He exhibited little interest in politics, however, and his mother Eudokia and uncle John Doukas governed the empire as effective regents.

[4] On 1 January 1068, Eudokia married the general Romanos IV Diogenes, who now became senior co-emperor alongside Michael VII, Konstantios, and another brother, Andronikos.

[8] The emperor's chief interests, shaped by Psellos, were in academic pursuits, and he allowed Nikephoritzes to increase both taxation and luxury spending without properly financing the army.

[8] Although this revolt was suppressed by the general Nikephoros Bryennios,[8] the Byzantine Empire was unable to recover its losses in Asia Minor.

[9] The problem was made worse by the desertion of the Byzantines' western mercenaries under Roussel de Bailleul who were setting up an independent principiality in the region of Galatia and Lycaonia.

The victorious Roussel now forced John Doukas to stand as pretender to the throne and sacked Chrysopolis, just opposite Constantinople.

[11] A new army under Alexios Komnenos (the future emperor), reinforced by Seljuk troops sent by Malik Shah I, finally defeated the mercenaries and captured John Doukas in 1074.

These included: Michael VII Doukas married Maria of Alania, daughter of King Bagrat IV of Georgia.