessor, Leo VI, by imperial chrysobull, but that he would demand a recompense by Grigor.