Romanos III, after distributing pay to senators, was murdered in the bath at Blachernai

Summary:
Romanos III, after distributing roga to senators (or before work began, according to Psellos) took a bath at Blachernai (or the Great Palace), with no unusual sign of sickness. He then swam in the plunge bath, and was met by some of his attendants. It is said that these were agents of Michael (IV), who held his head under water long enough to kill him, but sources do not agree and some express uncertainty. Romanos cried out for help, and was taken from the bath nearly dead. At this point the empress Zoe arrived, unattended and feigning grief, but soon left. Later, when informed of his death, she took control of affairs 
Dates:
1034 April 11 
murderers of Romanos III (Anonymi 6009)
  • Said to have pressed Romanos 3's head under water (at the one of the palace baths) for long enough (:) συμπιέσαι γάρ τινας αὐτῷ τὴν κεφαλήν φασιν ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐφ᾿ ἱκανόν Zonaras 17.13.26
Emperor Michael IV Paphlagon (Michael 4)
  • Whether he and his accomplices in the affair did something most untoward to Romanos 3, Michael 61 is unable to say: in association with Zoe 1 (:) εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐδεδράκεισάν τι περὶ αὐτὸν τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων Psellos: Chronographia III 26.2-4
  • It was rumoured that he was among the murderers of Romanos 3, whose drowning was carried out by the empress (Zoe 1) because of her passion for Michael (Holy Thursday:) Aristakes 46.16-18 (33)
Emperor Romanos III Argyros (Romanos 3)
  • Died having drowned in his bath πνιγεὶς ἐν τῷ λουτρῷ Kleinchroniken 159.8, 165.10
  • After distributing the roga to senators, he wished to take a bath in the Great Palace bath, which he entered, and was drowned in the swimming pool by Michael 4's men (on April 11 of the second indiction of the year 65:τῆς ἐνδεκάτης τοῦ Ἀπριλλίου μηνός, τῆς δευτέρας ἰν) οἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται Skylitzes 390.89-95
  • Was drowned in the swimming pool of the Great Palace bath by Michael 4's men οἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται ὑπὸ τῶν περὶ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ἐν τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ τοῦ λοετροῦ Skylitzes 390.93-94
  • It was said that he died as a result of treachery γοητείαις, ὡς ἔφασκον, κατεργασθέντι Skylitzes 417.92
  • Condemned to a slow death by poison he remained bedridden wishing to die, and on Maundy Thursday after distributing the roga to the senate he wished to take a bath in the Great Palace, but was drowned by the men of Michael 4 in his bath tub (Maundy Thursday (1034):τὴν μεγάλην πέμπτην) τὰς ῥόγας τῶν συγκλητικῶν ποιησάμενος Glykas 585.4-10
  • Was brutally drowned by the men of Michael 4 in his bath tub in the Great Palace and was buried in his newly founded church of the Peribleptos οἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται Glykas 585.7-20
  • While ill, went to one of the baths in the palace to wash, neither attended nor expecting that he would die forthwith Zonaras 17.13.24
  • When he had cleansed his body, he entered the plunge there, where the totality of the deed is claimed to have occurred ὡς δὲ τὸ σῶμα ἐκάθηρεν, εἰσέδυ τὴν ἐκεῖ κολυμβήθραν, ἔνθα δὴ τὸ πᾶν ᾄδεται γενέσθαι τοῦ δράματος Zonaras 17.13.25
  • They say that certain people pressed his head in the water for long enough, and so he was drawn out from there almost without breath and laid on the couch συμπιέσαι γάρ τινας αὐτῷ τὴν κεφαλήν φασιν ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐφ᾿ ἱκανόν, καὶ οὕτως ἐκεῖθεν ἄπνουν ἀνιμηθῆναι σχεδὸν καὶ ἀνακλιθῆναι πρὸς τὴν στρωμνήν Zonaras 17.13.26
