Ioannes the orphanotrophos had been a servant of Romanos III before his accession. Once Romanos became emperor, Ioannes introduced to him his brothers Michael, Niketas and Konstantinos, especially Michael, whom Romanos, after a brief interview, appointed as attendant of the bed-chamber, as if deliberately exposing his empress Zoe to the young man's charms. He sometimes asked Michael to come and massage his feet, when in bed with Zoe. As a money-changer by trade, Michael is said to have found an opportunity to debase the coinage. He was to become Zoe's lover and the future Michael IV