11/10/1028 AD married
As Constantine VIII lay on his deathbed, wishing to secure the Macedonian dynasty, but having no son, he decided to marry off his oldest daughter, Zoë.
He first summoned Constantine Dalassenos, the doux of Antioch, who was an experienced military commander, influential patrician, and unswervingly loyal to the ruling house. The emperor's advisors preferred not to have a strong military figure as the new emperor, and persuaded the Emperor to choose Romanos instead, as a potentially more pliable and certainly less traveled candidate.
Constantine VIII forced Romanos to divorce his wife (who was sent to a monastery) and to marry Zoë, aged 50 at the time; Romanos was 60. The marriage took place and three days later Constantine VIII died, leaving Romanos III as emperor.
Zoë was obsessed with continuing the Macedonian dynasty. 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. This failure to conceive helped alienate the couple, and soon Romanos refused to share the marriage bed with her. Romanos limited his wife's spending and paid her little attention.
Zoë, furious and frustrated, engaged in a number of affairs. Romanos tolerated these and took a mistress himself.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.
Subjects Who or What married?
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Romanos III Argyros Byzantine emperor ...
Objects To Whom or What was married?
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Zoë Porphyrogenita Byzantine Empress ...
Events in 1028 MORE
