Romanos IV was a member of the Byzantine military aristocracy who, after his marriage to the widowed empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa, was crowned Byzantine emperor and reigned from 1068 to 1071.
During his reign he was determined to halt the decline of the Byzantine military and to stop Turkish incursions into the Byzantine Empire. However, it was soon evident that while Romanos possessed military talent, his impetuosity was a serious flaw. In 1071 he was captured and his army routed at the Battle of Manzikert. While still captive he was overthrown in a palace coup, and when released he was quickly defeated and detained by members of the Doukas family - particularly Andronikos Doukas.
Andronikos stipulated that his life would be spared if he resigned the purple and retired into a monastery. Romanos agreed, and this agreement was ratified at Constantinople. However, John Doukas reneged on the agreement and sent men to have Romanos cruelly blinded on 29 June 1072. Without medical assistance, his wound became infected, and he soon endured a painfully lingering death.
During his reign he was determined to halt the decline of the Byzantine military and to stop Turkish incursions into the Byzantine Empire. However, it was soon evident that while Romanos possessed military talent, his impetuosity was a serious flaw. In 1071 he was captured and his army routed at the Battle of Manzikert. While still captive he was overthrown in a palace coup, and when released he was quickly defeated and detained by members of the Doukas family - particularly Andronikos Doukas.
Andronikos stipulated that his life would be spared if he resigned the purple and retired into a monastery. Romanos agreed, and this agreement was ratified at Constantinople. However, John Doukas reneged on the agreement and sent men to have Romanos cruelly blinded on 29 June 1072. Without medical assistance, his wound became infected, and he soon endured a painfully lingering death.
(1)
Romanos IV
An
AE
Follis
struck 1068-1071 A.D.
in
Constantinople
Obverse: IC-XC - Bust of Christ facing with nimbate cross, pallium and colobium, and raising right hand in benediction, scroll in left hand.
Reverse: MP-OV - Facing bust of the Virgin Mary, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium.
Diameter:
27.4 mm
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 6.39 g
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 6.39 g
Romanos IV, Class G Anonymous Follis overstruck on a Constantine X Follis.
SB 1854 (Constantine X).