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MICHAEL IV . (d . 1041), " the Paphlagonian," owed his See also: elevation to Zoe, daughter of See also: Constantine VIII., who was the wife of See also: Romanus III., but becoming enamoured of Michael, her See also: chamberlain, poisoned her
See also: husband and married her attendant (1034)
.
Michael, however, being of a weak character and subject to epileptic fits, See also: left the See also: government in the hands of his See also: brother, See also: John the
See also: Eunuch, who had been first See also: minister of Constantine and Romanus
.
John's reforms of the army and See also: financial See also: system revived for a while the strength of the See also: Empire, which held its own successfully against its See also: foreign enemies
.
On the eastern frontier the important See also: post of See also: Edessa was relieved after a prolonged siege
.
The western See also: Saracens were almost driven out of See also: Sicily by See also: George Maniakes (1038—40); but an expedition against the See also: Italian See also: Normans suffered several defeats, and after the recall of Maniakes most of the Sicilian conquests were lost (1041)
.
In the See also: north the Serbs achieved a successful revolt (1040), but a dangerous rising by the Bulgarians and Slays which threatened the cities of See also: Thrace and See also: Macedonia was repressed by a triumphant See also: campaign which the decrepit emperor undertook in See also: person shortly before his See also: death (1041)
.
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