A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(Μιχαὴλ ὁ Καλαφάτης), or the "CALKER," emperor of Constantinople from December, A. D. 1041, to April, 1042, was the son of Stephanus, the brother-in-law of Michael IV., who had once followed the trade of a ship's calker, whence the surname of his son. He was adopted by Michael IV. and the empress Zoe; but as he was a profligate fellow, the emperor would soon have excluded him from the throne had death left him time. The people detested Michael V., and persuaded Zoe to reign in his stead; but a few days were sufficient to make Zoe repent her ambition, and she quietly resigned in favour of her adopted son. Michael began by banishing Zoe and the eunuch John, his uncle, and committed several other imprudent acts, the consequence of which was, that the people of Constantinople rose in rebellion. A fierce battle was fought between them and the adherents of Michael, which ended in the storm of the imperial palace, and in the flight of the young emperor and his brother Constantine to the convent of Studa, where they both took the monastic habit, and continued to live many years in a quiet obscurity. Zoe and her sister Theodora were proclaimed co-empresses by the people, 21st of April, 1042. (Cedren. p. 749; Zonar. vol. ii. p. 242; Manass. p. 125; Glyc. p. 316; Joel, p. 183.)

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