Constantine de Byzantie, VIII

961 - 1028  (67 years)    Has more than 100 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.

• Name	Constantine de Byzantie
  Suffix	VIII
  Birth	961
  Gender	Male
  Death	15 Nov 1028
  Siblings	2 Siblings
  1. Emperor Basileios de Byzantie, II, 'Boulgaroktonos',   b. 958   d. 15 Dec 1025  (Age 67 years) ▻ NN von Bulgarien,  m. 968 + 2. Anna Porphyrogenita,   b. 13 Mar 962-963, Constantinople, Thrace, Byzantium Empire d. 1011  (Age 47 years) ▻ Duke Vladimir Swjatoslawowitsch von Kiew, I, "Velikiy",  m. 988 + 3. Constantine de Byzantie, VIII,   b. 961   d. 15 Nov 1028  (Age 67 years) ▻ NN von Bulgarien;   Helena Alypina,  m. 968
  Person ID	I488386	Geneagraphie
  Last Modified	19 Mar 2010

  
  

  Father	Romanus de Byzantie, II,   b. 940, Constantinople, Thrace, Byzantium Empire d. 15 Mar 962 (Age 22 years)
  Mother	Theophana,   b. 941, Constantinople, Thrace, Byzantium Empire d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	956
  Family ID	F5198	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family 1	NN von Bulgarien   d. Yes, date unknown
  Family ID	F127798	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	10 Nov 2009

  
  

  Family 2	Helena Alypina   d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	968
  Children	1. Eudokia de Byzantie   d. Yes, date unknown + 2. Zoe de Byzantie,   b. 978   d. 1050, Konstaninopel (Age 72 years)   3. Theodora de Byzantie,   b. 984   d. Sep 1056 (Age 72 years)
  Family ID	F196063	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	19 Mar 2010

  
  

• Photos

  Constantine de Byzantie, VIII

  
  

• Notes

  had been associated on the throne with his father and brother from 962. However, for some 63 out of the 68 years of his life he was eclipsed by other emperors, including Nikephoros II Phokas , John I Tzimiskes , and Basil II. On occasion Constantine participated in his brother's campaigns against rebel nobles. In 989, he acted as mediator between Basil II and Bardas Skleros . Otherwise he spent his life in the search of pleasure and entertainment, including spectator sports at the Hippodrome of Constantinople , or amusing himself with riding and hunting. When Basil II died on December 15 , 1025 , Constantine finally became sole emperor, although he ruled for less than three years before his own death on November 15 , 1028 . Physically Constantine was tall and graceful, where Basil had been short and stocky. He was a superb horseman. By the time he became emperor, he had chronic gout and could hardly walk. His reign was a disaster because he lacked courage and political savvy. He reacted to every challenge with impulsive cruelty, persecuting uppity nobles and allegedly ordering the execution or mutilation of hundreds of innocent men. Constantine carried on as he always had: hunting, feasting, and enjoying life - and avoided state business as much as possible. He was poor at appointing officials. Within months, the land laws of Basil II were dropped under pressure from the Anatolian aristocracy, although Constantine struck at the nobility when threatened by conspiracy. Like his brother, Constantine died without a male heir. The empire thus passed to his daughter Zoe , whom he had married to Romanos Argyros .