Rubuta ci gaba don wannan sakin layi - Mahaifin gidan shi ne Stephen, wanda ya yi aiki a ƙarƙashin Basil II (r. 976<unk>1025) a matsayin Ma'aikacin Makarantun Yammacin Turai, kuma an yi masa laƙabi da "Kontostephanos" ("gajeren Stephen") saboda tsayinsa. Yana da babban alhakin rashin nasarar Basil a Yaƙin Trajan Gates
Daga baya ya shiga cikin makirci kuma sarki ya doke shi.