Constantine VIII - Wikipedia Constantine VIII From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Byzantine emperor from 1025 to 1028 Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans Constantine VIII Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans Constantine VIII, 15th-century miniature portrait from the Mutinensis gr. 122 Byzantine emperor Reign 962–1025 (as co-emperor)[notes 1] Predecessor Romanos II Successor Himself (as sole emperor) Reign 15 December 1025 – 11 November 1028 (as sole emperor) Predecessor Basil II (as senior emperor) Himself (as junior co-emperor) Successor Romanos III Argyros and Zoë Porphyrogenita Born 960 Died 11/12 November 1028 (aged 67–68) Spouse Helena Issue Eudokia Zoë Theodora Names Constantine VIII Dynasty Macedonian dynasty Father Romanos II Mother Theophano Constantine VIII Porphyrogenitus (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος Η΄ Πορφυρογέννητος, Kōnstantinos VIII Porphyrogénnetos; 960 – 11/12 November 1028) was de jure Byzantine Emperor from 962 until his death. He was the younger son of Emperor Romanos II and Empress Theophano. He was nominal co-emperor for 63 years, successively with his father; stepfather, Nikephoros II Phokas; uncle, John I Tzimiskes; and brother, Basil II. Basil II died childless on 15 December 1025 and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire in Constantine's hands. Constantine had no interest in politics, statecraft or the military. His brief reign is said to have been "an unmitigated disaster", sparking "a collapse of the military power of the Empire". Constantine had no sons, so shortly before his death he married his daughter Zoë to his chosen successor, Romanos Argyros. Contents 1 Family 2 Life 2.1 Childhood 2.2 Adulthood 2.3 Emperor 3 Ancestry 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 6.1 Citations 6.2 Bibliography 6.2.1 Primary sources 6.2.2 Secondary sources 7 External links Family[edit] Gold histamenon of Constantine's daughters Zoë and Theodora Constantine's father, Romanos II, was the sixth Byzantine emperor of the Macedonian dynasty. After the death of his first wife, Bertha (who took the name Eudocia), daughter of Hugh of Arles, he fell in love with and married an innkeeper's daughter from the Peloponnese, Theophano. Contemporaries called Theophano the most beautiful woman in Christendom as well as ambitious, an inveterate schemer and utterly amoral. She bore Romanos four children, including Constantine, born in 960, and his elder brother Basil, born in 958.[1] His sister Anna's hand was considered such a prize that Vladimir I of Kiev converted to Christianity in order to marry her.[2] Aged eight, Constantine was engaged to a daughter of Emperor Boris II of Bulgaria but in the end he married a Byzantine aristocrat, Helena, daughter of Alypius. By Helena he had three daughters: Eudokia, who became a nun; Zoë, who was empress for 22 years; and Theodora, who reigned for 18 months and was the last of the Macedonian line.[3] Life[edit] Gold solidus of Romanos II's father Constantine VII (left) and Romanos II (right) Histamenon of Nikephoros II (left) and Basil II (right) Histamenon of John Tzimiskes crowned by the Virgin Mary Histamenon of Basil II (left) and Constantine VIII (right) All coins show a haloed Christ on obverse. Childhood[edit] Romanos died in 963, amidst rumours that Theophano had poisoned him; Constantine was three years old. Constantine and his brother had been crowned co-emperors by their father in March 962.[4] The widowed Theophano installed herself as regent for her sons and promptly purged the imperial government, appointing her own men. Passing over a bevy of suitors among Constantinople's courtiers, she made an alliance with Nikephoros Phokas. Nikephoros, a physically repulsive ascetic twice her age, was the greatest military hero of the Empire. In return for her hand, the childless Nikephoros gave his sacred pledge to protect her children and their interests. Nikephoros entered Constantinople three months after Romanos' death, breaking the resistance of Joseph Bringas, a eunuch palace official who had been Romanos' chief counsellor, in street fighting.[5] Nikephoros was crowned emperor in the presence of his nominal co-emperors, Constantine and Basil. A month later he married their mother.