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Romanos II (Greek: Ῥωμανός, romanized: Rōmanos; 938 – 15 March 963) was Byzantine Emperor from 959 to 963. He succeeded his father Constantine VII at the age of twenty-one and died suddenly and mysteriously four years later. His wife Theophano helped their sons Basil II and Constantine VIII ultimately succeed him in 976.

Key Information

Life

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Romanos II was a son of the Emperor Constantine VII and Helena Lekapene, the daughter of Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos and his wife Theodora.[1] The Theophanes Continuatus states that he was 21 years old at the time of his accession in 959, meaning that he was born in 938.[2] Named after his maternal grandfather, Romanos was married, as a child, to Bertha [el], the illegitimate daughter of King Hugh of Italy, to bond an alliance. She had changed her name to Eudokia after their marriage, but died an early death in 949, which caused the dissolution of the alliance.[3]

On 27 January 945, Constantine VII succeeded in removing his brothers-in-law, the sons of Romanos I, assuming the throne alone. On 6 April 945 (Easter), Constantine crowned his son co-emperor.[4] With Hugh out of power in Italy and dead by 947, Romanos secured the promise from his father that he would be allowed to select his own bride. Romanos chose a woman named Anastaso, whom he married in 956 and renamed Theophano.

In November 959, Romanos II succeeded his father on the throne amidst rumors that he or his wife had poisoned him.[i] Romanos purged his father's courtiers of his enemies and replaced them with friends. To appease his bespelling wife, he excused his mother, Empress Helena, from court and forced his five sisters into convents. Nevertheless, many of Romanos' appointees were able men, including his chief adviser, the eunuch Joseph Bringas.

The courtier Ioannikios informs Romanos of a plot against him.

The pleasure-loving sovereign could also leave military matters in the adept hands of his generals, in particular the brothers Leo and Nikephoros Phokas. In 960 Nikephoros Phokas was sent to Crete with a fleet that was considered by contemporary historians as notably large, but probably not comprising more than 25,000-30,000 soldiers and sailors in total.[5] After a difficult campaign and nine-month Siege of Chandax, Nikephoros successfully re-established Byzantine control over the entire island in 961. Following a triumph celebrated at Constantinople, Nikephoros was sent to the eastern frontier, where the Emir of Aleppo Sayf al-Dawla was engaged in annual raids into Byzantine Anatolia. Nikephoros took Cilicia and even Aleppo in 962, sacking the palace of the Emir and taking possession of his treasures. In the meantime Leo Phokas and Marianos Argyros had countered Magyar incursions into the Byzantine Balkans.

The army under Nikephoros Phokas captures Aleppo.

After a lengthy hunting expedition Romanos II took ill and died on 15 March 963.[iv] Rumor attributed his death to poison administered by his wife Theophano, but there is no evidence of this, and Theophano would have been risking much by exchanging the secure status of a crowned Augusta with the precarious one of a widowed regent of her very young children.

Death of Romanos II

Romanos II's reliance on his wife and on bureaucrats like Joseph Bringas had resulted in a relatively capable administration, but this built up resentment among the nobility, which was associated with the military. In the wake of Romanos' death, his Empress Dowager, now regent to the two co-emperors, her underage sons, was quick to marry the general Nikephoros Phokas and to acquire another general, John Tzimiskes, as her lover, having them both elevated to the imperial throne in succession. The rights of her sons were safeguarded, however, and eventually, when Tzimiskes died at war, her eldest son Basil II became senior emperor.

Family

[edit]

Romanos' first marriage, in September 944,[iii] was to Bertha [el], illegitimate daughter of King Hugh of Italy. She changed her name from Bertha to Eudokia after her marriage.[6][7] She died in 949, her marriage unconsummated.[ii]

By his second wife Theophano he had at least four children:

[edit]
  • Gold solidus depicting Constantine VII with Romanos II, 945–959.
    Gold solidus depicting Constantine VII with Romanos II, 945–959.
  • The Romanos Ivory, 945–949.
    The Romanos Ivory, 945–949.
  • Depiction of a young Romanos II on an Ivory plaque, c. 945–959.[10]
    Depiction of a young Romanos II on an Ivory plaque, c. 945–959.[10]
  • Solidus of Romanos II as sole ruler, 959–963.
    Solidus of Romanos II as sole ruler, 959–963.

