Emperors of Rome

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Coin depicting Constantine
Histamenon of Constantine VIII
Name
Constantine VIII
Dynasty
Macedonian
Born
960
Unknown
Died
11 November 1028
Unknown
Reign
15 December 1025 to 15 November 1028
(2 years, 10 months and 30 days)
Links

Constantine VIII Flavius Porphyrogenitus (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος Η΄, Kōnstantinos VIII) (960 – 11 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.