afterwards, basil kept the peace with georgia, permitting prince bagrat to return home two years later (1025): but the new emperor, constantine viii, who succeeded upon the death of basil, decided to bring bagrat back to constantinople. however, the imperial courier could not overtake the prince – he was already in the georgian possessions. the byzantine-georgian relations subsequently deteriorated, particularly after a conspiracy, organized by nikephoros komnenos, the katepano of vaspurakan, and allegedly involving giorgi i, was brought to light.