When his efforts to beget an heir failed, Romanos visited Zoe less often, making her hate him

Summary:
Romanos and Zoe were at first both anxious to produce a child. Romanos dreamed of founding a dynasty, not realising that Zoe, being over fifty, was past childbearing age. He was zealous in their sexual life, submitted himself to ointments and massage, and insisted that she do the same, hanging amulets from her body and undergoing spells to induce pregnancy. But when the hoped-for child did not appear, Romanos despaired and paid her less attention, becoming estranged from her. Her desire for a child with Romanos was gradually transferred to Michael (IV). 
Dates:
1029 
Emperor Romanos III Argyros (Romanos 3)
  • When he realised that all was done in vain and gave up his zeal, he no longer felt the same about his wife (Zoe 1) and went to her less (:) Zonaras 17.13.5
  • At first he had been zealous in sex and would exert himself: he had made use of ointments and fastened on his wife (Zoe 1) stone amulets, in the hope that they would have some effect for conception (:) Zonaras 17.13.3
  • When he had recently won the kingdom, dreamed he would leave a successor from his own loins, being unable to comprehend that the empress to whom he was married (Zoe 1) was fifty and past her prime, her womb without moisture for reception of semen (:) Zonaras 17.13.2
  • When the hoped for child did not appear, he despaired of it and paid less attention to the empress (Zoe 1) (:) ὡς δὲ οὐδαμοῦ τὸ ἐλπιζόμενον κατεφαίνετο Psellos: Chronographia III 5.18-20
  • Paid attention not only to the physical cause of pregnancy, but attached himself to those who boast both to quench nature and rouse it again, submitted himself to ointments and massage and ordered his wife (Zoe 1) to do so (:) ὅθεν οὐδὲ τῷ αἰτίῳ μόνῳ τοῦ κύειν προσεῖχε τὸν νοῦν, ἀλλὰ ... ἀλείμμασί τε καὶ τρίμμασιν ἑαυτὸν ἐδίδου Psellos: Chronographia III 5.11-14
  • When some years had been measured out for him in rule, he was estranged from the empress (Zoe 1) (:) Zonaras 17.13.7
  • Closed the treasuries to Zoe 1 and sealed off their wealth (:) ἐπέκλεισε γὰρ αὐτῇ τὰ ταμεῖα καὶ τοὺς θήσαυροὺς ἐπεσφράγισε Psellos: Chronographia III 6.12-13
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Was visited less by Romanos 3 when he realised that all his efforts to make her conceive were in vain and he gave up his zeal, since he no longer felt the same about her (:) Zonaras 17.13.5-6
  • Had stone amulets fastened on her by Romanos 3, in the hope that they would have some effect for conception. And she endured both attachments and incantations and submitted to spells (:) προσήρτα λιθίδια Zonaras 17.13.3-4
  • Went even further, being initiated into most practices, fastening pebbles on her body, attaching amulets, binding on fillets and manifesting other nonsense about her body (:) ψηφίδας τινὰς προσαρμοζομένη τῷ σώματι, προσαρτῶσά τε ἑαυτὴν προσαρτήμασι καὶ ἅμμασι περιδέουσα καὶ τὴν ἄλλην φλυαρίαν περὶ τὸ σῶμα ἐπιδεικνυμένη Psellos: Chronographia II 5.14-18
  • When the hoped for child did not appear, Romanos 3 despaired of it and paid her less attention (:) τῇ βασιλίδι ἔλαττον προσεῖχε τὸν νοῦν Psellos: Chronographia III 5.18-20
  • Was ordered by Romanos 3 to submit to ointments and massage (in order to induce pregnancy): in association with Romanos 3 (:) ἀλείμμασί τε καὶ τρίμμασιν ἑαυτὸν ἐδίδου καὶ τῇ γυναικὶ προσέταττεν Psellos: Chronographia 5.13-14
  • When Ioannes 68 realised that she wished to have children and sent some women to persuade her to compel Michael 4 to bring up their offspring from him, she became suspicious, and proposed to produce herself an heir for the empire with him (:) ὑποτοπήσασα εἶπε· ῾συμφθαρήσεται αὐτῷ, τέξεται, καὶ ἡ βασιλεία ἔξει διάδοχον.᾿ Skylitzes 404.60-405.64
  • Had sexual intercourse in a dark corner with Michael 4 not so much because she was attracted by his good looks, but driven more by her desire to have his child and produce an heir for the empire (:) καὶ σκοτίως ἐν παραβύστῳ ἐμίγνυτο Skylitzes 405.64-66