After his death Konstantinos 8 took over the empire, which was very wealthy as he had many years in power, more than any other emperor, took control of many nations and brought their wealth to the palace
The money which he had stored up in the palace by great sweat and toil became the plaything of Maria 64, Zoe 1 and Theodora 1, given and received as presents or channelled elsewhere: soon it was all used up and wasted
Treated Ioannes 68 [unnamed] with great familiarity and shared secrets with him; while he did not elevate him to magnificent offices he had a most genuine regard for him
Konstantinos 9 was emperor for a longer time than those who ruled after him and did more than the others, some things better than they, others much worse
ὁ καταδειματῶν τούτους. Psellos: Chronographia VI 91.5
Isaakios 1, when he had returned to the palace (from the hunting-lodge where he fell ill) felt easier and revelled in the time, talking like a provincial, joking more than usual, ..., talking of the past and the apt sayings of Basileos 002
Lived and reigned for 72 years and sole emperor for 50. For the rest he ruled with his father (Emperor Romanos II), then with Phokas (Phokas 1) and after him with Tzimiskes (Ioannes 1)
Zonaras 17.9.36
His deeds are narrated in the Chronographia of Michael 61
Was moderate in his food, drink and clothing, eager to manage all the affairs of his empire, and although he found only 4 kentenaria of gold in the treasury when he ascended the throne, he left 6,000 when he died
ولم يزل ... مقتصرًا فى مطعمه ومشربه وزيه لازمًا الحميّة طول حياته ناظرًا بنفسه فى ساير أمور مملكته ما جلّ منه وصغر وخلّف من المال العين الصامت ستّة ألف قنطار وكان جميع ما وجده من المال حين احتوى على الملك أربع قناطير. Yahya al-Antaki 482
Felt affection and strong love for Eudokia 101, Theodora 1 and Zoe 1, but took no more noble care for them; while guarding the power for his brother (Konstantinos 8) he put their care in his hands
وكان مدة ملكه تسعة وأربعون سنة وأحد عشر شهر. Yahya al-Antaki 480
Rule of the empire would not otherwise have been piloted well under him and Konstantinos 8, had not the absolute administration been allocated to him, the first and sharpest