Historical Figures
Michael VII Doukas
Monarchs and Rulers
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Michael VII Doukas, also rendered Ducas and nicknamed Parapinakes, was the senior Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078. Widely regarded as incompetent, he relied heavily on court officials, especially his finance minister Nikephoritzes, who raised taxation to fund luxury spending while starving the army of resources. Under his reign the empire lost Bari, faced open revolt in the Balkans, and saw its own mercenaries turn against it even as the Seljuk Turks advanced on the eastern front. Michael stepped down as emperor in 1078 and retired to a monastery.
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