Synodianos was very briefly the catepan of Italy in 1042 (February – April). He was appointed by Michael V

Michael V

Michael V "the Caulker" or Kalaphates , , was Byzantine emperor for 4 months in 1041–1042, as the nephew and successor of Michael IV and the adoptive son of his wife, the Empress Zoe.Michael V was the son of Stephen by Maria, a sister of Emperor Michael IV...

 after the death of the Emperor Michael IV. He immediately demanded the surrender of all the formerly Greek cities of Apulia

Apulia

Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...

 and began assembling an army to retake them when he was recalled in April 1042 by the Empress Zoe

Zoe (empress)

Zoe reigned as Byzantine Empress alongside her sister Theodora from April 19 to June 11, 1042...

 after the death of Michael V.

Source

• Chalandon, Ferdinand. Histoire de la domination normande en Italie et en Sicile. Paris
  Paris
  Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
  
  , 1907.