Empress Theodora appointed a man of this name as her successor, who was known as The Aged and was quickly overthrown by Isaac Comnenus.  One figure of this name was a low-born brother of John the Orphanotrophos who married Empress Zoe, while another figure of this name had to put down the revolt of Thomas the Slav before he took power and avoided execution after his supporters killed (*) Leo the A
Empress Theodora appointed a man of this name as her successor, who was known as The Aged and was quickly overthrown by Isaac Comnenus.  One figure of this name was a low-born brother of John the Orphanotrophos who married Empress Zoe, while another figure of this name had to put down the revolt of Thomas the Slav before he took power and avoided execution after his supporters killed (*) Leo the Armenian.  Besides men known as The Paphlagonian and The Stammerer, another emperor of this name, the last of the Phrygian dynasty, reinstated the use of icons and was known as The Drunkard.  A partriarch of this name tried to enforce the use of Greek language in the liturgy and was excommunicated by Cardinal Humbert, beginning the East-West schism; that man was surnamed Cerularius. For 10 points, name this common first name of Byzantine emperors, the eighth of whom founded the Palaeologus dynasty.
Empress Theodora appointed a man of this name as her successor, who was known as The Aged and was quickly overthrown by Isaac Comnenus.  
{Michael} [or {Mikhael}]