[1][2] John Rogerios was the son of a certain Roger, a Norman who defected to Byzantium during the Byzantine–Norman wars and entered imperial service, and of an unnamed lady of the Dalassenos clan.
[1] Through his Dalassenoi blood, Roger was already a relative of the ruling Komnenos dynasty, and this link was reinforced when he married John II's eldest daughter Maria and was raised to the rank of caesar.
He enjoyed some support within the nobility, above all among the various Normans in the imperial capital, most prominent of whom was the exiled prince of Capua, Robert II.
[1] John was soon forgiven and restored to his position, at about the time Maria died in circa 1146,[1] as he is recorded as participating in a synod at the Blachernae Palace in February 1147.
Despite his lofty title and Norman ancestry, Constance found him too old and unattractive, and rejected him in favour of Reynald of Châtillon.