See also

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Notes

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References

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Sources

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Primary

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  • Leo the Deacon, Histories
  • Skylitzes, John (c. 1057). Synopsis of Histories. Translated by John Wortley. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780511779657. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  • Georgius Cedrenus (c. 1961). Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae. Vol. 9.

Modern books

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Attribution

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Further reading

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[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Romanos II

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Romanos II (c. 938 – 15 March 963) was Byzantine emperor from 959 to 963, succeeding his father Constantine VII upon the latter's death. His brief reign was characterized by effective military campaigns against Arab forces, including the reconquest of Crete in 960–961 under the command of general Nikephoros Phokas, whom Romanos appointed to lead the expedition in response to ongoing Arab raids. Domestically, Romanos, described as initially temperate but increasingly devoted to luxury and youthful pleasures, delegated administrative duties to the eunuch Joseph Bringas, the parakoimōmenos and effective power behind the throne. He married Theophano, by whom he had two sons, Basil and Constantine, the former later reigning as Basil II; Romanos crowned Basil co-emperor in 959. Romanos died suddenly at age twenty-five following an exhausting Lenten hunting trip, with contemporary accounts attributing the cause either to natural convulsion from fatigue or, amid rumors, to hemlock poisoning possibly administered from the women's quarters. This untimely death created a regency for his infant sons under Theophano, paving the way for Nikephoros Phokas's usurpation.

Early Life

Birth and Parentage

Romanos II was born in 938 in as the eldest surviving son of Emperor Porphyrogenitus and his wife, Empress , daughter of the co-emperor and Theodora. His birth took place during a period when Constantine VII held the imperial title but effective authority rested with the Lekapenos family, who had elevated themselves through marriage alliances to secure dynastic continuity. Through his father, Romanos II belonged to the , established by in 867 and continued via , emphasizing the porphyrogeniture—birth in the purple chamber—that underscored legitimate imperial succession. This lineage positioned him as a key figure in the dynasty's efforts to reclaim autonomous rule following the Lekapenos , which concluded with Romanos I's deposition in 944.

Upbringing in the Macedonian Court

Romanos II was born in 938 as the eldest son of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos and Empress Helena Lekapene in the imperial palace of Constantinople. As a porphyrogennetos—born while his father held the throne—he was inherently positioned as a legitimate heir within the Macedonian dynasty, raised amid the opulent surroundings of the Great Palace and its hierarchical court structure. His early years coincided with the waning influence of the Lekapene faction following the deposition of Romanos I Lekapenos in 944, which allowed Constantine VII to reassert direct control and prioritize Macedonian lineage purity by sidelining co-emperors and regents from that line. On January 6, 945, at approximately seven years old, Romanos was crowned co-emperor, integrating him into ceremonial roles and exposing him to the administrative protocols emphasized by his father. , a proponent of scholarly , cultivated an environment rich in learning, commissioning compilations of and authoring treatises to instruct his son. Notably, , completed around 950, served as a direct advisory manual for Romanos on , , and imperial management, reflecting Constantine's intent to prepare him through codified wisdom rather than personal tutelage alone. Similarly, outlined court rituals and hierarchies, to which the young co-emperor would have been accustomed during public appearances and palace routines. Despite this intellectual milieu, Romanos exhibited limited engagement with scholarly pursuits even in his formative period, with later Byzantine chroniclers attributing to him a preference for equestrian sports and leisure over the rigorous studies favored by Constantine. His youth constrained autonomous decision-making, as court eunuchs and officials, including the parakoimomenos (a lingering Lekapene figure), mediated influences until Constantine's death in 959. This upbringing thus blended ceremonial immersion and paternal didactic efforts with the passive role typical of imperial heirs under a dominant father, fostering familiarity with Byzantine statecraft but not necessarily a personal affinity for it.

