Editing Romanos IV Diogenes (section)

==Physical appearance and personality==
Byzantine Empress [[Eudokia Makrembolitissa]] was infatuated with Romanos; for according to Attaleiates, “The man not only surpassed others in his good qualities but he was also pleasant to look at in all respects.”<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rPpfQgAACAAJ|title=The Dreadful Day: The Battle of Manzikert, 1071|page=152|isbn=9780091435707 |last1=Friendly |first1=Alfred |year=1981 |publisher=Hutchinson }}</ref> He was, however, “very harsh and violent in his judgments,” says Michael the Syrian, and he once ordered the nose of a soldier to be cut off for stealing the donkey of a Muslim after the emperor had given his peace.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJ67QgAACAAJ|title=Turkish Myth and Muslim Symbol: The Battle of Manzikert|page=249|isbn=9780748625734 |last1=Hillenbrand |first1=Carole |year=2007 }}</ref> "One thing alone satisfied him: that he marched against his foes".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f5xO8di3nusC|title=14 Byzantine Rulers|page=352}}</ref> He was said to have been very brave, and would often go unarmed and without escort to fight with his enemies which would cause his worried generals to complain. Psellus confirms that Romanus “exposed himself to danger without a thought of the consequences”.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f5xO8di3nusC|title=14 Byzantine Rulers|page=355}}</ref>
{{blockquote|I who was present [during an enemy surrender] did not approve of the simplicity of the emperor who mingled without body armour among murderous men who pass their lives in recklessness and madness|Michael Attaleiates<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SJ67QgAACAAJ|title=Turkish Myth and Muslim Symbol: The Battle of Manzikert|page=230|isbn=9780748625734 |last1=Hillenbrand |first1=Carole |date=26 August 2023 }}</ref>}}

Romanos grew contemptuous of the empress Eudokia for trying to control him.
{{blockquote|The more she tried to dominate him, to treat him, who was really her master, like a lion in a cage, the more he fretted at her restraining influence and glared at the hand that kept him in check,” writes Psellus, who knew them both. “To begin with, he growled inwardly, but as time passed his disgust became obvious to everyone<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f5xO8di3nusC|title=14 Byzantine Rulers|page=350}}</ref>}}