  • Survived for a short time unable to speak, and then bringing up some black matter through his mouth he gave up his spirit after reigning for five and a half years ὁ δὲ βραχύ τι ἐπιβιοὺς ἄναυδος, εἶτα καὶ μελάντερόν τι ἀναγαγὼν διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἀφῆκε τὸ πνεῦμα Zonaras 17.13.28
  • Whether the loving couple (Zoe 1 and Michael 4) and their accomplices in the affair did something most untoward to him, Michael 61 is unable to say (:) εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐδεδράκεισάν τι περὶ αὐτὸν τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων Psellos: Chronographia III 26.2-4
  • There is common agreement among others that Michael 4 and Zoe 1 first bewitched him with drugs and then mixed up hellebore (:) τὸν ἄνδρα πρότερον φαρμάκοις καταγοητεύσαντες, μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἑλλέβορον ἐκεράσαντο Psellos: Chronographia III 26.5-8
  • In this state (of health) he completed the preliminary rites of our common resurrection and at the same time was preparing himself to go forth to the public festival next day τὰ προτέλεια τῆς κοινῆς ἡμῶν ἀναστάσεως ἐτελεῖτο τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὁμοῦ τε ὡς ἐς αὔριον εἰς τὴν πάνδημον πανήγυριν προελευσόμενος ηὐτρεπιζετο Psellos: Chronographia III 26.9-12
  • Before day he set out to use the baths there in the palace, without an escort and not close to death: in a perfectly normal way he went up to anoint himself and bathe and purify his body οὔτε χειραγωγούμενος ἔτι, οὔθ’ ὑπόγυος πρὸς τὸν θάνατον ὤν· διαπρεπῶς γοῦν ἀνῄει ἀλειψόμενος καὶ λουσόμενος καὶ καθαρσίοις περὶ τὸ σῶμα χρησόμενος Psellos: Chronographia III 26.12-16
  • He entered the bath, first thoroughly cleansed his head, then showered his body too; since he was breathing strongly, he consigned himself to the swimming pool which had been deepened in the middle ἐπειδὴ ἐρρωμένως εἶχε τοῦ πνεύματος, τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ ἑαυτὸν ἐπιδίδωσιν, ἥτις μέσον ὀρώρυκται Psellos: Chronographia III 26.16-19
  • At first he swam pleasurably in the water and floated lightly, spurting water with great pleasure and refreshing himself; later some of his attendants went in to support him and give him a rest, as he had prescribed ἡδέως τῷ ὕδατι ἐπενήχετο καὶ ἐλαφρῶς ἐπέπλει, ἀναφυσῶν ὡς ἥδιστα καὶ ἀναψυχόμενος Psellos: Chronographia III 26.19-23
  • Michael 61 is unable to say accurately whether the attendants who went into the bath with him committed some crime against him εἴ τι μὲν εἰσελθόντες περὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα παρηνόμησαν Psellos: Chronographia III 26.23-5
  • Those who have linked other events with this say that when he plunged his head into the water, as he was in the habit of doing, (his attendants) pressed on his neck and held on for a long time, then released him and left φασὶ γοῦν οἱ καὶ τἄλλα πρὸς τοῦτο συνείροντες Psellos: Chronographia III 26.25-8
  • His breath lightened him and made him appear on the water almost breathless, floating at random like a cork τὸν δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα κουφίσαν ἄπνουν σχεδὸν ἐπεδείκνυ τοῖς ὕδασιν, ὥσπερ φελλὸν ἀλόγως ἐπισαλεύοντα Psellos: Chronographia III 26.28-30
  • When he had recovered breath a little, he realised what a dreadful plight he was in, and stretching out a hand begged for someone to take hold of him and set him on his feet ὡς δὲ βραχύ τι ἀναπνεύσας ἔγνω ὅπη κακοῦ ἐτύγχανεν ὤν Psellos: Chronographia III 26.30-32
  • One man took pity on him and his condition, put his hands under him, embraced him and drew him out; carrying him as he was he set him down on a couch in a wretched state διαβαστάσας ὡς εἶχεν ἐπὶ τῆς στρωμνῆς ἀθλίως κετέθετο Psellos: Chronographia III 26.32-5