Path to Power

Co-Emperorship with Constantine VII

Romanos II, born in 938 as the eldest son of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus, was elevated to the rank of co-emperor on 6 April 945, coinciding with Easter Sunday, immediately following the restoration of Constantine's sole authority after the overthrow of the Lekapenos regency. This coronation, performed in the imperial tradition of associating young heirs with the throne to ensure dynastic continuity, served to safeguard the Macedonian dynasty against further usurpation attempts by powerful regents or military figures. The timing underscored Constantine's strategic consolidation of power, as the Lekapenos family—Romanos I and his sons Stephen and Constantine—had dominated governance since 920 despite Constantine's nominal emperorship. In Byzantine imperial practice, co-emperorship for heirs like Romanos II at age seven emphasized symbolic legitimacy over substantive authority, reflecting a system where senior emperors retained executive control to maintain stability amid frequent threats from ambitious generals and court factions. Romanos II's elevation aligned with precedents such as Constantine's own childhood coronation in 908, designed to preempt challenges by visually and ritually affirming the heir's position on coinage, seals, and court ceremonies. During the fourteen years of joint rule, Constantine VII directed administrative, military, and diplomatic affairs, including agrarian reforms and diplomatic outreach, while Romanos II participated in ceremonial functions but held no independent decision-making power. This transitional arrangement persisted until Constantine VII's death on 9 November 959, when Romanos II, then aged 21, acceded to sole rule, marking the end of the co-emperorship phase and the beginning of his independent reign. The period highlighted the Byzantine emphasis on hereditary succession through ritual association, which mitigated risks of instability but often left junior co-emperors as figureheads until maturity.

Preparation for Rule Amid Regency Influences

Romanos II, crowned co-emperor by his father on 6 April 945 at the age of approximately seven, spent his formative years in the imperial court under the latter's direct oversight. Constantine, having endured the regency and dominance of from 920 to 944—a period marked by the co-emperor's usurpation and eventual deposition—instilled a cautious approach to , wary of military aristocratic overreach that had previously threatened dynastic stability. This environment shaped Romanos II's preparation, emphasizing scholarly administration over aggressive expansionism, with the court filled by intellectuals and advisors focused on preserving Macedonian legitimacy amid lingering factional tensions. To equip his son for rule, Constantine VII authored De Administrando Imperio between 948 and 952, a comprehensive treatise on , foreign relations, and internal policy, intended explicitly as guidance for Romanos II. The manual privileged pragmatic realism, drawing from historical examples and first-hand intelligence to navigate threats from , , and internal rivals, reflecting Constantine's own experiences under regency constraints. Exposure to such administrative tutors and texts, alongside advisors versed in defensive strategies honed during Constantine's cautious reign, provided Romanos II with theoretical foundations, though the court's scholarly bent limited hands-on martial training. Contemporary chronicles, however, note early signs of Romanos II's disinterest in rigorous duty, portraying him as youthful and drawn to leisure pursuits like rather than intensive statecraft. Letters from Theodore Daphnopates extol Romanos II's prowess in hunts, suggesting a preference for such indulgences that foreshadowed his later delegation of command to capable generals amid ongoing intrigues. These regency-era influences, combining grooming with inherited caution, contributed to a prepared intellectually yet temperamentally inclined toward reliance on subordinates for execution.

Reign (959–963)

Domestic Governance and Administration

Romanos II (r. 959–963) exhibited limited personal engagement in governance, delegating substantial authority to trusted subordinates, chief among them the eunuch Joseph Bringas, who held positions as praepositus and parakoimomenos. Contemporary chronicler John Skylitzes records that the young emperor, inclined toward leisure, "abandoned the supervision of every matter" to Bringas, enabling the latter to manage palace affairs, bureaucratic operations, and policy execution with considerable autonomy. This reliance on experienced administrators preserved the administrative continuity from Constantine VII's era, including streamlined bureaucratic processes that facilitated resource allocation for imperial priorities. Fiscal administration under Romanos II maintained the efficiencies inherited from prior reigns, with effective collection mechanisms supporting the empire's expenditures without evident disruption. The thematic and cadastral records, refined under , continued to underpin revenue generation, averting fiscal shortfalls amid expansionist campaigns. Bringas's oversight ensured bureaucratic stability, as eunuchs in such roles traditionally handled fiscal oversight and provincial remittances, minimizing corruption and delays in tribute flows. No primary accounts indicate systemic breakdowns in enforcement during this period. Internal stability prevailed in core territories like and , with no recorded major revolts or provincial uprisings attributable to administrative failures. This tranquility stemmed from delegated competence, as Bringas neutralized potential threats, including a documented against the , through vigilant intelligence and arrests. Such effectiveness in preempting dissent contributed to a cohesive domestic front, allowing focus on external affairs without domestic erosion of authority.

