Nicephorus II was an able military commander who followed Romanus II on the Byzantine throne and also married his widow, Theophano. He began a vigorous and successful campaign in the east, regaining Cyprus and Antioch. However, the high expenses of war made him unpopular. His wife had an affair with another general, John Tzimisches. In the end, Tzimisches had Nicepohorus killed, seizing the throne for himself.