Romanus Lecapenus came to the attention of the imperial court during a successful career in the navy. Both his accomplishments and his daughter caught the eye of the emperor Constantine VII, who married the daughter and made the father co-emperor in 920. Within a few years Constantine found himself surrounded by Lecapenoi, as Romanus concentrated power in his own hands, raising his own sons Christopher, Stephen and Constantine to co-rulers and diluting the authority of the nominally senior emperor. Even Constantine VII's own son was named Romanus! Constantine finally maneuvered to turn the family's own ambitions against them, encouraging the sons to oust the father in 944, and then deposing the sons the following year. On this solidus from early in their joint reign Romanus wears the loros, costume of the junior rank. On later bronze issues he is often found clad in the chlamys.
CONSTANTINE VII, Porphyrogenitus, and ROMANUS I, Lecapenus. 913-959 AD. AV Solidus (4.39 gm). Constantinople mint. Struck 920-921 AD. +IhS XPS REX REGNANTIUM *, Christ, nimbate, enthroned facing, raising hand in benediction and holding Gospels / CONSTANT' CE ROMAN' AUGG' b', facing busts of Constantine VII, beardless, and Romanus I, with short beard, both wearing crown and loros, holding patriarchal cross between them. DOC III 3; SB 1741.
