Byzantine Empress. She was co-ruler with each of her three husbands. The daughter of Constantine VIII, she was one of the few Byzantine leaders born to a reigning Emperor and is known to history as "Porphyrogenita", meaning "born into the purple". Shortly before Constantine's death in 1028 he married her to his intended heir, Romanos III, the prefect of Constantinople. The marriage was not a success, with Zoe failing to provide her husband with an heir and also starting a relationship with a courtier named Michael. Romanos died suddenly in 1034 and Zoe and Michael were suspected of his murder. They were married on the day of Romanos' death and Michael became Emperor as Michael IV. When Michael died in 1041 the couples' newly adopted son, Michael V, took the throne and ordered Zoe's exile to a convent. Protests by the citizens of Constantinople soon forced Michael to bring Zoe home, and in 1042 she deposed him and had him banished to a monastery. Two months later, she married once more, this time to Constantine IX, who survived her by four years. She was buried in the Church of Christ Antiphones, which she herself had founded.
Byzantine Empress. She was co-ruler with each of her three husbands. The daughter of Constantine VIII, she was one of the few Byzantine leaders born to a reigning Emperor and is known to history as "Porphyrogenita", meaning "born into the purple". Shortly before Constantine's death in 1028 he married her to his intended heir, Romanos III, the prefect of Constantinople. The marriage was not a success, with Zoe failing to provide her husband with an heir and also starting a relationship with a courtier named Michael. Romanos died suddenly in 1034 and Zoe and Michael were suspected of his murder. They were married on the day of Romanos' death and Michael became Emperor as Michael IV. When Michael died in 1041 the couples' newly adopted son, Michael V, took the throne and ordered Zoe's exile to a convent. Protests by the citizens of Constantinople soon forced Michael to bring Zoe home, and in 1042 she deposed him and had him banished to a monastery. Two months later, she married once more, this time to Constantine IX, who survived her by four years. She was buried in the Church of Christ Antiphones, which she herself had founded.
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