Editing Michael VII Doukas (section)

{{short description|Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078}}
{{Infobox monarch
| image        = Michael VII Doukas from the Khakhuli Triptych.png
| caption      = A [[Cloisonné|cloisonné engraving]] of Michael VII Doukas in full imperial regalia, as depicted in the Georgian [[Khakhuli_triptych|Khakuli Triptych]]
| succession   = [[Byzantine emperor]]
| reign        = {{circa}} 1 October 1071 – March 1078
| coronation   = {{circa}} 1060 ''as co-emperor''
| cor-type     = [[coronation of the Byzantine emperor|Coronation]]
| predecessor  = [[Romanos IV Diogenes]]
| successor    = [[Nikephoros III Botaneiates]]
| spouse       = [[Maria Bagrationi|Maria of Alania]]
| issue        = [[Constantine Doukas (co-emperor)|Constantine Doukas]]
| dynasty      = [[Doukas|Doukid]]
| father       = [[Constantine&nbsp;X Doukas]]
| mother       = [[Eudokia Makrembolitissa]]
| religion     = [[Eastern Orthodoxy|Orthodox Christian ]]
| birth_date   = {{circa}} 1050
| death_date   = 1090 (aged ~40)
| title        = [[List of Byzantine emperors|Emperor and Autocrat of the Romans]]
| reg-type     = Regent
| regent       = [[Eudokia Makrembolitissa]] (until late October 1071)
| reg-type1    = {{nowrap|Co-emperors}}
| regent1      = {{List collapsed|title=''See list''|{{ubl
|[[Leo Diogenes]] <small>(1070)</small>|[[Nikephoros Diogenes]] <small>(1070)</small>|[[Konstantios Doukas]]|[[Andronikos Doukas (co-emperor)|Andronikos Doukas]]|[[Constantine Doukas (co-emperor)|Constantine Doukas]]}}}}
}}

'''Michael&nbsp;VII Doukas''' or '''Ducas''' ({{langx|el|Μιχαήλ Δούκας|Mikhaḗl Doúkās}}), nicknamed '''Parapinakes''' ({{langx|el|Παραπινάκης|Parapinákes}}, {{Lit|minus a quarter}}, a reference to the [[devaluation]] of the [[Byzantine currency]] under his rule), was the senior [[Byzantine emperor]] from 1071 to 1078. He was known as incompetent as an emperor and reliant on court officials, especially of his finance minister [[Nikephoritzes]], who increased taxation and luxury spending while not properly financing their army (which later mutinied). Under his reign, [[Bari]] was lost and his empire faced [[Uprising of Georgi Voyteh|open revolt]] in the Balkans. Along with the advancing [[Seljuk dynasty|Seljuk Turks]] in the eastern front, Michael also had to contend with his mercenaries openly turning against the empire. Michael stepped down as emperor in 1078 and later retired to a monastery.