Worsening sickness of Michael IV all but ended his sexual relations with Zoe

Summary:
Michael IV suffered from a combination of his increasingly frequent attacks of illness and the embarassment they caused, shame for how he had exploited his wife Zoe, and guilt over the murder of Romanos III. As a result, he stopped almost completely from sexual relations with the empress 
Dates:
1040 
Emperor Michael IV Paphlagon (Michael 4)
  • Did not conduct business on the tribunal, sitting at ease on the imperial throne, but curtains were hung about him and certain men (Anonymi 6019) were set about him with instructions to watch over him (:) ... οὔτ ᾿ ἐν βήμασιν ἐχρημάτιζε τῷ βασιλείῳ θρόνῳ ἄνετος ἐφεζόμενος ... Zonaras 17.16.1
  • When Anonymi 6019 saw some sign of aberration of the mind in Michael 4 (and many signs gave prior indication), they would draw the curtains over him at once and, hiding the afflicted man therewith, and order those present to leave. (:) Zonaras 17.16.2
  • Gradually stopped seeing Zoe 1 and going to her, either because he was ashamed that he repaid her services in this way, or ashamed to be seen by her with this affliction, or because his bodily condition was damaged and not disposed for sex (:) Zonaras 17.16.4
  • Some say that after he had confessed to spiritual men his sin of adultery and the murder of the emperor (Romanos 3), he received from them various injunctions, including refraining from sex (:) Zonaras 17.16.5
  • He gradually gave up even seeing Zoe 1, for many reasons: he was no longer able to have relations with her now that his festering disease had broken out, as his constitution was wrecked and he was physically in a bad way (:) οὔτε γὰρ εἶχεν ἔτι ταύτῃ χρᾶσθαι, ἤδη τοῦ ὑπούλου νοσήματος ἐκραγέντος αὐτῷ Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.6-10
  • He was also covered in shame at the sight of Zoe 1 and was unable to look her in the eye, knowing how he had denied his love for her, perjured his good faith and set at nought their agreements (:) αἰδοῖ τὴν ὄψιν κεκάλυπτο, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὅπως ἀντοφθαλμίσει αὐτῇ Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.10-13
  • After discussing with men of God what he had done for the sake of power and receiving injunctions for salvation, he refrained from all excess, and indeed even from lawful intercourse with Zoe 1 (:) θείοις ἀνδράσι προσομιλήσας περὶ ὧν τοῦ κράτους ἐποιήσατο ἕνεκα καὶ σωτηριώδεις δεξάμενος ἐντολάς Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.13-16
  • Another fear kept him from Zoe 1's presence: the disturbance of his brain no longer came upon him at long intervals as before, but whether by some external force or an internal affliction, he was transformed more frequently (:) εἴτε τις ἔξωθεν αὐτὴν ἠλλοίου δύναμις εἴτε πάθος ἔνδοθεν περιέτρεπεν, πυκνότερον μετεβάλλετο Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.16-21
  • Before others he was less ashamed at this mental disturbance, but he blushed greatly before Zoe 1; and since the affliction threw him into confusion at undetermined times, he kept far from her lest he might be seen and disgraced (:) ἀορίστως αὐτὸν τὸ πάθος ἐτάραττε Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.21-4
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Because of his epilepsy Michael 4 gradually stopped seeing her and going to her (:) Zonaras 17.16.4
  • Another fear kept Michael 4 from her presence: the disturbance of his brain no longer came upon him after long intervals as before, but whether by some external force or an internal affliction, he was transformed more frequently (:) καὶ ἄλλο τι δεδίως οὐ προσέκειτο τῇ βασιλίδι Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.16-21
  • Before others Michael 4 was less ashamed at this mental disturbance, but he blushed greatly before her; and since the affliction threw him into confusion at undetermined times, he kept away from her lest he might be seen and disgraced (:) τὴν δὲ βασιλίδα καὶ μάλα ἠρυθρία Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.21-4
  • Michael 4 gradually gave up even seeing her, for many reasons: he was no longer able to have relations with her now that his festering disease had broken out, as his constitution was wrecked and he was physically in a bad way (:) κατὰ βραχὺ καὶ τοῦ ὁρᾶν αὐτὴν ὑπεξίστατο Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.6-10
  • Michael 4 was also covered in shame at the sight of her and was unable to look her in the eye, knowing how he had denied his love for her, perjured his good faith and set at nought their agreements (:) αἰδοῖ τὴν ὄψιν κεκάλυπτο, καὶ οὐκ ἦν ὅπως ἀντοφθαλμίσει αὐτῇ Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.10-13
  • After discussing with men of God what he had done for the sake of power and receiving injunctions for salvation, he refrained from all excess, and indeed even from lawful intercourse with her (:) πάσης μὲν ἀκολασίας ἤδη δὲ καὶ τῆς ἐννόμου αὐτῆς ἀπέσχετο μίξεως Psellos: Chronographia IV 17.13-16