| The Empress Zoe. 978-1050
Younger daughter and successor of
Constantine Vlll.
At the request of her father who
had no sons and to ensure the stability of the Empire, she married
for the first time at the age of 50. Six years later Romanus lll was
poisoned, presumably by Zoe. She married her lover on the evening of
the day his body was found. Zoe and Michael lV, ruled jointly until
his death at which time she ruled with his nephew. With the
nephew in disgrace she and her elder sister Theodora ruled the
Empire. Upon her marriage to Constantine, it became a
threesome. Theodora and Constantine ruled on together after
the death of Zoe. He died in 1055 and She in 1066.
Zoe is seen here in her
ceremonial robes, holding a scroll containing a list of donations to the
Church. She doesn't look bad for a woman of 50 does she?
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