 Little is known about John 's early life . His father was a wealthy official in the imperial palace . John himself was born at Dokeia ( now Tokat ) , in the region of Darbidos in the Armeniac Theme , and was educated by one of his relatives , the bishop of Gangra Christopher . In the late regency of Empress Zoe Karbonopsina ( 914 – 919 ) for her infant son Constantine VII ( r . 913 – 959 ) , Kourkouas was appointed as the commander of the Vigla palace guard regiment , probably through the machinations of the fellow Armenian , admiral Romanos Lekapenos , as part of his drive for the throne . In this capacity , he arrested several high officials who opposed Lekapenos 's rise to power , opening the road to the appointment of Lekapenos as regent in place of Zoe in 919 . Lekapenos gradually assumed more powers until he was crowned senior emperor in December 920 . As a reward for his support , in ca . 923 , Romanos Lekapenos promoted Kourkouas to the post of Domestic of the Schools , in effect commander @-@ in @-@ chief of all the imperial armies in Anatolia . According to the chronicle of Theophanes Continuatus , Kourkouas held this post for an unparalleled continuous term of 22 years and seven months . 
