Romanus III

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Romanus III (Romanus Argyrus) (är´jĬrəs), c.968–1034, Byzantine emperor (1028–34). An aged senator, he married Zoë and thus succeeded to the throne. A capricious ruler, he depleted his treasury and abolished needed taxes. He was seriously defeated by the Muslims in Syria in 1030 but was saved by the great general George Maniaces, who took Edessa in 1032.