Military Campaigns and Expansions

In 960, Romanos II authorized a major expedition to reconquer Crete from the Arab emirate that had controlled the island since 826, dispatching Nikephoros Phokas as commander of a fleet reportedly exceeding 2,000 ships and an army of around 40,000 men. The campaign culminated in the siege of Chandax, the emirate's capital, beginning in autumn 960 and ending with the city's capture in March 961 after a prolonged assault involving siege engines and mining operations. This victory eliminated the primary base for Arab piracy in the Aegean Sea, securing vital maritime trade routes and enabling Byzantine resettlement of the island with Christian populations from Asia Minor. The operational success stemmed from Phokas' tactical acumen in coordinating naval and land forces, rather than direct imperial oversight, as Romanos remained in Constantinople focused on administrative matters. Following the Cretan triumph, Phokas shifted operations to and northern in 962, launching raids that captured over 60 fortresses, including Anazarbos, and inflicted defeats on Hamdanid forces under . These actions extended Byzantine control over parts of , weakening Arab border defenses and paving the way for further incursions, though major cities like Tarsus and resisted until later campaigns after Romanos' death. The emperor's role was limited to strategic endorsement and logistical support, with battlefield outcomes attributable to Phokas' aggressive maneuvers and the disciplined theme armies under his command. On the Bulgarian frontier, Romanos II maintained stability through adherence to existing treaties, continuing annual tribute payments to Tsar Peter I as stipulated in prior agreements dating to 927, which averted major hostilities and preserved resources for eastern offensives. No significant engagements occurred, with management relying on diplomatic envoys and fiscal incentives rather than active campaigning, reflecting a pragmatic to regency influences and frontier commanders amid the emperor's disinterest in personal leadership. This approach ensured nominal enforcement of Byzantine without depleting forces needed elsewhere.

Fiscal and Ecclesiastical Policies

Romanos II maintained the fiscal stability inherited from his father , preserving the integrity of the gold solidus, a coin of approximately 4.48 grams of nearly pure gold that had anchored Byzantine since the fourth century. No or reform disrupted this continuity during his sole rule from 959 to 963, ensuring reliable economic transactions and imperial payments. Revenues accrued from administrative efficiency under bureaucrats such as Joseph Bringas supplemented the treasury, with territorial gains from campaigns—yielding tribute and taxes from reclaimed regions like in 961—further enhancing fiscal reserves without necessitating new taxation measures. This pragmatic approach supported ongoing governance amid military priorities, reflecting a capable that avoided extravagance or overreach in domestic finance. In matters, Romanos II upheld the orthodox hierarchy without doctrinal innovations or concessions to lingering iconoclastic sentiments, continuing the post-843 restoration of icon . Patriarch Polyeuktos, who had served since 956, officiated key imperial ceremonies, including the crowning of Romanos's sons as co-emperors, symbolizing the enduring between and church. Appointments prioritized institutional loyalty over aristocratic factions, safeguarding while aligning it with imperial needs.

