Zoë Porphyrogenita - Wikipedia Zoë Porphyrogenita From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Byzantine empress regnant in 1042 For the fourth wife of Emperor Leo VI, who was an ancestor of Zoë Porphyrogenita, see Zoe Karbonopsina. For his second wife, see Zoe Zaoutzaina. Empress and Autocratess of the Romans Zoë Porphyrogenita Empress and Autocratess of the Romans Mosaic of Zoë at the Hagia Sophia Byzantine empress regnant Reign 21 April – 12 June 1042 Predecessor Michael V Kalaphates Successor Constantine IX and Theodora Co-regents Romanos III (1028–1034) Michael IV (1034–1041) Michael V (1041–1042) Theodora (1042–1050) Constantine IX (1042–1050) Born c. 978 Constantinople Died 11 June 1050 (aged 72) Constantinople Burial Constantinople[1] Spouse Romanos III (1028–1034) Michael IV (1034–1041) Constantine IX (1042–1050) Issue (adopted) Michael V Dynasty Macedonian Father Constantine VIII Mother Helena Zoë Porphyrogenita (Greek: Ζωή Πορφυρογέννητη Medieval Greek: [zo'i] "life"; c. 978 – 1050) was Byzantine Empress from 11 November 1028 until her death in 1050, briefly ruling in her own right from April to June 1042, alongside her sister Theodora Porphyrogenita. Zoë was born when her father Constantine was nominal co-emperor to his brother, Basil II. Basil died in 1025 when Zoë was 47. Her father ascended the Byzantine throne as Constantine VIII. As he had no sons, Constantine hoped to continue the dynasty by marrying off one of his daughters. Zoë, aged 50, was married to Romanos Argyros. They took the throne the next day on her father's death. The marriage of Zoë and Romanos III was troubled, and Romanos was found dead in his bath in 1034. His death has been variously attributed to Zoë, her young lover, or both. They were married on the same day as the supposed murder, and he was crowned Emperor Michael IV on the following day. In 1041, Zoë was persuaded to adopt her dying husband's nephew, Michael Kalaphates. Once Michael V became emperor, he promptly exiled Zoë. This action sparked a popular revolt which dethroned him and installed Zoë and her sister Theodora as joint empresses. After a two-month joint reign Zoë married a former lover who was installed as Constantine IX, transferring power to him. However, she continued to rule the empire as its heir and as the Byzantine empress. Eight years later, Zoë died aged 72. Her reign saw the decline of the Roman army, and first incursions by the Turks into eastern Anatolia. Contents 1 Early life: c. 978–1028 2 From Romanos III to Michael V: 1028–1042 3 Ruling with Theodora and Constantine IX: 1042–1050 4 See also 5 References 6 Sources 6.1 Primary sources 6.2 Secondary sources Early life: c. 978–1028[edit] Histamenon depicting Basil II and Constantine VIII, holding a cross Zoë was Porphyrogenita,[2] "born into the purple"; this was the appellation for a child born in the capital to a reigning emperor. She was the second daughter of Constantine VIII and his wife Helena.[3] Her father became co-emperor, at the age of two, in 962.[4] His brother Basil II, the senior co-ruler, prevented his nieces from marrying any of the Byzantine nobility, as this would have given their husbands a claim on the imperial throne. As women they were unable to exercise any state authority; their only say in this was in choosing, or more likely accepting or not, a husband who would acquire their authority upon marriage.[5] Consequently, Zoë lived a life of virtual obscurity in the imperial gynaeceum (women's quarters) for many years.[6] As an eligible imperial princess Zoë was considered a possible bride for the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto III, in 996.[7] A second embassy sent in 1001, headed by Arnulf II, Archbishop of Milan,[8] was tasked with selecting Otto's bride from among Constantine's three daughters. The eldest, Eudocia, was disfigured by smallpox, while the youngest, Theodora, was a very plain girl. Arnulf therefore selected the attractive 23-year-old Zoë, to which Basil II agreed.[2] In January 1002 she accompanied Arnulf back to Italy, only to discover when the ship reached Bari that Otto had died, forcing her to return home.[2] When Basil II died, Constantine VIII took the throne. His reign as sole emperor lasted less than three years, from 15 December 1025 to 11 November 1028.[3] Another opportunity for Zoë to marry arose in 1028, when an embassy from the Holy Roman Empire arrived in Constantinople with a proposal for an imperial marriage. Constantine and Zoë rejected the idea out of hand when it was revealed that the intended groom, Henry, the son of Conrad II, was only ten years old.[6] Constantine determined that the ruling house would be continued by one of his daughters being married to an appropriate aristocrat. The first potential match was the distinguished noble Constantine Dalassenos, the former dux of Antioch.[9] The emperor's advisors preferred a weak ruler whom they could control and they persuaded him to reject Dalassenos after he had already been summoned to the capital.[5] Romanos Argyros, the urban prefect of Constantinople, was the next to be considered as a match.