Romanos III Argyros

Romanos Argyros was a senior official in Constantinople in 1028 when Constantine VIII, on his deathbed, compelled him to divorce and marry the emperor's daughter Zoë; Constantine died three days later and Romanos became emperor. His reign disorganised the tax system and weakened the military, failures punctuated by a disastrous campaign he personally led against Aleppo. He fell out with Zoë and survived multiple plots against him, including two centered on her sister Theodora. He devoted imperial funds to building and restoring churches and monasteries. On 11 April 1034, after six years as emperor, he died - allegedly murdered - and his wife's young lover, Michael IV, took the throne.