John the Orphanotrophos

John the Orphanotrophos (Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Ὀρφανοτρόφος) was the chief court eunuch (parakoimomenos) during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos III (r. 1028–1034).

After his accession, Romanos made John praepositus sacri cubiculi (head of the imperial household and the highest eunuch position; this title is probably identical with parakoimomenos) and senator.

[3] John persuaded the Empress to adopt Stephen's son Michael as her own, thus ensuring the continuation of the Paphlagonian line.

John's position at the head of the state, his ability to remain in power despite the installation of new emperors, and his shrewd pursuit of his family's interests make him one of the most fascinating eunuchs in Byzantine history.

[2] As Psellos' description of him in Book 4 of his Chronographia shows, he was a very complex figure, capable of inspiring both admiration and loathing in the same chronicler.