General Notes

Constantine VII, called Constantine Porphyrogenitus (905-59), Byzantine emperor (913-59). Constantine was dominated by his father-in-law and co-emperor, Romanus I, and he continued Romanus's policies- protection of the small landholders of Anatolia and aggression against the Muslim states of Mesopotamia and Syria- even after Romanus was banished from Constantinople (present-day Istanbul) in 944. He also maintained contact with the Russians and encouraged their conversion to Christianity. Constantine is mainly remembered as a scholar and patron of scholarship. His own works include De Thematibus (On the Provinces), a history of the various territories of the Byzantine Empire; De Administrando Imperio (On Imperial Administration), a treatise on foreign policy containing valuable information on the peoples of eastern Europe in the 10th century; and De Ceremoniis Aulae Byzantinae (Byzantine Court Ceremonies).

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Political Events, 913

The Byzantine emperor Alexander II dies and is succeeded by his 8-year-old nephew, son of the late Leo VI, who will reign until 959 as Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus ("born to the purple"). The government is administered by a regency composed of Constantine's mother Zoë Carbonopsina, the patriarch Nikolas, and John Eladas.

Food Availability, 927

Famine devastates the Byzantine Empire. Constantinople's Constantine VII and his co-emperor father-in-law Romanus Lecapenus push through stringent laws to prevent great landed magnates from buying up the small holdings of poor farmers.

Political Events, 959

The Byzantine emperor Constantine VII dies after a reign of 47 years. His young son Romanus II will begin a 4-year reign of dissipation.

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