Emperor Constantine IX is an Emperor presiding over the transition of two eras. The Macedonian era is waning and lacking the vigor of the 9th and 10th centuries. The Empire is taking piece of the Armenian Kingdom of Ani but the days of expansion are not occurring here. It is a time of stagnant wealth and creeping complacency in the Empire.
Constantine Monomachos was caught in Imperial intrigue but eventually managed to get on top and become the most powerful man in Byzantium. Such feats were not that easy in a culture that was militarized as well as religious. There was no hereditary system in place for smooth succession of power in the empire.
Constantine IX was a survivor and was grateful enough to the Monks who fortold of his success; he had a temple built in honor of the Virgin Mary called Nea Moni on the island of Chios. This monastery would last for centuries and would peak in the 13th Century with some 800 Monks taking residence in there.
He was not a conqueror emperor.
Basil II had basically conquered as much as the political system was going to allow at that time. The Theme system that begun under Emperor Heraclius and his sons was reaching his limits under the strain of conquests.
Emperor Constantine IX simply was not up to the task to expand or really entrench. Previous Byzantine Emperors had been reducing the size of the armies. The court faction in Byzantine politics had retaken control and was enforcing its control on politics.
However, there is an interesting story here. Lots of intrigue, civil wars, religious schisms.
He was an affable man, but like many of predecessors, he was living in the shadows of a great man, Basil II. He was the man who made the century, only shadows were remaining in that age.
Constantine IX is the calm before the storm and it an intriguing calm for sure.
That is why he is one of my favorite Emperors in the Byzantine Empire.
Byzantine-Empire.com 