  • When an outcry arose (as he was lifted from the bath), Zoe 1 herself was among others who came along, without a bodyguard, apparently in terrible grief; after seeing him, she left again, having assured herself by looking that he would die ἄλλοι δέ τινες παρῆσαν καὶ ἡ βασιλὶς αὐτὴ ἀδορυφόρητος, ὡς ἐπὶ πένθει δεινῷ Psellos: Chronographia III 26. 35-8
  • He groaned heavy and deep and looked around hither and thither, unable to speak but showing what he wanted by signs and nods; as no one understood him, he closed his eyes and began to breathe heavily again βαρύ τι στενάξας καὶ βύθιον, τῇδε κἀκεῖσε περιβλέπτετο Psellos: Chronographia III 26.38-42
  • Then suddenly there flowed out from his gaping mouth blackish coagulated matter; at this he gasped two or three times and departed life ἀθρόον ἀναρραγέντος ὑπεκχεῖται διὰ τοῦ στόματος μελάντερόν τι τὴν χρόαν καὶ πεπηγὸς Psellos: Chronographia III 26.42-5
  • So he died, after being master of the empire for five and a half years ἐς πεντάδα χρόνων καὶ ἥμισυ τὴν βασιλείαν κατεσχηκώς Psellos: Chronographia IV 1.1-2
  • When the empress Zoe 1 had learnt that he had breathed his last (for she was not present while he was dying), at once, as if heir apparent to the realm from on high, she took charge of affairs (:) ἐπειδὴ τοῦτον ἐμεμαθήκει ἐκπεπνευκότα (οὐδὲ γὰρ παρῆν ἀποπνέοντι) Psellos: Chronographia IV 1.2-6
  • Entered his golden bathtub (pool?) which was full of warm water but was seized by the hair by his servants (rumoured to have included Michael 4) who held him under water until he died, and this was done with the consent of the empress (Zoe 1) սպասաւորքն բուռն հարեալ զգիսոյ գլխոյ նորա ծածկեցին ընդ ջրովն մինչև վճարեցաւ ի կենաց Aristakes 46.2-3 (32); 46.18 (33)
  • Left the palace to address the army, occupied himself in distributing imperial gifts according to rank until midday, and then ordered that water be prepared in a golden basin (Holy Thursday:) Aristakes 45.22-46.1 (31-32)
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • When a hubbub arose at Romanos 3's being drawn from the bath almost without breath, even the empress Zoe 1 arrived, as if indeed she was grieving at the misfortune, and being satisfied of the emperor's end she departed at once (:) Zonaras 17.13.27
  • Whether she and her accomplices in the affair in association with Michael 4 did something most untoward to Romanos 3, Michael 61 is unable to say (:) εἰ μὲν οὖν ἐδεδράκεισάν τι περὶ αὐτὸν τῶν ἀτοπωτάτων Psellos: Chronographia III 26.2-4
  • When an outcry arose (as Romanos 3 was lifted from the bath), she was among others who came along, without a bodyguard and apparently in terrible grief; after seeing him, she left again, having assured herself by looking on him that he would die (:) τὸ πιστὸν τῆς τελευτῆς εἰληφυῖα διὰ τῆς ὄψεως Psellos: Chronographia III 26.35-8
  • When she had learnt that Romanos 3 had breathed his last (for she was not present while he was dying) she at once took charge of affairs, as if heir apparent to the realm from on high (:) εὐθὺς ὥσπερ δὴ κληρονόμος ἄνωθεν τῆς ἀρχῆς Psellos: Chronographia IV 1.2-6
  • Arranged the drowning of the emperor (Romanos 3) during his bath because of her passion for Michael 4, and as soon as the deed was accomplished she summoned the city magnates, showed them the dead emperor and claimed he had died unexpectedly (Holy Thursday:) Aristakes 46.16-21 (32-33)
  • Manasses cannot say whether Zoe gave her consent to the murder as well or was not privy (to it) at all (:) εἴθ’ ὥς φασι, καὶ τῆς Ζωῆς εἰς τοῦτο συννευσάσης ἢ συνειδυίας μηδαμῶς Manasses, Chronicle 5997-98