Constantine VIII (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος, Kōnstantinos;[n. 2] 960 – 11/12 November 1028) was de jure Byzantine emperor from 962 until his death.

Constantine displayed a lifelong lack of interest in politics, statecraft and the military, and during his brief sole reign the government of the Byzantine Empire suffered from mismanagement and neglect.

Their parents were Romanos II, the sixth Byzantine emperor of the Macedonian dynasty, and his second wife Theophano, an innkeeper's daughter described by contemporaries as ambitious and amoral.

Of their three daughters, Eudokia became a nun after contracting smallpox, Zoe was empress for 22 years, and Theodora reigned for 18 months as the last monarch of the Macedonian line.

[1] The widowed Theophano installed herself as regent for her sons and stocked the imperial government with supporters, but she faced competition for power with Joseph Bringas, a former advisor of Romanos.

Alongside these active pursuits he was a gourmet and a gourmand,[12] leading in later years to chronic gout which impaired his ability to walk.

[14] Unqualified men received senior government posts, and Basil's land laws were dropped under pressure from the aristocracy of Anatolia.

These interactions with Constantine were not without risk; when challenged, or led to suspect conspiracies, the emperor responded with impulsive cruelty.

[21] Constantine Dalassenos was summoned from his estates in the Armeniac Theme, with the intention that he should certify his position as successor by marrying the emperor's daughter Zoe.