Theophilos Lives!

What could be the possible results of Theophilos not catching dysentery on his Anatolian campaign against the Abbasid Caliphate's invasion force. He wasn't even 30 when he died, so let's say he lives to be at least 50 (His father lived until the age of 59). What could happen then?

This would probably butterfly Basileios's ascension to the throne, and with Theophilos living longer, Michael III could possibly be a more gifted ruler than OTL (He was only two years old when he ascended to the throne.)

Without the dynamic Macedonian dynasty (And the non-dynastic regents and usurpers-Romanos I Lekapenos, Nikephoros II Phokas, and John Tzimisces), how does the Roman state and society evolve?
 
Who takes their place?

The main factors that see the Byzantine Empire recovering are probably still there - if less so than OTL.

I don't want to say who becomes emperor is irrelevant, just that substituting one dynasty for another doesn't inherently improve things in a system like Byzantium where dynasties can be broken when "desired".
 
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