Constantine VIII
(Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, Kōnstantinos; 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.
Contemporary miniature of Constantine VIII, from a Bari Exultet roll
Constantine VIII's father (left) in the Romanos Ivory
Gold solidus of Romanos II's father Constantine VII (left) and Romanos II (right), with a haloed Christ on reverse.
Histamenon of Nikephoros II (left) and Basil II (right)
Romanos II 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 to ultimately succeed him in 976.
Idealized portrait of a young Romanos II (aged 7–11), from the Romanos Ivory, AD 945–949
The army under Nikephoros Phokas captures Aleppo.
The Romanos Ivory, 945–949.
Depiction of a young Romanos II on a Ivory plaque, c. 945–959.
