Constantine VIII

Constantine VIII
Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans
Contemporary miniature of Constantine VIII, from a Bari Exultet roll[1][2]
Byzantine emperor
Reign	15 December 1025 – 11 November 1028[n. 1]
Coronation	30 March 962
Predecessor	Basil II
Successor	Romanos III
Born	960
Died	11/12 November 1028 (aged 67–68)
Spouse	Helena
Issue	Eudokia Zoe Theodora
Dynasty	Macedonian dynasty
Father	Romanos II
Mother	Theophano

Constantine VIII (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, Kōnstantinos;^{[n. 2]} 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 since 962, successively with his father; stepfather, Nikephoros II Phokas; uncle, John I Tzimiskes; and brother, Basil II. Basil's death in 1025 left Constantine as the sole emperor. He occupied the throne for 66 years in total, making him de jure the longest-reigning amongst all Roman emperors since Augustus.

Constantine displayed a lifelong lack of interest in politics, statecraft and the military, and during his brief sole reign the government of the Byzantine Empire suffered from mismanagement and neglect. He had no sons and was instead succeeded by Romanos Argyros, husband of his daughter Zoe.

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