Constantine X Doukas

Constantine X Doukas (c. 1006–1067) founded the Doukid dynasty and ruled Byzantium from 1059 to 1067. A scholar-aristocrat, he backed Isaac I Komnenos in 1057, later opposed his reforms and succeeded him in 1059.

As emperor he favoured bureaucrats over soldiers, cut army funding, disbanded his Armenian militia and left frontier forts unrepaired. Military aristocrats tried to assassinate him in 1061, and his taxes to pay the army made him unpopular.

Frontier losses mounted: the Normans took Calabria and Alp Arslan stormed Ani in 1064. He died on 23 May 1067, leaving his widow Eudokia ruling for his young sons.