Constantine VII, Emperor of the East Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" (that is, born in the imperial bed chambers) (Greek: Κωνσταντῖνος Ζ΄ Πορφυρογέννητος), was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire. He is best known for his four books, De Administrando Imperio (bearing in Greek the heading Προς τον ίδιον υιόν Ρωμανόν), De Ceremoniis (Περί τῆς Βασιλείου Τάξεως), De Thematibus (Περί θεμάτων Άνατολῆς καί Δύσεως), and Vita Basilii (Βίος Βασιλείου).