Personal Life and Character

Marriages and Relationships

Romanos II's first marriage occurred in September 944 to Bertha, an illegitimate daughter of King Hugh of Italy, who adopted the Byzantine name Eudokia following her baptism in Constantinople. Arranged by Emperor Constantine VII, the union sought to establish diplomatic bonds with Hugh's kingdom during a period of instability in Italy, leveraging marriage as a tool for Western alliances. Eudokia died in 949 at a young age, producing no children and leaving the alliance ineffective as Hugh lost power and died two years prior. In late 956, Romanos contracted his second marriage to Theophano (born Anastaso), a woman of non-aristocratic origins, noted in historical accounts for her striking beauty that reportedly drew Romanos' affection despite resistance from court aristocrats wary of her background. Unlike the first, this union prioritized personal attraction over explicit foreign policy goals but ensured the production of heirs essential for dynastic stability. Theophano's relationship with Romanos involved documented interpersonal dynamics marked by her rising influence, which later aroused suspicions among contemporaries regarding her ambitions within the imperial circle.

Lifestyle and Reported Indulgences

Romanos II exhibited a marked preference for pursuits such as , feasting, and equestrian activities, often prioritizing these over formal duties, according to contemporary Byzantine chronicler Leo the Deacon. In his , Leo depicts the emperor as engaging in excessive behaviors, including deer during the penitential season of , which underscored a youthful indulgence in physical pleasures amid the rigors of imperial rule. This characterization, echoed briefly in Leo's Book I, portrayed Romanos as devoting significant time to such recreations rather than council deliberations, reflecting a delegation of administrative responsibilities to trusted advisors and military leaders. Such indulgences were not universally condemned in the Byzantine context, where served as a demonstration of martial prowess essential to the emperor's image as a . Rhetorician Theodore Daphnopates, in letters addressed directly to Romanos, praised the emperor's enthusiasm for the , detailing hare chases and extolling it as a noble pursuit befitting imperial vigor. Reports of extravagant expenditures on banquets and related entertainments suggest a courtly that contrasted sharply with the ascetic of generals like Nikephoros Phokas, yet this approach enabled pragmatic reliance on proven subordinates whose capabilities sustained effective rule. Leo the Deacon's account, informed by proximity to the era's , highlights these traits without implying outright , framing them instead as hallmarks of a vigorous young ruler in a tradition valuing physical and equestrian excellence.

Family Dynamics and Heirs

Romanos II and Theophano produced three children who were recognized as porphyrogennetoi, born in the imperial purple chamber symbolizing their innate right to rule: Basil, born in 958; Constantine, born in 960; and Anna, born on 13 March 963. The two sons served as primary heirs, upholding the Macedonian dynasty's emphasis on male succession and co-emperorship to maintain stability amid the empire's administrative and military demands. On 22 April 960, Basil and Constantine—then infants—were formally crowned as co-emperors alongside their father, a deliberate arrangement rooted in Byzantine precedent to preempt succession disputes and affirm dynastic legitimacy from an early age. Theophano, as empress consort, held substantial authority in the children's rearing within the Great Palace, overseeing their immersion in rituals, Orthodox Christian doctrine, and foundational imperial training that prioritized resilience and strategic acumen. This maternal oversight aligned with the era's expectations for imperial consorts to cultivate heirs capable of perpetuating the dynasty's authority, though contemporary chronicles provide scant detail on specific pedagogical methods. Anna, the youngest, represented a secondary line for alliances, later betrothed to strengthen ties with external powers, but the focus remained on the sons' preparation for sole rule. Preceding Romanos II's death, historical accounts record no overt family conflicts or scandals, with emphasis instead on orchestrated continuity through the co-emperorship mechanism, which mirrored Romanos's own elevation under his father . This approach mitigated risks of factional intrigue by embedding the heirs within the ruling structure, fostering a veneer of unified imperial household dynamics geared toward long-term preservation of the throne's porphyrogennetos purity.

Death and Succession

Final Days and Hunting Expedition

In early March 963, Romanos II, aged 25, departed for a expedition in the surrounding countryside. The outing, intended as a recreational pursuit amid his routine administrative duties, extended over several days of intense equestrian and tracking activities. During the expedition, the reportedly indulged in heavy consumption of wine, a common accompaniment to such elite Byzantine pastimes. Upon the group's return toward the capital, Romanos suddenly fell ill, exhibiting symptoms consistent with acute gastrointestinal distress or feverish exhaustion. Transported urgently to the imperial palace, he received immediate care from the court's physicians, who applied contemporary remedies including purges and herbal treatments. Despite these interventions, his condition worsened progressively over the ensuing days, culminating in his death on 15 March 963.

