John the Orphanotrophos

Who was John the Orphanotrophos?

John the Orphanotrophos, was the chief court eunuch during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Romanos III. John was born in the region of Paphlagonia and his family is said to have been engaged in some disreputable trade, perhaps money-changing or, according to George Kedrenos, forgery. John was the eldest of five brothers. Two, Constantine and George, were also eunuchs, while the other two, Niketas and Michael, were 'bearded' men; the latter became Michael IV the Paphlagonian after John introduced him to the reigning empress Zoë. According to Michael Psellos, the two became lovers and hatched a plot to assassinate Zoë's husband, then reigning. Romanos was killed in his bath on 11 April 1034. Certain contemporary sources implicate John in this assassination.