[6] Six years later, Nikephoros was murdered at Theophano's instigation and her lover and co-conspirator John Tzimiskes was acclaimed emperor. Tzimiskes proposed to marry Theophano but the Empress had by then been too damaged by gossip and rumours, many of them accurate. Patriarch Polyeuktos refused to perform the coronation unless Tzimiskes removed the "scarlet empress" from the court. Tzimiskes calculated that his legitimacy would be better enhanced by church approval than betrothal to the unpopular empress and acceded to the Patriarch's demands. Theophano was sent into exile and Tzimiskes was crowned, again with Constantine and Basil as co-emperors.[7][8] He married Theodora, Constantine's aunt.[9] Adulthood[edit] Following the death of Tzimiskes in January 976, Basil and Constantine took power. Although the sixteen year old Constantine was nominally co-emperor it was clear that Basil was the senior Basileus.[10] Constantine as a young man was tall and graceful, he was a superb horseman and trained his own horses. He competed in athletic and wrestling competitions, which he brought back into fashion. He had an excellent speaking voice and a good grasp of rhetoric. He was a gourmet and a gourmand.[11] He had no interest in politics, statecraft or the military and never developed any.[12] Constantine led troops alongside his brother in 989; the campaign ended without any combat and Constantine was not appointed to military command again.[13] Emperor[edit] Histamenon of Constantine VIII. On the reverse is an image of Christ. Basil II had an illustrious reign, earning the sobriquet "Bulgar-slayer" (Bulgaroktonus). He died childless on 15 December 1025 and Constantine, a sixty-five-year-old widower, became sole emperor as Constantine VIII. He had been a co-emperor for sixty-three years but had always been content to enjoy the privileges of imperial status, without concerning himself with state affairs.[4] He spent his life in the search of pleasure and entertainment, or amusing himself with riding and hunting. He was "of frivolous disposition, he desired nothing more than to pass his life wallowing in extravagant pleasures."[14] Constantine as emperor carried on as he always had – hunting, feasting, and enjoying life – and avoided state business as much as possible.[14] By the time he became emperor he had chronic gout and could hardly walk. He met challenges with impulsive cruelty, persecuting the nobility and ordering an orgy of torture; blinding was a favoured punishment for crimes real or imagined. He filled the senior court and state positions with nonentities. Within months the land laws of Basil II were dropped, under pressure from the Anatolian aristocracy. "Devoid of any semblance of moral fibre"[15] he would grant any concession.[15] Favouritism failed to win him friends and he persecuted the nobility when he felt threatened by conspiracy. The start of the decline of the Byzantine Empire has been linked to Constantine's accession to the throne.[16] His reign has been described as "an unmitigated disaster", "a break up of the system" and causing "a collapse of the military power of the Empire".[17][10] Miliaresion of Romanos III. On the reverse is the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ. He ruled for less than three years before his death on 11/12 November 1028.[18][19][20] On his deathbed, and without a male heir, Constantine recalled the senior aristocrat Constantine Dalessenos, Duke of Antioch, to the capital in order to marry his daughter Zoë. The Dalassenus were one of the few powerful patrician families who had been unswervingly loyal to the Macedonian dynasty.[21] Constantine Dalassenos set out from his estates in the Armeniac Theme, but before reaching Constantinople the situation changed: the emperor's advisors preferred a weak ruler whom they could control, and, typically, Constantine was persuaded. He choose Romanos Argyros instead, forcing him to divorce his wife and marry Zoë. The wedding took place only three days before Constantine died on 11 November 1028. Romanos was crowned Romanos III (r. 1028–1034) four days later.[22][23] Ancestry[edit] Ancestors of Constantine VIII 16. Basil I[24] or possibly Michael III[27] 8. Leo VI the Wise[24] 17. Eudokia Ingerina[24] 4. Constantine VII[24] 9. Zoe Carbonopsina[24] 2. Romanos II[24] 20. Theophylact Abaktistos or Abastaktos[26] 10. Romanos I Lekapenos[24] 5. Helena Lekapene[24][26] 11. Theodora[26] 1. Constantine VIII 6. Krateros (a tavern keeper)[25] 3. Theophano[25][24] See also[edit] Byzantine Empire portal List of Byzantine emperors Notes[edit] ^ Co-Emperor with Romanos II (962–963), Nikephoros II Phokas (963–969), John I Tzimiskes (969–976) and Basil II (962–1025) References[edit] Citations[edit] ^ Norwich 1991, p. 174. ^ Skylitzes & Wortley 2010, p. 319 (footnote). ^ Garland 1999, pp. 165–66. ^ a b Brand & Cutler 1991, pp. 503–504. sfn error: no target: CITEREFBrandCutler1991 (help) ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 284. ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 174–75, 183–190. ^ Ash 1995, p. 248. ^ Norwich 1991, p. 240. ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 261. ^ a b Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 264. ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 267, 269. ^ Norwich 1991, p. 231. ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 242–43. ^ a b Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 265. ^ a b Norwich 1991, p. 268. ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 283. ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 283, 268. ^ Lupus Protospatharius; 1029: "mortuus est Constantinus Imperator in vigilia S. Martini." On the eve of Martin of Tours', that is, the day before 12 November (unless he is referring to the very same day). ^ Georgius Cedrenus − CSHB 9: 484-5: "Nona Novembris die, indictione 12, anno 6537, subito morbo correptus Constantinus... triduo post Constantinus vivendi finem fecit, cum vixisset annos." The latin translation indicates that he fell ill on the 9th and died 3 days later. However, the text could also be interpreted as the third day since his illness, that is, 11 November. ^ Yahya of Antioch gives 12 November. (ODB p. 503) ^ Norwich 1991, p. 269. ^ Patlagean 2007, pp. 131–132; Treadgold 1997, p. 584. ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 322. ^ a b c d e f g h i ODB, "Macedonian dynasty" genealogical table, p. 1263. ^ a b Garland (1999), pp. 126, 128 ^ a b c ODB, "Lekapenos" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 1203–1204. ^ Charanis (1963), p. 35. Bibliography[edit] Primary sources[edit] Psellus, Michael (1979). Chronographia [Chronicle]. Penguin classics (Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus ed.). London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-044169-7. Thurn, Hans, ed. (1973). Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum [John Scylitzes: A Synopsis of Histories]. Berlin-New York: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-002285-8. Secondary sources[edit] Ash, John (1995). A Byzantine Journey. London: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 978-1-86064-015-5. Brand, C. M.; Cutler, A. (1991). "Constantine VIII". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. Charanis, Peter (1963). The Armenians in the Byzantine Empire. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian. OCLC 17186882. Garland, Lynda (1999). Byzantine Empresses: Women and Power in Byzantium, AD 527–1204. London and New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-0-415-14688-3. Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. Norwich, John (1991). Byzantium: the Apogee. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-670-80252-4. Ostrogorsky, George (1957). History of The Byzantine State. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. OCLC 422217218. Patlagean, Évelyne (2007). Un Moyen Âge Grec: Byzance, IXe–XVe siècle (in French). Paris, France: Albin Michel. ISBN 978-2-226-17110-8. Skylitzes, John; Wortley, John (2010). A Synopsis of Byzantine History, 811–1057. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-76705-7. Treadgold, Warren (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-2630-6. External links[edit] Wikimedia Commons has media related to Konstantinos VIII. Constantine VIII coinage Constantine VIII Macedonian dynasty Born: 960 Died: 15 November 1028 Regnal titles Preceded by Basil II Byzantine emperor 962–1028 with Romanos II (962–963) with Nikephoros II Phokas (963–969) with John I Tzimiskes (969–976) with Basil II (962–1025) Succeeded by Zoë and Romanos III v t e Roman and Byzantine emperors and ruling empresses Principate 27 BC – AD 235 Augustus Tiberius Caligula Claudius Nero Galba Otho Vitellius Vespasian Titus Domitian Nerva Trajan Hadrian Antoninus Pius Marcus Aurelius Lucius Verus Commodus Pertinax Didius Julianus (Pescennius Niger) (Clodius Albinus) Septimius Severus Caracalla Geta Macrinus Diadumenian Elagabalus Severus Alexander Crisis 235–285 Maximinus Thrax Gordian I Gordian II Pupienus Balbinus Gordian III Philip the Arab Philip II Decius Herennius Etruscus Hostilian Trebonianus Gallus Volusianus Aemilianus Valerian Gallienus Saloninus Claudius Gothicus Quintillus Aurelian Ulpia Severina Tacitus Florian Probus Carus Carinus Numerian Gallic emperors Postumus (Laelianus) Marius Victorinus (Domitianus II) Tetricus I with Tetricus II as caesar Palmyrene emperors Vaballathus Zenobia Septimius Antiochus Dominate 284–395 Diocletian Maximian Galerius Constantius I Severus Constantine the Great