Byzantium under the Doukids

Roman Empire
Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων
1059–1081
The Byzantine Empire on the eve of the Crusades, ca. 1080
Capital		Constantinople
Religion		Eastern Orthodox Church
Government
Emperor
•	1059–1067	Constantine X Doukas
•	1071–1078	Michael VII Doukas
History
•	Abdication of Michael VI	1059
•	Coronation of Alexios I	1081
Preceded by Succeeded by Byzantium under the Macedonians Byzantium under the Komnenos dynasty

The Byzantine Empire was ruled by emperors of the Doukas dynasty between 1059 and 1081. There are six emperors and co-emperors of this period: the dynasty's founder, Emperor Constantine X Doukas (r. 1059–1067), his brother John Doukas, katepano and later Caesar, Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071), Constantine's son Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078), Michael's son and co-emperor Constantine Doukas, and finally Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 7 January 1078 – 1 April 1081), who claimed descent from the Phokas family.

Under the rule of the Doukids, Byzantium was fighting a losing battle against the Seljuk Turks, losing most of its remaining possessions in Asia Minor following the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Manzikert in 1071. Byzantium also incurred substantial loss of territory in the Balkans, to the Serbs, as well as losing its final foothold in Italy, to the Normans.

Although the Crusades gave the empire a temporary respite during the 12th century, it never recovered fully and eventually entered its period of fragmentation and terminal decline under the pressure of the Ottomans in the late medieval period.