The three daughters of Konstantinos (VIII) grew up in the palace after the death of their mother, Helena. Eudokia, whose appearance was disfigured by disease, persuaded her father to dedicate her to a monastery, but Zoe (I) and Theodora (I) grew up accepting life in the palace without seeking to influence their future. Neither Basileios II nor Konstantinos VIII, when he took over rule, made any public decisions worthy of an emperor in their respect, till the end of Konstantinos' life. He then used Zoe, the most imperial of his daughters, to establish the succession