Death of Constantine VIII

Date: November 11, 1028 • Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Constantine VIII dies, ending his uninterrupted reign as emperor or co-emperor of the Byzantine Empire of 66 years.

Constantine VIII was de jure Byzantine emperor from 962 until his death. He was the younger son of Emperor Romanos II and Empress Theophano. He was nominal co-emperor from 962, successively with his father; his stepfather, Nikephoros II Phokas; his uncle, John I Tzimiskes; and his brother, Basil II. Basil's death in 1025 left Constantine as the sole emperor. He occupied the throne for 66 years in total, making him de jure the longest-reigning amongst all Roman emperors since Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus