Constantine VII (redirected from Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos)

Constantine VII, Byzantine emperor

Constantine VII (Constantine Porphyrogenitus), 905–59, Byzantine emperor (913–59). He acceded after the brief reign of his uncle Alexander, who succeeded Constantine's father, Leo VI. A regency (913–20) was followed by the rule (920–44) of the usurper Romanus I. In 945, Constantine expelled the sons of Romanus and began his personal rule. His main interests lay in legal reforms, in the fair redistribution of land among the peasants, and in the encouragement of art and learning. He was succeeded by his son, Romanus II.

Bibliography

See study by A. Toynbee (1973).

---

Constantine VII

known as Porphyrogenitus. 905--59 ad, Byzantine emperor (913--59) and scholar: his writings are an important source for Byzantine history