Romanos IV Diogenes, Byzantine emperor

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanos_IV_Diogenes

http://finnholbek.dk/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I61107&tree=2

a) ROMANOS Diogenes (-Prote Monastery Summer 1072). Mikhael Glykas names "imperator Romanus Vestarches, Constantini Diogenis filius"[681]. Skylitzes records that "Romanus Constantinus Diogenis filius…patricius" was created "dux Sardices…bestarches" by Emperor Konstantinos Doukas[682]. Having rebelled against Empress Evdokia after the death of Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas in 1067, Psellos implies that the empress was subsequently obliged to marry him to preserve her position[683]. He succeeded in 1 Jan 1068 as Emperor ROMANOS IV after marrying Empress Evdokia. After the conquest of Armenia, the Seljuk Turks intensified their raids into Byzantine territory, as far as Neocæsaria and Amorium in 1068, Iconium in 1069 and Chonæ in 1070[684]. Emperor Romanos was defeated by the Seljuks 20 Nov 1068, and again at Manzikert 19 Aug 1071 where he was captured. In the same year, Bari, the last Byzantine possession in southern Italy, fell to the Normans. Although Emperor Romanos was freed by the Seljuks after promising monetary tribute, he had been overthrown during his imprisonment by his stepson Emperor Mikhael VII Doukas. When he regained Constantinople, he was defeated and fled to Cilicia to regroup his forces, but was defeated once more. He was forced to become a monk, but was afterwards betrayed and blinded, dying soon afterwards from his injuries at the monastery on the island of Prote. Nikeforos Bryennios records that "Diogenem" was blinded and sent "in monasterium...in Prota insula" where he died soon afterwards from his injuries[685].

m firstly ([1045/50]%29 [[ANNA] Alusiane, daughter of ALUSIAN [of Bulgaria] & his wife --- ([1030]-before 1065). Her parentage and marriage are deduced from Skylitzes who names "bestarches Samuel Aluisianus Bulgarus, imperatoris uxoris frater"[686], although it is curious to note that she is still referred to as "imperatoris uxoris" in a passage which refers to events after her husband’s accession and second marriage and therefore after her death. It should be noted that an alternative interpretation is that the passage refers to the wife of Samuil. The date for this marriage is estimated from the couple's son Konstantinos Diogenes leaving two known children when he was killed in battle in 1074.]

m secondly (1 Jan 1068) as her second husband, EVDOKIA Makrembolitissa, widow of Emperor KONSTANTINOS X, daughter of IOANNES Makrembolites & his wife --- (-1096). Psellos records the second marriage of "Eudocia" and "Romanus, the son of Diogenes"[687]. The primary source which confirms her parentage has not been identified. On the overthrow of Emperor Romanos IV, she ruled jointly with her son, but was soon overthrown and confined to a convent. Emperor Romanos IV & his first wife had [three] children:

Romano IV Diógenes, (en griego: Ρωμανός Δ΄ Διογένης, Rōmanos IV Diogenēs; Cappadocia, ? - Isla de Proti, 29 de junio de 1072) emperador de Bizancio del 1068 al 1071, conocido sobre todo por su derrota en la batalla de Manzikert.

Romano pertenecía a una distinguida familia de Capadocia, y se había distinguido como militar. Subió al trono al contraer matrimonio con Eudocia, viuda de Constantino X Ducas. Fue coronado emperador el 1 de enero de 1068.

Tras su coronación, dirigió tres exitosas campañas contra los selyúcidas en el este de Anatolia, expulsándoles al este del Éufrates. En marzo de 1071 emprendió una nueva campaña con un ejército de unos 60.000 ó 70.000 hombres. Dejó la mayor parte de ellos a las órdenes de su general José Tarcaniotes, y él, con el resto de las tropas, se apoderó de la fortaleza de Manzikert. Poco después se enfrentó con el ejército selyúcida, mandado por Alp Arslan, en tanto que Tarcaniotes, por tración o por cobardía, escapaba en lugar de prestarle auxilio. Romano fue vencido y hecho prisionero.

Fue conducido a presencia de Alp Arslan, quien le ordenó besar el suelo ante él, y le puso simbólicamente un pie sobre el cuello. Sin embargo, después fue tratado como un huésped, y firmó con el sultán un tratado de paz, por el cual pasaban a control selyúcida las ciudades de Manzikert, Hierópolis, Edesa y Antioquía, y Bizancio se comprometía a pagarle un oneroso tributo. Después, el emperador fue dejado en libertad.

Sin embargo, en Constantinopla, una conspiración entronizó a Miguel, hijo de Constantino X Ducas y de Eudocia. Aunque Romano trató de reunir lo que quedaba de su ejército, fue derrotado pro el general Andrónico Ducas, y aceptó renunciar al trono y retirarse a un monasterio, a cambio de que fuera respetada su vida. Esta promesa, sin embargo, no fue respetada: se le sacaron los ojos y fue paseado sobre una bestia de carga durante varios días. Murió en la isla de Proti, en un monasterio que él mismo había ordenado construir, a consecuencia de la infección de sus heridas, pero antes, su enemigo, el cronista Miguel Psellos, le escribió una cruel carta felicitándole por su buena suerte al haber sido cegado, ya que era seguramente porque Dios le había encontrado digno de una luz superior.

Durante su reinado los normandos conquistaron Bari, lo que significó el final de la presencia bizantina en Italia.

Bibliografía  

Norwich, John Julius: Breve historia de Bizancio. Editorial Cátedra, 2000. ISBN 84-376-1819-3.

Predecesor: Constantino X Ducas Emperador del Imperio Bizantino 1068 - 1071

Sucesor: Miguel VII Ducas

English:

Romanus IV Diogenes (Greek: Ρωμανός Δ Διογένης, Roman IV Diogenes Cappadocia? - Proti Island, June 29, 1072) Emperor of Byzantium 1068 to 1071, best known for his defeat at the Battle of Manzikert .

Roman belonged to a distinguished family of Cappadocia, and had distinguished himself as a soldier. He took the throne to marry Eudocia, widow of Constantine X Ducas. He was crowned emperor on January 1, 1068.

After his coronation, directed three successful campaigns against the Seljuks in eastern Anatolia, expelling the east of the Euphrates. In March 1071 began a new campaign with an army of about 60,000 or 70,000 men. He left most of them under the command of his general José Tarchaneiotes, and he, with the rest of the troops, seized the fortress of Manzikert. Shortly thereafter faced the Seljuk army, commanded by Alp Arslan, while Tarchaneiotes, by concentration or cowardice, rather than lending escaped assistance. Romano was defeated and taken prisoner.

He was taken into the presence of Alp Arslan, who ordered him to kiss the ground before him, and symbolically put a foot on the neck. However, after he was treated like a guest, and the Sultan signed a peace treaty, by which Seljuk controlled passing the cities of Manzikert, Hierapolis, Edessa and Antioch, and Byzantium agreed to pay a heavy tribute. After the emperor was released.

However, in Constantinople enthroned conspiracy Miguel, son of Constantine X Ducas and Eudocia. Although Romano tried to gather what was left of his army was defeated Gen. pro Andronicus Ducas, and agreed to give up the throne and retire to a monastery, in exchange for his life was respected. This promise, however, was not respected: he gouged out his eyes and he was carried on a beast of burden for several days. He died on the island of Proti, in a monastery he had ordered built as a result of infection from his wounds, but before his enemy, the chronicler Michael Psellos, wrote a harsh letter congratulating him on his good fortune to have been blinded, as it was surely because God had found worthy of a higher light.

During his reign the Normans conquered Bari, which marked the end of Byzantine presence in Italy.