Maxentius Licinius Maximinus Daza (Valerius Valens) (Martinian) Constantine II Constantius II Constans I Magnentius Vetranio Julian Jovian Valentinian I (west) Valens (east) Gratian (west) Valentinian II (west) Theodosius I Magnus Maximus Victor (Eugenius) Western Empire 395–480 Honorius Constantine III with son Constans II Constantius III Joannes Valentinian III Petronius Maximus Avitus Majorian Libius Severus Anthemius Olybrius Glycerius Julius Nepos Romulus Augustulus Eastern/ Byzantine Empire 395–1204 Arcadius Theodosius II Marcian Leo I Leo II Zeno Basiliscus Marcus Anastasius I Dicorus Justin I Justinian I Justin II Tiberius II Constantine Maurice with son Theodosius as co-emperor Phocas Heraclius Constantine III Heraklonas Constans II Constantine IV with brothers Heraclius and Tiberius and then Justinian II as co-emperors Justinian II (first reign) Leontios Tiberius III Justinian II (second reign) with son Tiberius as co-emperor Philippikos Anastasios II Theodosius III Leo III the Isaurian Constantine V Artabasdos Leo IV the Khazar Constantine VI Irene Nikephoros I Staurakios Michael I Rangabe with son Theophylact as co-emperor Leo V the Armenian with Symbatios-Constantine as junior emperor Michael II the Amorian Theophilos Michael III Basil I the Macedonian Leo VI the Wise Alexander Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos Romanos I Lekapenos with sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine as junior co-emperors Romanos II Nikephoros II Phokas John I Tzimiskes Basil II Constantine VIII Zoë (first reign) and Romanos III Argyros Zoë (first reign) and Michael IV the Paphlagonian Michael V Kalaphates Zoë (second reign) with Theodora Zoë (second reign) and Constantine IX Monomachos Constantine IX Monomachos (sole emperor) Theodora Michael VI Bringas Isaac I Komnenos Constantine X Doukas Romanos IV Diogenes Michael VII Doukas with brothers Andronikos and Konstantios and son Constantine Nikephoros III Botaneiates Alexios I Komnenos John II Komnenos with Alexios Komnenos as co-emperor Manuel I Komnenos Alexios II Komnenos Andronikos I Komnenos with John Komnenos as co-emperor Isaac II Angelos Alexios III Angelos Alexios IV Angelos Nicholas Kanabos (chosen by the Senate) Alexios V Doukas Empire of Nicaea 1204–1261 Constantine Laskaris Theodore I Laskaris John III Doukas Vatatzes Theodore II Laskaris John IV Laskaris Byzantine Empire 1261–1453 Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos II Palaiologos with Michael IX Palaiologos as co-emperor Andronikos III Palaiologos John V Palaiologos John VI Kantakouzenos with John V Palaiologos and Matthew Kantakouzenos as co-emperors John V Palaiologos Andronikos IV Palaiologos John VII Palaiologos Andronikos V Palaiologos Manuel II Palaiologos John VIII Palaiologos Constantine XI Palaiologos Italics indicates a junior co-emperor, while underlining indicates a usurper. Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constantine_VIII&oldid=1028063182" Categories: 1000s in the Byzantine Empire 1010s in the Byzantine Empire 1020s in the Byzantine Empire 1028 deaths 11th-century Byzantine emperors 960 births 960s in the Byzantine Empire 970s in the Byzantine Empire 980s in the Byzantine Empire 990s in the Byzantine Empire Basil II Macedonian dynasty Medieval child rulers Porphyrogennetoi Sons of Byzantine emperors Hidden categories: Harv and Sfn no-target errors Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from November 2019 Good articles Articles containing Greek-language text CS1 French-language sources (fr) Commons category link is on Wikidata AC with 0 elements Navigation menu Personal tools Not logged in Talk Contributions Create account Log in Namespaces Article Talk Variants Views Read Edit View history More Search Navigation Main page Contents Current events Random article About Wikipedia Contact us Donate Contribute Help Learn to edit Community portal Recent changes Upload file Tools What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Permanent link Page information Cite this page Wikidata item Print/export Download as PDF Printable version In other projects Wikimedia Commons Languages Afrikaans العربية Aragonés Asturianu Azərbaycanca تۆرکجه Беларуская Български Català Čeština Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Esperanto Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Latina Magyar Македонски مصرى Nederlands 日本語 Norsk bokmål Polski Português Română Русский Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt Zazaki 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 11 June 2021, at 16:30 (UTC). 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