I came across a book today at work. It was one of those "5000 years of history in one condensed version" sort of things.

So I was glancing through it to see what it said about the Byzantine Empire when I came across the "rule" of Zoe. The author actually said that the rule of Zoe and Theodora was the most successful of the period. I nearly choked. I don't think I have come across any historian who would classify Zoe as a successful ruler. But according to the author the sisters stamped out patronage and the selling of offices and got rid of the corruption that riddled the Empire up until then.

No mention was made of Michael who Zoe raised to the purple because they were sleeping together. Talk about corruption. Zoe was praised for having the confidence in her beauty to allow Sclera into the palace as the acknowledged lover of Constantine and probably de facto Empress. No mention was made that Zoe probably had very little choice in the matter either.

I just found the whole passage surreal actually and had to wonder what sources the author had to come to such conclusions.