Michael IV the Paphlagonian (1034–1041)
The epileptic Michael IV became the lover of Zoe, then her husband’s murderer, and finally her second husband and emperor. His brother, John the Orphanotrophos, had introduced Michael to court, and began to exercise real control over the government. John’s policies were aimed at increasing imperial revenues, and included the heavy taxation of the military aristocracy, the introduction of the aerikion, a supplementary tax, and the collection of a tax in Bulgaria in specie rather than in kind. He faced aristocratic opposition as well as a rebellion by the Bulgarian Peter Deljan and the establishment of an independent Serb state by Stefan Voislav. Michael campaigned successfully against Deljan in 1040/41, recovering the lost territory, but on returning to Constantinople stepped down in favor of his nephew, Michael V, and retired to a monastery, where he died at the end of the year.
Michael’s seals largely correspond with the design of his nomisma histamenon, although the obverse inscription conserves “Emmanuel,” as found on Romanos III’s seals. Michael is shown on the reverse wearing a loros and crown, holding a scepter and globus cruciger.
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