Romanos III Argyros | |
---|---|
Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans | |
![]() Romanos III, 11th-century depiction from the Madrid Skylitzes | |
Byzantine emperor | |
Reign | 12 November 1028 – 11 April 1034 |
Coronation | 15 November 1028[1] |
Predecessor | Constantine VIII |
Successor | Michael IV |
Born | 968 Hierapolis, Thracesian Theme, Byzantine Empire (now Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey) |
Died | 11 April 1034 Constantinople, Byzantine Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey) | (aged 65–66)
Spouse | Helena Zoë Porphyrogenita |
Issue | by Helena A daughter[citation needed] |
Dynasty | Macedonian/Argyros |
Father | Marianos Argyros |
Romanos III Argyros (Greek: Ῥωμανός Ἀργυρός; Latinized Romanus III Argyrus; 968 – 11 April 1034), or Argyropoulos[2] was Byzantine Emperor from 1028 until his death. He was a Byzantine noble and senior official in Constantinople when the dying Constantine VIII forced him to divorce his wife and marry the emperor's daughter Zoë. Upon Constantine's death three days later, Romanos took the throne.
Romanos has been recorded as a well-meaning but ineffective emperor. He disorganised the tax system and undermined the military, personally leading a disastrous military expedition against Aleppo. He fell out with his wife and foiled several attempts on his throne, including two which revolved around his sister-in-law Theodora. He spent large amounts on the construction and repair of churches and monasteries. He died after six years on the throne, allegedly murdered, and was succeeded by his wife's young lover, Michael IV.