Theories Surrounding the Cause of Death

Contemporary accounts, such as that of Leo the Deacon, attribute Romanos II's sudden death on March 15, 963, to precipitated by excessive indulgence in wine during a hunting expedition near the capital, framing it as a consequence of intemperance rather than malice. This narrative aligns with reports of the emperor's known lifestyle of heavy drinking and dissipation, which primary sources link to his premature demise at age 25 without invoking . Later historiography, particularly the 11th-century Synopsis Historion of John Skylitzes, introduces suspicions of foul play, alleging that Empress Theophano administered poison to Romanos II to facilitate her marriage to the general Nikephoros Phokas and consolidate influence through their young sons. Skylitzes, drawing on earlier traditions, portrays Theophano as complicit in prior intrigues, including the suspected poisoning of Constantine VII, casting her role in Romanos's death as part of a pattern of ambition-driven elimination. Alternative theories implicate Joseph Bringas, the powerful parakoimomenos and regent figure, in a scheme aimed at removing Romanos to install the minor emperors and under his direct control, thereby thwarting Phokas's ambitions. These claims, however, stem from partisan accounts amid factional rivalries between Bringas's civilian administration and the military elite. No direct forensic evidence exists to substantiate , as no was performed and the body was not preserved for analysis; Byzantine medical understanding at the time often conflated sudden collapses with irrespective of . Modern scholars regard the poisoning narratives as plausible within the context of Byzantine court intrigue but ultimately unproven, likely amplified by later chroniclers to delegitimize Theophano's regency and Phokas's usurpation, reflecting historiographical biases against powerful women and non-dynastic rulers rather than empirical certainty. The absence of corroboration from near-contemporary sources like Leo the Deacon, who remains agnostic on , underscores the speculative nature of these theories.

Immediate Political Consequences

Following the sudden death of Romanos II on 15 March 963, a power vacuum emerged due to the minority of his sons, (aged approximately five) and (aged two or three), who were proclaimed co-emperors as porphyrogennetoi heirs of the . Theophano, Romanos's widow, assumed the regency, exercising authority from March to August 963 while navigating administrative challenges and factional rivalries in . This arrangement initially preserved dynastic continuity but exposed the empire to instability, as the young emperors lacked the capacity for effective rule, prompting competition for influence among court officials and military leaders. Joseph Bringas, the parakoimomenos and chief administrator under Romanos II, attempted to consolidate civilian bureaucratic control, intriguing against Theophano and opposing external military figures. Theophano, seeking a powerful consort to bolster her position, allied with the esteemed general Nikephoros Phokas, whose recent victories—including the reconquest of in 960–961—had elevated his prestige among the troops and aristocracy. In July 963, Phokas's eastern army acclaimed him while he campaigned against Arab forces, prompting him to march on ; Bringas's efforts to neutralize him, including assassination plots, failed amid widespread support for Phokas. Phokas entered the capital unopposed, forcing Bringas into exile and securing his by Polyeuktos on 16 August 963, followed by marriage to Theophano in September, which legitimized his rule while nominally preserving the co-emperorship of and . This shift marked the onset of dominance in imperial politics, as Phokas's acclamation reflected the army's decisive role in resolving the vacuum, bypassing prolonged regency intrigue. The transition averted outright , facilitated by Phokas's commitment to the Macedonian heirs, his unassailable backing from prior successes under Romanos II, and the absence of viable civilian alternatives amid Bringas's isolation.

