Romanos III very ill, perhaps poisoned by Ioannes (orphanotrophos) or Zoe

Summary:
Romanos III was attacked by a chronic illness which entailed facial swelling, rapid breathing and serious loss of hair and beard. He ate and slept little, but remained assiduous in the performance of his ceremonial role, though it greatly tired him. It was said that he was poisoned by Ioannes orphanotrophos, who had been his servant since before his accession, and had great influence over him. The empress Zoe, who felt an intense passion for Ioannes' brother Michael (IV), may also have used slow poisons against the emperor, and Michael (IV) himself is also suspected. Romanos was forced to take to his bed in constant pain. Ioannes was said to have visited Zoe secretly and warned her that further delay would lead to the death of both of them. However a contemporary panegyric praises the care with which Zoe organised his nursing 
Dates:
1034 
Ioannes the Orphanotrophos, brother of Michael IV (Ioannes 68)
  • Acquired great power after Romanos 3, whose servant he had been, acceeded to the throne, and according to rumours he poisoned the emperor who lost his hair and beard after contracting a chronic disease (:) μεγάλην δύναμιν ἔσχεν Skylitzes 389.67-390.71
  • The death of Romanos 3 was attributed by many to him (:) καὶ τοῦτο οἱ πολλοὶ τῷ ὀρφανοτρόφῳ προσάπτουσιν Skylitzes 415.55-56
  • Pressed Zoe 1 to install his brother Michael 4 on the throne, by secretly whispering to her, 'We shall perish at once if the fulfilment is delayed by a short moment.' (:) λάθρᾳ πρὸς αὐτὴν ὑποψιθυρίσαντος ὡς ἀπολούμεθα αὐτίκα, εἰ βραδεῖ τινι καιρῷ τὸ ἀποτέλεσμα βραδυνεῖς Zonaras 17.14.3
  • Having acquired great power after the accession of Romanos 3 he helped his brothers Michael 4, Niketas 104, Konstantinos 64 and Georgios 106 to become close associates of the emperor, whom it was rumoured that he poisoned (:) διὰ τοῦ Ἰωάννου πάντες οὗτοι τῷ βασιλεῖ ᾠκειώθησαν Glykas 584.11-18
  • As it was necessary to fix a day when Michael 4 would be crowned and allocated the other insignia, he visited Zoe 1 secretly and said, "We shall die if the power inclines further to delay"; he converted her wholly to his opinion (:) δι’ ἀπορρήτων αὐτῇ ἐντυχών, καὶ ὡς ἀποθανούμεθα φήσας, εἰ ῥοπὴν τὸ κράτος εἰς ὑπέρθεσιν λήψεται Psellos: Chronographia IV 2.5-11
Emperor Michael IV Paphlagon (Michael 4)
  • There is common agreement among others that he first bewitched Romanos 3 with drugs and then mixed up hellebore: in association with Zoe 1 (:) τοῖς δὲ ἄλλοις κοινὸν τοῦτο τέθειται ὁμολόγημα Psellos: Chronographia III 26.5-8
Emperor Romanos III Argyros (Romanos 3)
  • Suffered from a chronic disease and lost his hair and beard, poisoned according to rumours by Ioannes 68 who later became orphanotrophos (in the year 6547 (1039):Τούτῳ τῷ ,ςφμζ ´ ἔτει) κατεργασθείς, ὥς φασιν Skylitzes 389.67-69
  • Destroyed by poison given to him over a long period and bringing not an early death but a slow and protracted one, he was convulsed by a painful disease and suffered in pain, being bed-ridden and wishing to die (:) κλινοπετὴς ὢν καὶ ὅλῃ ψυχῇ τὸν θάνατον ἐκκαλούμενος Skylitzes 390.83-89
  • Fell ill, and his face became swollen, his breathing rapid, his countenance like that of a corpse, and the greater part of his head bald, since his hair fell out. He is said to have been worked upon by poisons (:) οἱ διῳδήκει τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ τὸ ἆσθμα ἦν συνεχὲς καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτῷ ἐῴκει νεκροῦ καὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὸ πλέον ἐψίλωτο· αἱ γὰρ τρίχες αὐτῆς ἀπερρύησαν. λέγεται γοῦν φαρμάκοις περιεργασθῆναι ὁ ἄνθρωπος Zonaras 17.13.23
  • Suffered from a chronic disease which caused the hair of his beard and head to fall, and it was rumoured that he was poisoned by Ioannes 68 who later became orphanotrophos (:) κατεργασθείς Glykas 584.10-12
  • Everyone else had given up hope, but he was not absolutely despondent: he handed himself over to the arts of medicine and there sought salvation for himself (:) ἰατρικαῖς τέχναις ἑαυτὸν ἐδεδώκει, κἀκεῖ τὴν σωτηρίαν ἑαυτῷ ἐμνηστεύετο Psellos: Chronographia III 25.9-12
  • An unusual and painful illness came upon him: suddenly his whole body became infected and festering; after that he touched food only feebly, while sleep poised on the tips of his eyes and swiftly flew away (:) καταλαμβάνει καὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα νόσημα τῶν ἀήθων καὶ χαλεπῶν Psellos: Chronographia III 24.1-6
  • Although in extremely bad health, he did not neglect regular activities nor disregard imperial processions, but dressed splendidly in robes shot with gold and donned the other adornments, as if bearing a load on his weak body (:) στολαῖς κατελαμπρύνετο χρυσοπάστοις ... ὥσπερ ἀχθοφορῶν ἐν ἀσθενεῖ σώματι Psellos: Chronographia III 24.18-22
  • After processions he returned with difficulty and was more ill (:) δυσχερῶς τε ἐπανέστρεφεν καὶ πλέον εἶχε κακῶς Psellos: Chronographia III 24.22-3
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • She would not tolerate delay, since she was also being pressed to its accomplishment by the eunuch Ioannes 68, brother of Michael 4, who had secretly whispered to her, 'We shall perish at once if the fulfilment is delayed by a short moment.' (:) Zonaras 17.10.3
  • Disliked the fact that Romanos 3 was leading a virtuous life and, aroused by carnal desire, she fell in love with Michael 4. had intercourse with him in secret, and pushed him to the throne while the emperor was slowly dying from poisoning (:) σφαδασμοῖς ἅτε σαρκικοῖς ὑποθερμαινομένη Glykas 584.18-585.4
  • There is common agreement among others that she first bewitched Romanos 3 with drugs and then mixed up hellebore: in association with Michael 4 (:) τοῖς δὲ ἄλλοις κοινὸν τοῦτο τέθειται ὁμολόγημα Psellos: Chronographia III 26.5-8
  • As it was necessary to fix a day when Michael 4 would be crowned and allocated the other insignia, Ioannes 68 visited her secretly and said, "We shall die if there is further delay"; he converted her wholly to his opinion (:) ὅλην εἰς τὴν οἰκείαν μετατίθησι γνώμην Psellos: Chronographia IV 2.5-11
  • 1043 summary: she shared with Romanos 3 in his illness, being present when he was treated, and giving him as much verbal consolation as she could, but eventually despairing completely of recovery (:) Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 254-260