Nicephorus II Phocas
Nicephorus II Phocas started his career as a military commander following in the footsteps of his father in 953. His victories against the Arabs made him a popular figure in Constantinople and he caught the attention of the Byzantine Emperor Romanus II and his wife, Empress Theophano. Nicephorus II Phocas was known to be a pious and unattractive man with little interest in women but he proved himself time and again as a military commander.
When Emperor Romanus II died, his wife was left to rule as regent for her sons who were only six and three at the time that they were crowned co-emperors. Knowing that there were plots against her and her sons she sought someone that could protect them and their interests. To that end she summoned Nicephorus to Constantinople and seduced him. He promised to take the crown and rule until such time that her sons were old enough to rule.
In August 963, Nicephorus was crowned and soon after he and Theophano were married. Nicephorus II was not a popular Emperor. He reduced spending on the court, the clergy and the monasteries while also increasing taxation to unheard of levels. When he refused to help the poor through multiple famines he lost all favor with the people. Theophano also turned against Nicephorus because she feared his brothers sought to take the line of succession from her sons.
Theophano took a lover, John Tzimisces, after Nicephorus II removed him from his military command. Together they plotted to kill Nicephorus. John Tzimisces and several plotters dressed as women hid in Theophano’s room until the Emperor had fallen asleep. Then she urged them into the Emperor’s room where they beat him and stabbed him to death. John Tzimisces was immediately accepted as Emperor but the ecclesiastical authorities insisted that he send Theophano into exile. Despite her exile, her sons did eventually become Emperors.