Constantine Dalassenos | |
|---|---|
&sq=Qlik&lang=&file=File:John_the_Orphanotrophos_sends_Ergodotes_to_Constantine_Dalassenos.jpg) John the Orphanotrophos sends Ergodotes to Constantine Dalassenos, miniature from the Madrid Skylitzes | |
| Born | c. 965 to 970 |
| Died | Unknown |
| Rank | Patrikios, doux of Antioch |
| Battles / wars | Battle of Azaz (1030) |
Constantine Dalassenos (Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δαλασσηνός, romanized: Kōnstantinos Dalassēnos) was a prominent Byzantine aristocrat of the first half of the 11th century. An experienced and popular general, he came close to ascending the imperial throne by marriage to the porphyrogenita Empress Zoe (r. 1028–1050) in 1028. He accompanied the man Zoe did marry, Emperor Romanos III Argyros (r. 1028–1034), on campaign and was blamed by some chroniclers for Romanos' humiliating defeat at the Battle of Azaz.
He suffered a long period of imprisonment under Michael IV the Paphlagonian (r. 1034–1041), who feared that Dalassenos plotted against him. When Michael's successor was deposed in 1042, Zoe invited Dalassenos to an audience with a view to marrying him and making him emperor; displeased by his haughty manner she chose a more pliant man, Constantine IX Monomachos.