So far, "De administrando imperio" by Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus has been regarded by modern research as a work of "descriptive geography", "ethnology", "archaeognosis" or at best as a valuable but incomprehensible historical source with many errors and inaccuracies. Here, "De administrando imperio" is treated as a manual of political ideology expressed with medieval mentality and ethics: it is about how the Macedonian dynasty plans to deal with its most dangerous enemies, the Patzinakites (whom contemporary historiography considers misled allies), and will invade together with its allies in Khazaria (the Khazars were loyal Byzantine allies until the anti-Semitic policy of Basil II). These aspirations were realized under Basil II regarding the Khazars and under Alexios I Komnenos and John II regarding the Patzinakites.