Legacy and Evaluation

Achievements in Territorial Gains

During the reign of (959–963), the achieved significant territorial expansions in the , primarily through the campaigns of general Nikephoros Phokas. The most notable success was the reconquest of in 960–961, which eliminated a longstanding Arab pirate base established since 827. Phokas led a fleet of approximately 64 warships and transports carrying an army estimated at 27,000 and 2,000 , landing near Chandax (modern ) in summer 960. After initial victories and the construction of counter-fortifications against Arab sorties, the prolonged culminated in its capture by March or April 961, followed by the subjugation of the island's remaining strongholds. This operation not only annexed but also yielded substantial booty, including the enslavement and sale of thousands of Muslim inhabitants, thereby securing Byzantine naval dominance in the Aegean and ending decades of raids that had plagued maritime trade. Building on this momentum, Phokas's subsequent eastern campaigns from 961 to 962 targeted and northern , reversing Hamdanid Arab incursions into . In late 961, Byzantine forces captured the fortress of , a key Cilician stronghold, followed by the decisive victory at the Battle of Andrassus in 962, where Phokas routed the army of , the Hamdanid emir. This enabled the seizure of , another strategic Cilician city guarding access to the Anatolian plateau. Further raids culminated in the sack of in 962, though the city was not held long-term; the operation weakened Hamdanid power, forcing tribute payments and disrupting their offensive capabilities. These gains in —encompassing fortified positions controlling mountain passes—provided buffer zones against Arab invasions, while the Syrian forays enhanced Byzantine leverage for extracting annual tribute from weakened emirs. The territorial expansions under Romanos II were facilitated by inherited fiscal stability from , allowing the mobilization of large expeditionary forces without straining the treasury, and by strategic delegation to autonomous commanders like Phokas. Quantitatively, these victories added Crete's approximately 8,300 square kilometers to direct Byzantine control and secured Cilician frontiers spanning critical trade routes, contributing to short-term economic benefits through reduced naval threats, increased inflows estimated in the tens of thousands of gold nomismata annually from subjugated regions, and bolstered from newly pacified areas. Such outcomes reversed a century of defensive posture against Arab pressures, marking a resurgence in Byzantine offensive capacity.

Criticisms of Personal Rule

Romanos II's personal rule has been criticized in Byzantine chronicles for excessive indulgence in personal pleasures, leading to a marked disengagement from governance. According to John Skylitzes, the emperor, upon ascending the throne in 959 at age 21, "was young and devoted to pleasure" and "abandoned the supervision of every matter to Joseph Bringas," the chief eunuch minister (parakoimomenos), who handled administrative duties due to his reputed competence. This delegation extended to military affairs, where Romanos entrusted eastern campaigns to generals Nikephoros Phokas and John Tzimiskes, granting them significant autonomy and resources without direct oversight. Such absentee leadership raised concerns among contemporaries about the erosion of imperial authority, as the concentration of power in subordinates like Phokas—a domesticus of the East appointed in 960—fostered ambitions that manifested in coups shortly after Romanos's death in 963, when Phokas seized the throne. Chronicles portray this over-reliance as stemming from Romanos's fondness for hunting expeditions, banquets, and other diversions, which distracted from state responsibilities and potentially weakened central control. Yet, from the period tempers these detractors' views: during Romanos's four-year , no major internal revolts disrupted the empire, and delegated commands yielded successes such as the capture of in 962 under Phokas, indicating that maintained stability and effectiveness absent personal incompetence in execution. Skylitzes himself notes the capable outcomes under Bringas's administration, suggesting criticisms may reflect later historiographical emphasis on the risks rather than contemporaneous failures.

