Romanos I Lekapenos

Born around 870, Romanos rose through Byzantine ranks to seize power in 920 as regent for the young Constantine VII. Rather than wait in the wings, he declared himself senior co-emperor and held the reins for twenty-four years. The arrangement was political theater: Constantine had the bloodline, Romanos had the throne. In 944 his own sons overthrew him, exiling the old emperor to a monastery. He died there four years later on June 15, 948, outliving his ambition but not his audacity.