• Married (1): Between 1045 and 1050
• Married (2): 1 Jan 1068
• Died: Summer 1072, Prote Monastery, Isle of Prote, Byzantium

  Research Notes:

Mikhael Glykas names "imperator Romanus Vestarches, Constantini Diogenis filius". Skylitzes records that "Romanus Constantinus Diogenis filius…patricius" was created "dux Sardices…bestarches" by Emperor Konstantinos Doukas. 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.

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. 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. ¹