of Cyzicus, the columns of which were monoliths seventy-five feet high and twenty-five in circumference, and the ancient church of Nicæa, in which had been held the first general council of the Christian Church.
Constantine reigned for eight years. He left the guardianship of his three sons to Eudocia his wife, and exacted from her a written promise, which was deposited in the hands of the patriarch, that she would not marry again.
It was impossible for her to keep that promise. She coaxed the document out of the hands of the patriarch, pretending that she was about to marry his own nephew; and having got it back, she deceived him by naming as her husband one Romanus Diogenes, who, at least, enjoyed a reputation for valour and popularity with the army. He soon made himself unpopular in the capital by endeavouring to take up again the reforms of Isaac. He suppressed the extravagant displays of the court; tried to revive the discipline of the army; grudged the money spent in the circus and the shows; and restrained the peculations of his officers. Had he been fortunate in war he might have overridden the discontent caused by these measures; but of all brave soldiers, Romanus was the most unfortunate. He was betrayed by one of his generals, Andronicus Ducas, in what should have been a signal victory over the Seljouk Turks, he himself, after fighting like a hero, was wounded and taken prisoner. The emperor of the East was brought before the sultan and thrown upon the ground, while the victor placed his foot upon the neck of his prisoner. That was part of
10
