Constantine Barbaros

[1] Constantine is first mentioned in the sources as a servant or follower—some modern researchers have called him a slave, but this is unlikely—of the magistros and kanikleios Basil, of whom nothing is known.

[3] In the same year, in a bid to ingratiate himself with Leo's fourth wife, Zoe Karbonopsina, Samonas presented her with Constantine as a gift.

His machinations, however, were betrayed by one of his fellow conspirators, and Samonas was dismissed, tonsured, and banished to the monastery of Martinakios in summer of 908.

[1][6] Constantine shortly after accused Theophylact, the newly appointed commander of the imperial bodyguard, the Hetaireia, of plotting to have his brother made emperor.

Two letters by Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos to Constantine (or a subordinate) show his involvement in the financial administration—specifically the exploitation of church property to the benefit of the state treasury—as well as the organization of games with animal fights to celebrate an alliance with the Pechenegs, an event which the Patriarch condemned as un-Christian, and for which he ordered Constantine and other leading officials to conduct a penance.

It is however possible that the story of Constantine's plotting was a later invention by the supporters of Lekapenos, to justify his actions leading to his eventual usurpation of the throne.

The bloodless coup was a success: Nicholas Mystikos was re-appointed as regent in place of Zoe, and his first step was to dismiss Leo Phokas from his post as Domestic of the Schools.

Constantine Barbaros himself was allowed to keep his position for a while, but only after swearing fealty and writing letters to his brother-in-law urging him not to rebel against the emperor.

[1][10] According to the Life of Basil the Younger, Constantine retained the rank of primikerios during the later half of the reign of Romanos Lekapenos (i.e. between 931 and 944), and was allowed to keep his palace near Arcadianae, built for him at imperial expense during his tenure as parakoimomenos.

The hagiography reports that Constantine hosted Basil in the palace for several years until his death, giving him use of a portion of it as his residence, which he used to receive visits and perform healing miracles; and that there Basil became acquainted with several senior members of the court, including Emperor Romanos Lekapenos and Empress Helena Lekapene.