Editing Romanos IV Diogenes (section)

==Betrayal==
In the meantime, the opposition faction scheming against Romanos&nbsp;IV decided to exploit the situation. Declaring Romanos as deposed, Michael&nbsp;VII was proclaimed emperor on {{circa}} 1 October 1071, although Eudokia co-ruled with Michael&nbsp;VII for a month before being dispatched to a monastery.{{efn-lg|Polemis dates the joint rule of Eudokia and Michael VII in 24 September – 24 October 1071,{{Sfn|Dumbarton Oaks|1973|p=780}} while Schreiner dates it in 1 October – 1 November 1071.{{Sfn|Schreiner|1975|p=161}}}}{{efn-lg|The date was traditionally given as 24 September based on [[Michael Attaliates]] statement that [[Michael VII]] reigned "6 years and 6 months" reckoning inclusively from his abdication on 24 March 1078 (''[[cf.]]'' [[:de:Peter Schreiner (Byzantinist)|P. Schreiner]], [[iarchive:kleinchroniken1/page/n81/mode/1up|''Kleinchroniken'' '''I''' 161]]; [[iarchive:kleinchroniken2/page/156/mode/1up|''Kleinchroniken'' '''II''' 156]])}} A month later, the ''caesar'' John Doukas and [[Michael Psellos]] forced Eudokia to retire to a monastery.<ref name="Norwich 1993, p. 355"/>  They then refused to honor the agreement made between Arslan and the former emperor.<ref>Norwich 1993, p. 358</ref> Romanos soon returned, and he and the Doukas family gathered troops. A battle was fought between Constantine, Andronikos Doukas and Romanos. Romanos was defeated and retreated to the fortress of [[Tyriaeum|Tyropoion]], and from there to [[Adana]] in Cilicia. Pursued by Andronikos, he was eventually forced to surrender by the garrison at Adana upon receiving assurances of his personal safety.<ref>Norwich 1993, p. 356</ref> Before leaving the fortress, he collected all the money he could lay his hands on and sent it to the Sultan as proof of his good faith, along with a message: "As emperor, I promised you a ransom of a million and a half. Dethroned, and about to become dependent upon others, I send you all I possess as proof of my gratitude".<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 44">Finlay 1854, p. 44</ref>

Andronikos stipulated that his life would be spared if he resigned the purple and retired into a monastery. Romanos agreed, and this agreement was ratified at Constantinople.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 44">Finlay 1854, p. 44</ref> However, John Doukas reneged on the agreement and sent men to ambush and have Romanos [[Political mutilation in Byzantine culture|cruelly blinded]] on 29 June 1072 in [[Kütahya|Kotyaion]].<ref name="Kazhdan 1991, p. 1807" />  According to Attaleiates, the emperor was led away, pleading for mercy.  Per Attaleiates, "when he arose, his eyes were drenched with blood, a pathetic and pitiable sight that made everyone who saw it cry uncontrollably."    He was then sent into exile to [[Kınalıada|Prote]] in the [[Sea of Marmara]]. Without medical assistance, his wound became infected, and he soon endured a painfully lingering death.{{citation needed|date=August 2018}} The final insult was given a few days before his death, when Romanos received a letter from Michael Psellos, congratulating him on the loss of his eyes.<ref>Norwich 1993b, p. 357</ref> He finally died, praying for the forgiveness of his sins, and his widow Eudokia was permitted to honor his remains with a magnificent funeral.<ref name="Finlay 1854, p. 44"/>