| Constantine VIII | |
|---|---|
| Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans | |
.jpg) | |
| 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 | |
| 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.
- ^ Brand & Cutler 1991, pp. 503–504.
- ^ Spatharakis 1976, pp. 91–95.
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