Romain Ier Lécapène

Romain Ier Lécapène , born towards 870, dead the June 15th 948, is Byzantine emperor of 919 with 944.

Reign

Constantin VII Porphyrogénète, encouraged by its tutor, fact call to the admiral Romain Lécapène, to avoid a probable seizure of power by the general Leon Phocas, called by Zoe Carbonopsina, the mother of Constantin.

Romain Lécapène asserts himself, Marie his Helene daughter in Constantin (May 919), returns Zoe to the convent and, the December 17th 920, proclaims itself basileus . Although exerting all the power, it respects the person of Constantin VII and her title, recognizing it as Co-emperor, but in the second place.

In May 921, it makes proclaim its three sons Co-emperors, placing the elder one, Christophe, in the second place and relegating Constantin in third position; in 925, it also associates its two others wire with the throne, so that the empire has from now on five associated emperors.

Peace with the Bulgarian ones

Beyond the borders of the empire, its main issue remains the Bulgares. As of his advent, Romain tries to restore good relationships with the king Siméon, but this one refuses to negotiate with that which he regards as a usurper and the hostilities continue; thus, in 922, the Bulgarian ones arrive at the the Bosphorus then, in 923, take Andrinople.

In spite of that, Siméon makes an offer of peace which leads, the September 9th 924, with a meeting between the two sovereigns. A peace treaty is concluded: the Byzantines commit themselves giving every year 1000 tunics of silk richly embroidered, in exchange of what Siméon agrees to withdraw imperial territory and to restore the fortresses which it took on the Black Sea.

Some time after the death of Siméon, the regent of Bulgaria Georges Soursouboul proposes to reinforce alliance by the marriage of the princess Maria of Bulgaria to Christophe, which takes place in Constantinople the November 8th 927. A second peace treaty is signed, by which Romain agrees to recognize with the young Bulgarian sovereign the title of tsar, while the Bulgarian patriarchate becomes independent of the Church of Constantinople.

Peace with the Russians

In 941, then in 944, the Russians try to invade the empire. A Byzantine embassy however manages to meet the prince Igor of Kiev and proposes to him a political and commercial treaty. The accepted proposal, the relations between the Russia and Byzance remain calm during a quarter century.

Deposition

The year 944 sees also a darkening of the interior policy: old, Romain forsakes the businesses of the State to be locked up with monks and is inserted in an increased religiosity.

With died of Christophe, Romain confirms the second place of Constantin, drawing aside his two juniors become famous for their immorality. The December 20th 944, Etienne and Constantin, fearing for their future, deposit it and exile it on the island of Proti, where it is tonsure.

But in Constantinople the people, legitimist and remained faithful to the Dynasty Macedonian, reject both Lécapène and impose Constantin VII, whose reign really starts. The January 27th 945, both Lécapène are stopped, tonsures and envoys in distinct places of exile.

During this time, in his monastery, Romain joins together an assembly of 300 monks of all the empire and enumerates all his sins, asking for the discharge for each one of them; he is then whipped by a young beginner. He dies the June 15th 948 and its body is brought back to the monastery of Myrelaion.

Descent

Its origins are little known: wire of Théophilacte Abatistos, a Armenian peasant who became Drongaire fleet, he becomes admiral and wife Théodora († 923), who gives him:

Helene († 961), married into 919 with Constantin VII Porphyrogénète;
Christophe Lécapène († 931);
Etienne Lécapène (910-963);
Constantin Lécapène (912-946);
Théophylacte (917-956), patriarch of Constantinople;
Agathe, married into 922 in Romain Argyre. They are the grandparents of Romain III Argyre and Pulchérie Argyre, woman of Basile Skleros and mother of Pulchérie Skleraina, the first wife of Constantin IX Monomaque.

Sources

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