John the Orphanotrophos

John Orphanotrophos was a eunuch in the Byzantine Empire, which under the emperors Constantine VIII (reigned 1025-1028 ) and Romanos III. (reigned 1028-1034 ) had risen to the Minister.

He led his brother Michael (called the Paphlagonians ) as chamberlain to the Empress Zoe, daughter of Constantine and wife of Romanos ', a, probably to secure his power. Zoe fell in love with Michael, murdered her husband, married her lover and put him as Michael IV (reigned 1034-1041 ) to the throne.

Michael was of weak character, suffered from epilepsy and left the government to his brother. John's army and financial reform set for a while, the strength of the Empire restored. On the eastern border of the important town of Edessa was conquered after a long siege. In the West, the Saracens were expelled by George Maniakes from Sicily (1038-1040), various operations against the southern Italian Normans proceeded, however, lossy, and the island itself went to Maniakes 'Recall' ( 1041 ) soon lost again.

In the north, the Serbs dared 1040 a successful revolt, far more dangerous revolt of the Bulgarians and other Slavs, who threatened the cities of Thrace and Macedonia, however, were with a triumphant campaign, the emperor undertook himself shortly before his death, is suppressed.

John succeeded his and the Emperor's nephew, who was also Michael and Kalaphates, the sealers, was named after an earlier occupation of his father to let adopt Zoe. This was followed on December 10, 1041 to his late uncle as Michael V. on the throne.

One of the first acts of the new emperor was John Orphanotrophos to send her to a convent.

• Politicians (11th century)
• Byzantine
• Man
• Regent
• Person (11th century)
• Eunuch
• Born in the 10th or 11th century
• Died in the 11th century