[5] Theodora defied her father by refusing to marry Romanos, arguing that he was already married – his wife having been forced to become a nun to allow Romanos to marry into the imperial family[10] – and that as third cousins they had too close a blood relationship for marriage to occur.[11] Consequently, Constantine VIII chose Zoë to be Romanos's wife.[11][12] Zoe and Romanos married on 10 November 1028 in the imperial chapel of the palace. The next day Constantine died and the newly-weds were seated on the imperial throne.[13] From Romanos III to Michael V: 1028–1042[edit] Silver miliaresion of Romanos III Spending years in the same restrictive quarters with her sister, Zoë had come to loathe Theodora.[6] Zoë convinced Romanos to appoint one of his own men as the chief of Theodora's household, with orders to spy on her.[14] Shortly afterwards, Theodora was accused of plotting to usurp the throne, first with Presian in 1030, followed by Constantine Diogenes, the governor of Sirmium, in 1031.[15] Zoë accused her of being part of the conspiracy, and Theodora was forcibly confined in the monastery of Petrion. Zoë later visited her sister and forced her to take religious vows.[16] Zoë was obsessed with continuing the Macedonian dynasty.[5] Almost immediately upon marrying Romanos the fifty-year-old Zoë tried desperately to become pregnant. She used magic charms, amulets, and potions, all without effect.[17] This failure to conceive helped alienate the couple, and soon Romanos refused to share the marriage bed with her.[18] Romanos limited his wife's spending and paid her little attention.[19] Zoë, furious and frustrated, engaged in a number of affairs. Romanos tolerated these and took a mistress himself.[20] In 1033 Zoë became enamoured of a low-born servant called Michael. She flaunted her lover openly and spoke about making him emperor. Hearing the rumours, Romanos was concerned and confronted Michael, but he denied the accusations.[19] In early 1034 Romanos became ill and it was widely believed that Zoë and Michael were conspiring to have him poisoned.[21] On 11 April Romanos was found dying in his bath.[20] According to court official and later chronicler Michael Psellus some of his retinue had "held his head for a long time beneath the water, attempting at the same time to strangle him".[21] John Scylitzes writes as a simple fact that Romanos was drowned on Michael's orders.[21] Matthew of Edessa's account has Zoë poisoning Romanos.[21] Histamenon of Michael IV Zoë and Michael were married on the same day that Romanos III died.[5] The next day they summoned the Patriarch Alexios I to officiate at the coronation of the new emperor.[22] Although he initially refused to co-operate, the payment of 50 pounds of gold helped change his mind.[5] He proceeded to crown Michael as the new emperor of the Romans, to reign as Michael IV until his death in 1041.[23][24] Although Zoë believed Michael would prove to be a more devoted husband than Romanos, she was mistaken. Michael IV was concerned about Zoë turning on him the way she had turned on Romanos,[25] so he excluded Zoë from politics by placing all power in the hands of his brother, the eunuch John the Orphanotrophos.[26] Zoë was confined again to the palace gynaeceum, and kept under strict surveillance.[25] The disgruntled empress conspired against John but in vain.[5] By 1041 it was obvious that Michael IV was dying.[27] Eager to ensure that power remained in his hands, John the Eunuch forced Zoë to adopt Michael, the son of his and Michael IV's sister.[20] On 10 December 1041, Michael IV died, refusing to the last to see his wife who begged that she be allowed to visit him one more time,[28] and his nephew Michael V was crowned emperor.[29][30] Gold histamenon of Zoë and Theodora, 1042. Although he had pledged to respect Zoë, Michael V promptly banished her to a monastery on Principus, an island in the Sea of Marmara, on charges of attempted regicide. She was forcibly tonsured and sworn into a religious order.[31] This treatment of the legitimate heir to the Macedonian Dynasty caused a popular uprising in Constantinople. Michael V, desperate to keep his throne, brought Zoë back from Principus and displayed her to the people,[32] but his insistence that he continue to rule alongside her was in vain. On 19 April 1042 the mob revolted against Michael V in support of not only Zoë, but also Theodora.[33] A delegation headed by Patrician Constantine Cabasilas[34] went to the monastery at Petrion to convince Theodora to become co-empress alongside her sister. Accustomed to a life of religious contemplation Theodora rejected them and sought sanctuary in the convent chapel. In the event she was carried forcibly back to the capital.[33] At an assembly in Hagia Sophia the people escorted a furious Theodora and proclaimed her empress along with Zoë.[35] They were both crowned on 21 April and Michael V was forced to take refuge in a monastery.