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Zoe Karvounopsina
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Image:Follis-Constantine VII and Zoe-sb1758.jpg thumb|300px|Zoe and her son, emperor [[Constantine VII.]]
'''Zoe Karvounopsina''', or '''Carbonopsina''' (''Coal-Eyes''), was fourth wife of the Byzantine Emperor
Leo VI and mother of
Constantine VII.
Leo had caused a controversy in the
Eastern Orthodox Orthodox church by marrying for a third time. His third wife Eudocia died in childbirth in
901, and the
Patriarch of Constantinople Patriarch,
Nicholas Mysticus, forbade him from marrying a fourth time. Zoe therefore became Leo's mistress. In
905, Zoe gave birth to a son, the future Constantine VII, whom Leo wanted to legitimize by marrying Zoe. Nicholas still opposed this and conspired to overthrow Leo; he was removed from office in
907 and replaced by
Euthymius Syncellus, who allowed the marriage but refused to allow Zoe to use the title "empress."
Leo died in
912. Nicholas was reinstated as patriarch by his successor
Alexander III (emperor) Alexander III and Zoe was banished from the imperial palace. She returned when Alexander died in
913, but Nicholas forced her to enter a convent. In
914 she conspired against Nicholas, overthrew him, and took control of the regency for her son Constantine; he was reinstated again when he finally agreed to recognize her as empress.
At the same time, the
Bulgar ruler
Simeon I of Bulgaria Simeon claimed the throne, and attempted to marry his daughter to Constantine, which Zoe refused. In
915 she defeated an
Arab invasion of
Armenia, and made peace with them in order to be free to attack Simeon in
917, with help from the
Pechenegs. The Pechenegs and Byzantines quarrelled and never fought together, being defeated separately by Simeon (the Byzantines at the
Battle of Anchialus), who again demanded the Byzantine throne. Zoe tried to ally with
Serbia and the
Magyars against him. This also failed, and the Arabs, encouraged by the empire's weakness, renewed their raids.
In
919 there was a coup involving various factions; in the end
Romanus I Romanus Lecapenus took power, married his daughter to Constantine, and forced Zoe back into a convent.
External links
{{Commons|Zoe Karvounopsina}}
Category:9th century births
Category:10th century deaths
Category:Byzantine empresses
Category:Macedonian dynasty
Category:Medieval women
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