Joint rule under Alexander (his uncle), 11 May 912 - 6 June 913
Under regent Patriarch Nicholas Mysticus, 6 June 913 - February 914
Under regent Zoe (his mother), February 914 - 919
Under regent Romanus I (his father-in-law), 919 - 17 December 920
Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law), 17 December 920 - 20 May 921
Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law), with Christopher (Romanus' son), 20 May 921 - 25 December 924
Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law) and Christopher, with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), 25 December 924 - August 931
Joint rule under Romanus I (his father-in-law) with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), August 931 - 16 December 944
Joint rule with Stephen and Constantine (Romanus' sons), 16 December 944 - 27 January 945
Sole rule, 27 January 945 - 6 April 945
Joint rule as senior emperor with Romanus II (his son), 6 April 945 - 9 November 959
Constantine VII was a minor when his uncle, Alexander, died leaving him as sole emperor. Constantine's mother, Zoe, soon took control. However after Zoe failed to halt a growing Bulgarian threat, the regency passed to Romanus I Lecapenus, commander of the fleet, a much more able leader. Constantine was not allowed to take part in government and his regent Romanus I was made co-emperor in 920 A.D. Romanus I was deposed by his own sons who wanted the throne but instead Constantine VII took control. Finally, in 945 when he was 40 years old, he had real power. Later that year he made Romanus II, his son and grandson of Romanus I, his co-emperor. Romanus II outlived his father and ruled alone for only three years.