Historiographical Perspectives

Contemporary Byzantine accounts present a mixed portrayal of Romanos II's rule, with official panegyrics emphasizing military successes under delegated commanders like Nikephoros Phokas, while noting his preference for leisure, reflecting a courtly toward legitimizing dynastic continuity despite personal indulgences. Later medieval chroniclers, such as in the 11th century, amplified negative characterizations, depicting Romanos as indolent and overly devoted to hunting and wine, while dramatizing his death as poisoning by his wife Theophano to facilitate Phokas's rise, a serving to moralize imperial downfall and underscore dynastic instability post-Macedonian consolidation. This vilification intensified after Phokas's own overthrow, as sources aligned with subsequent regimes retroactively critiqued Romanos's character to justify power shifts, revealing a historiographical tendency toward dramatic causation over administrative continuity. Modern scholarship, drawing on primary sources like Skylitzes and Leo the Deacon, reevaluates Romanos's reign as a pivotal phase in the 10th-century Byzantine revival, prioritizing systemic strengths—such as fiscal reforms inherited from and effective ministerial appointments like Joseph Bringas—over exaggerated personality flaws, which are seen as products of biased, moralistic Byzantine narrative traditions. Historians like Warren Treadgold highlight how Romanos's delegation enabled territorial gains in and without his direct involvement, critiquing overreliance on anecdotal indulgences as detracting from institutional resilience that sustained Macedonian expansion. similarly frames the era as one of Roman imperial recovery, where Romanos's short rule (959–963) bridged scholarly administration to resurgence, dismissing poisoning emphases as unsubstantiated drama rather than causal evidence. Post-2000 analyses have not significantly altered these core interpretations, as they remain anchored in unaltered medieval texts, with focus shifting to economic underpinnings over individual agency.

References

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  14. https://archive.org/details/porphyrogenitus-1967-dai
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  17. https://winnspace.uwinnipeg.ca/bitstream/10680/221/3/White_Linda_Thesis.pdf
  18. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/byzantine-and-modern-greek-studies/article/byzantine-conquest-of-crete-961-ad-prokopios-vandal-war-and-the-continuator-of-the-chronicle-of-symeon/A9C3F5B2C05668E103AC7A18EE424B3F
  19. https://www.academia.edu/103852939/The_Tenth_Century_Byzantine_Expansion_in_Crete_Cyprus_and_Northern_Syria_Ideology_and_Practice
  20. https://www.worldhistory.org/Nikephoros_II_Phokas/
  21. https://resolve.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/971BF14E13FDB35997DDC6ACFCF43940/9780511779657c13_p239-244_CBO.pdf/romanos-ii-the-younger-959-963.pdf
  22. https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BULGARIA.htm
  23. https://www.britannica.com/topic/solidus-Byzantine-coin
  24. https://en.numista.com/33611
  25. https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803100427584
  26. https://www.pallasweb.com/deesis/theophano-murderess.html
  27. https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/bertha-eudocia-frank-fl-900s
  28. https://www.geni.com/people/Berta-Eudocia/6000000002188110562
  29. https://czasopisma.kul.pl/index.php/vp/article/download/14454/13128/61217
  30. http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BYZANTIUM.htm
  31. https://www.doaks.org/resources/online-exhibits/gods-regents-on-earth-a-thousand-years-of-byzantine-imperial-seals/rulers-of-byzantium/theophano-959201369
  32. https://www.academia.edu/124113832/Powerful_Women_in_Byzantine_Empire_The_Life_and_Ideology_the_Empress_Theophano_941_after_978_
  33. https://bibliotekanauki.pl/articles/2158125.pdf
  34. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/nicephorus-ii-phocas-crowned-emperor-byzantium
  35. https://www.academia.edu/5717090/_Rebellion_of_Nikephoros_Phokas_963_in_Encyclopaedia_of_the_Hellenic_World_Asia_Minor_2003_
  36. https://www.academia.edu/18317519/_The_Byzantine_Conquest_of_Crete_961_AD_Prokopios_Vandal_War_and_the_Continuator_of_the_Chronicle_of_Symeon_Byzantine_and_Modern_Greek_Studies_39_2015_302_311
  37. https://raco.cat/index.php/ImagoTemporis/article/download/427634/522121/628940
  38. https://theses.ubn.ru.nl/bitstreams/eecbcef1-6641-426b-994f-cfa42cbc6b5f/download
  39. https://byzantium.gr/battle.php?byzbat=c10_07
  40. https://thehistorianshut.com/2020/04/13/the-failed-conspiracy-attempt-against-emperor-romanos-ii/
  41. https://www.thecollector.com/basil-ii-byzantine-emperor/
  42. https://global.oup.com/academic/product/streams-of-gold-rivers-of-blood-9780190253226
  43. https://www.sup.org/books/history/history-byzantine-state-and-society
  44. https://smerdaleos.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/warren-treadgold-a-history-of-byzantine-state-and-society.pdf
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