John Tzimiskes was from an Armenian noble family and was a skilled general. He took the throne from Nikephoros Phokas, who was nominally regent for the young emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII. The murder of Nikephoros caused a scandal and to legitimise himself, John was married to Theodora, the daughter of Constantine VII, who had first to be brought out of the monatery she had been placed in. His reign was militarily successful and saw the introduction of the anonymous follis series - base metal coins struck in the name of Christ rather than the emperor's name.

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