[36] Ruling with Theodora and Constantine IX: 1042–1050[edit] Zoë immediately assumed power and tried to force Theodora back to her monastery, but the Senate and the people demanded that the sisters should jointly reign.[37] As her first act Theodora was called upon to deal with Michael V. Zoë wanted to pardon and free Michael, but Theodora was clear and adamant. She initially guaranteed Michael's safety, but then ordered him to be blinded and to spend the rest of his life as a monk.[38] A Hagia Sophia mosaic of Constantine IX Officially Zoë was the senior empress, and her throne was situated slightly in front of Theodora's on all public occasions. In practice Theodora was the driving force behind the joint administration. The sisters proceeded to administer the empire, focusing on curbing the sale of public offices and on the administration of justice.[39] Although contemporary historian Michael Psellus claimed the joint reign was a complete failure, John Scylitzes stated that they were very conscientious in rectifying the abuses of the previous reigns.[40] Theodora and Zoë appeared together at meetings of the Senate and gave public audiences, but it was soon apparent that their joint reign was under strain.[41] Zoë was still jealous of Theodora and had no desire to administer the empire; but she would not allow Theodora to conduct public business alone. The court began to split, with factions forming behind each empress.[41] After two months of increasing acrimony, Zoë decided to search for a new husband – thereby denying Theodora the opportunity to increase her influence.[42] By the rules of the Orthodox Church her next marriage, her third, was the last she was permitted.[5] Zoë (left), Constantine IX (centre), and Theodora (right) depicted on the Monomachus Crown Her preference was for Constantine Dalassenos, who had been her father's first choice as her husband back in 1028. He was brought for an audience before the Empress, but during their conversation his independent and forceful manner displeased Zoe, and he was dismissed from her presence.[41] Her next choice was the married Constantine Atroklines, a court official with whom it was rumoured that she had had an affair during the reign of Romanos III.[20] He died under mysterious circumstances a few days before the wedding was to take place, possibly poisoned by his own soon to be ex-wife.[41] Zoë then remembered the handsome and urbane[41] Constantine Monomachos, another former lover.[20] The pair were married on 11 June 1042, without the participation of Patriarch Alexios, who refused to officiate over a third marriage (for both spouses).[43] On the following day Constantine was formally proclaimed emperor together with Zoë and Theodora.[43] Zoë got more than she bargained for when Constantine decided to bring with him to his new station his long-standing mistress Maria Skleraina.[44] Not content with bringing her to court, he insisted that he be allowed to publicly share his life with her, and that she obtain some official recognition.[45] The 64-year-old Zoë did not object to sharing her bed and her throne with Skleraina. Skleraina was given the title of sebaste, ranking behind Zoë and Theodora, and was addressed as mistress or empress, like them. At official events Skleraina took position immediately behind the sisters.[5] In the eyes of the public however, Constantine IX's preferential treatment of Skleraina was a scandal, and eventually rumours began to spread that Skleraina was planning to murder Zoë, and possibly Theodora.[46] This led to a popular uprising by the citizens of Constantinople in 1044, which came dangerously close to actually harming Constantine who was participating in a religious procession along the streets of Constantinople.[47] The mob was only quieted by the appearance on a balcony of Zoë and Theodora, who reassured the people that they were not in any danger of assassination.[47] It is said that Zoë was stunningly beautiful, and Michael Psellos in his Chronographia commented that "every part of her was firm and in good condition".[48] Zoë recognised her own beauty and its use as a tool of statecraft. Attempting to maximise and prolong its effect she had a variety of creams and treatments prepared in the gynaeceum, and was said to have carried out experiments attempting to improve their efficacy. She operated a cosmetics laboratory in her rooms in the palace, where perfumes and unguents were constantly being prepared. Psellus reports that her face looked youthful into her sixties.[5][49] Zoë died in 1050, aged 72.[50] See also[edit] Byzantine Empire portal List of Byzantine emperors References[edit] ^ Norwich 1993, p. 325. ^ a b c Norwich 1993, p. 259. ^ a b Kazhdan 1991, p. 503. ^ Kazhdan 1991, pp. 503–504. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Garland 2006. ^ a b c Norwich 1993, p. 269. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 253. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 258. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 464. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 465. ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 270. ^ Candui, p. 257.