[1] Nikephoros Proteuon served as governor of the theme of Bulgaria during the final years of the reign of Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1042–1055).
[2][3] The exact title of his office is unknown, as the sources label him simply as "the one holding the rule of Bulgaria" (τὴν τῆς Βουλγαρίας περιεζωσμένος ἀρχήν).
Ordinarily this would mean a military governor with the rank of either doux or katepano, but if his identification in the hagiography of Saint Lazaros of Mount Galesios (see below) is correct, he may have been a civil official.
They took the elderly empress from retirement in a monastery, brought her by warship to the Great Palace, and crowned her emperor a few hours before Constantine died "cursing his fate" on January 11.
[8] He may also be the Nikephoros, son of Euthymios, mentioned in chapters 105 and 106 of the same work, who had been banished by Emperor Constantine IX, but whose recall to imperial service was predicted by the saint.