Quem namorou Constantino IX Monômaco?

Constantino IX Monômaco ^{(português brasileiro)} ou Monómaco ^{(português europeu)} (em latim: Constantinus IX Monomachus; em grego: Κωνσταντῖνος Θ΄ Μονομάχος; romaniz.: Konstantinos IX Monomáchos; ; ca. 1000 – 11 de janeiro de 1055), foi um imperador do Império Bizantino de 11 de junho de 1042 a 11 de janeiro de 1055. Foi escolhido pela imperatriz Zoé Porfirogênita como marido e coimperador em 1042, embora tenha sido banido por conspirar contra seu antigo marido, Miguel IV, o Paflagônio. Governaram juntos até a morte de Zoé em 1050. Em seu reinado, o Império Bizantino travou guerras contra a Rússia de Quieve e os turcos seljúcidas. No ano anterior a sua morte, ocorreu o Grande Cisma que dividiu a Igreja Católica da Igreja Ortodoxa.

Maria Skleraina (Greek: Μαρία Σκλήραινα; died c. 1045 CE), often referred to as the Skleraina, was the political adviser, official mistress, and potentially wife of the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos. He controversially gave her the title of Sebastē.

Of the prominent Skleros family, she was known for her charming appearance and character, and was possibly married to Constantine IX prior to his succession to the throne, but the marriage was not considered legal by the church. Constantine became emperor in 1042 by his marriage to empress Zoë Porphyrogenita, who - being 20 years older than him, and marrying him for purposes of securing succession rather than childbearing - accepted his continued relationship with Maria Skleraina. Skleraina was not acknowledged as Constantine's wife but stayed at court officially as his mistress.

She played an important role at court, acting as the political adviser of Constantine IX and benefitting the career of her brother Romanos Skleros. She was unpopular with the public. In March 1044, a riot broke out in Constantinople because the public feared that Constantine was planning to kill Zoe in order to marry Skleraina.