[citation needed] sfn error: no target: CITEREFCandui (help) ^ Norwich 1993, p. 271. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 469. ^ Kazhdan 1991, p. 627. ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 289. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 272. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 275. ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 276. ^ a b c d e Kazhdan 1991, p. 2228. ^ a b c d Norwich 1993, p. 278. ^ Norwich 1993, pp. 276, 279. ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 586. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 478. ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 280. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 480. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 286. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 289. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 495. ^ Kazhdan 1991, p. 2038. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 295. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 297. ^ a b Finlay 1853, p. 496. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 298. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 299. ^ Georgius Cedrenus − CSHB 9: 540: "Michaelus in monasterium Elegmorum, 21 die Aprilis". ^ Finlay 1853, p. 497. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 301. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 498. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 305. ^ a b c d e Norwich 1993, p. 306. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 499. ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 307. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 501. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 308. ^ Norwich 1993, p. 309. ^ a b Finlay 1853, p. 503. ^ Sherrard 1966, p. 79. ^ Panas et al. 2012. ^ Finlay 1853, p. 526. Sources[edit] Primary sources[edit] Michael Psellus (c. 1080). Chronographia. Michael Psellus (1953). Chronographia [English translation]. Translated by E. R. A. Sewter. London. Thurn, Hans, ed. (1973). Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis historiarum. Berlin-New York: De Gruyter. ISBN 978-3-11-002285-8. Secondary sources[edit] Finlay, George (1853). History of the Byzantine Empire from 716–1057. William Blackwood & Sons. Garland, Lynda (2006). "Zoe Porphyrogenita (wife of Romanus III, Constantine IX, and Michael IV)". De Imperatoribus Romanis. Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-504652-8. Norwich, John Julius (1993). Byzantium: The Apogee. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-011448-5. Ostrogorsky, George (1957). History of The Byzantine State. New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press. OCLC 422217218. Panas, Marios; Poulakou-Rebelakou, Effie; Kalfakis, Nicoalos; Vassilopoulos, Dimitrios (September 2012). "The Byzantine Empress Zoe Porphyrogenita and the quest for eternal youth". Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 11 (3): 245–248. doi:10.1111/j.1473-2165.2012.00629.x. PMID 22938012. S2CID 25156633. Sherrard, Philip (1966). Byzantium. Time-Life Books. Treadgold, Warren (1997). A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-2630-6. Zoë Porphyrogenita Macedonian dynasty Born: c. 978 Died: June 1050 Regnal titles Preceded by Constantine VIII Byzantine Empress 11 November 1028 – June 1050 with Romanos III (1028–1034) with Michael IV (1034–1041) with Michael V (1041–1042) with Theodora (1042–1050) with Constantine IX (1042–1050) Succeeded by Constantine IX and Theodora 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. Authority control General Integrated Authority File VIAF 1 WorldCat National libraries Vatican Other SUDOC (France) 1 Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zoë_Porphyrogenita&oldid=1028544688" Categories: 970s births 1050 deaths Byzantine empresses Macedonian dynasty 10th-century Byzantine people 11th-century Byzantine emperors 11th-century women rulers 10th-century Byzantine women 11th-century Byzantine women Women of the Byzantine Empire Remarried royal consorts Empresses regnant Porphyrogennetoi Burials at the Church of the Holy Apostles 1040s in the Byzantine Empire Hidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from June 2021 Harv and Sfn no-target errors Articles with short description Short description is different from Wikidata Use dmy dates from July 2020 Good articles Articles containing Greek-language text Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Wikipedia articles with VcBA identifiers Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers 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 تۆرکجه Български Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español Euskara فارسی Français Galego 한국어 Հայերեն Hrvatski Bahasa Indonesia Italiano עברית ქართული Қазақша Latina Magyar Македонски مصرى Nederlands 日本語 Norsk bokmål Polski Português Română Русский Scots Slovenčina Slovenščina Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 吴语 粵語 Zazaki 中文 Edit links This page was last edited on 14 June 2021, at 16:08 (UTC). 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