Many residents of Constantinople did not recognize the young emperor and instead supported the pretender Constantine Doukas, which, exacerbated by revolts in southern Italy and the planned Arab invasion in eastern Anatolia, was all to Simeon's advantage.
Moitos residentes de Constantinopla non recoñeceron o mozo emperador e en cambio apoiaron o pretendente Constantino Ducas, que, exacerbados polas revoltas no sur de Italia e a planeada invasión árabe en Anatolia oriental, unicamente favorecían a Simeón.