What kind of power did the Byzantine emperor have?

The Byzantine emperor had unlimited power. Like all eastern monarchies, the emperor’s power was arbitrary. The emperor could consult with his entourage, but the decision was always made alone. The will of the emperor was to be unquestioningly carried out by all the inhabitants of Byzantium. Disobedience was punishable by exile, deprivation of property, and even death. This order of things was laid down by the emperor Diocletian, who sought to alienate the power of the emperor from the army, officials, and the nobility. This was done to ensure the internal security of the state, since the power of the emperor began to bear a sacred character, and the emperor himself became inaccessible to his subjects.