Certainty: 3 Patriarch Ioannes VIII Xiphilinos ordered an investigation into disputed property at Melitziane. The patriarch Ioannes VIII Xiphilinos received a complaint from Georgios IV Oltisari, hegoumenos of Iveron about Ioannes Iatropolos and Petros, chartoularioi of the oikonomeion of Hagia Sophia, that with some paroikoi of Eunouchou they seized a property of Iveron at Melitziane and transferred it to Eunouchou. The patriarch was shown the tax register drawn up by Andronikos in 1047. He ordered an enquiry, and summoned Ioannikios, megas oikonomos of Hagia Sophia, Theophilos, metropolitan of Herakleia and Ioannes, metropolitan of Sardis, as well as the two accused chartoularioi Ioannes and Petros, and two others, Konstantinos Sideriotes and Christophoros. Ioannikos, the megas oikonomos, wrote to Stephanos, the metropolitan of Serres, and the patriarchal officials Basileios the protospatharios, Stephanos the spatharokandidatos and Nikolaos the koubouklesios. The letters cancelled the actions of the two accused chartoularioi, and told the four recipients to go to the site and trace the border on the basis of periorismoi from both sides. This they did, with 23 (named) lay persons, monks of Iveron and paroikoi of Eunouchou. Questions were asked about a missing border marker (which they replaced) and the stream of Zeginas, which was part of the border
Certainty: 2 Ship of Depisani sank, en route from Dyrrachion to Bari, with no survivors. A ship carrying Depisani and many others was on its way to Dyrrachion when a storm arose and it sank, without a single survivor
Certainty: 2 Robert Guiscard captured Brindisi. After blockading Bari with a bridge of boats which shut off the harbour, Robert Guiscard succeeded in entering Brindisi, where Nikephoros Karantenos had committed an atrocity in the previous year
Certainty: 3 Donation of properties at Kamena (Chalkidike) to Iveron by Psellos family. Georgios IV Oltisari, hegoumenos of Iveron, was granted by the brothers Basileios and Merotas Psellos, their sister Maria and Maria's children Konstantinos, Helena and Demetrios, a piece of land at Kamena for his monastery to dispose of as he saw fit. The gift was for the salvation of the souls of the donors and their forebears, especially Georgios, Kale and another Georgios. Stipulations in the act setting out the conditions for the gift (written by Nikolaos, protekdikos and nomikos) were designed to make it irreversable, and to pay the minimum tax possible. Twenty witnesses confirmed the gift, only one signing with a cross
Certainty: 3 Fresh forces crossed Bosporos with Romanos IV against Turks, landing at ill-omened spot. Romanos IV, having spent the winter in Constantinople, enlisted soldiers of many ethnic origins, crossed the Bosporos at the beginning of spring and arrived, as usual, at the palace of Hieria, having distributed the annual gift called roga to the senators the day before in gold and silk cloths. He was joined at Hieria by the empress Eudokia, who spent a few days with him bidding him farewell on his campaign to the East in the customary manner. He sailed on to Helenopolis instead of Pylai, as he usually did, or to Neon Kome. This unusual route proved a bad omen, confirmed when the main pole of his tent broke as he ordered it pitched at Helenopolis. This was to be his third and last campaign against the swarms of attacking Turks
Certainty: 2 Ominous dark-coloured dove landed on Romanos IV; he sent it to Eudokia. As Romanos IV set out on he campaign of 1071, he had disagreed with his wife Eudokia, so that she renained in the palace and did not follow him to Hieria as usual. As he crossed the Bosporos a dove of predominantly black colour flew down and landed on his hand. He sent it to Eudokia. Some sources regard this as a peace-offering, and say that the empress then joined him for some days before his departure. It is sometimes made explicit that this was a bad omen
Certainty: 2 Norman naval victory hindered final attempt to relieve Bari. Stephanos Pateranos and Joscelin of Molfetta came with a fleet to Bari. However they were attacked by a Norman squadron, which captured the ship carrying Joscelin himself, with the money and silks. Also an imperial galley sank, with the loss of 150 men
Certainty: 3 Chrysobull of Romanos IV confirming the independence of Nea Mone (Chios). Following the trouble caused at Nea Mone by the monk Basileios from Agallianoi, Romanos IV Diogenes issued a chrysobull confirming the monastery's independent status
Certainty: 3 Surrender of Bari to Robert Guiscard. Robert Guiscard, having blockaded the city of Bari with a bridge of boats, forced it to accept terms of surrender on April 15. Already in May he had left for Sicily with 58 ships
Certainty: 3 Manuel Komnenos died in Bithynia in campaign against Turks: mourned by Anna Dalassene. While in Bithynia, on campaign with the emperor Romanos IV against the Turks, he contracted an ear-ache and died, causing great grief to both the emperor and his Turkish ally Erisgen, who all but died with him. On his deathbed in the monastery of Theotokos Alypos at the foot of Mount Azalas he received his mother Anna Dalassene, embraced her, asking to be buried with her, and died shortly after
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros Botaneiates made strategos of Anatolikon. Nikephoros Botaneiates was dismissed after the army had crossed the Sangarios. Romanos IV was suspicious of him (and not of the treacherous men he kept with him). He was later to be appointed strategos of Anatolikon by Michael VII
Certainty: 3 Delimitation of the forest on Athos donated to Vatopedi by Hieropator. Theodosios, hegoumenos of Vatopedi on Athos, requested that Paulos the protos and the hegoumenoi during their Easter gathering follow him to the forest donated by Hieropator, in order to establish its delimitation, and once there presented to them the relevant acts. He agreed to the suggestion of the protos (who wanted to find a peaceful solution to the dispute between Vatopedi and Kallinikou) that Paulos, hegoumenos of Kallinikou should proceed with the cross to establish the borders of the forest, and then with the latter's assignment of the task to his servant the monk Leontios, who knew the forest better. The protos asked Gregorios, scribe and hegoumenos of Gerakare to record the information in writing. 16 hegoumenoi and senior monks signed the document, some signing with a cross confirmed by another's signature, some indicating that they signed as witnesses
Certainty: 3 Robert Guiscard left for Sicily & began the siege of Palermo. Having accepted the surrender of Bari in mid-April, already in May he had left for Sicily with 58 ships, where he began the siege of Palermo
Certainty: 2 Alexios (I) Komnenos joined campaign of Romanos IV, but was sent back to console his mother. Alexios (I) at the age of 14 wished to accompany Romanos IV on campaign against the Turks and persuaded his mother to let him go, with his brother Isaakios. He joined the imperial army at Dorylaion. He was pressed hard by the emperor Romanos IV to return to his mother, who was in mourning for his elder brother Manuel. Alexios tried to stay and join the campaign, but could not convince the emperor, who finally forced him to go back unwillingly. He remained at home
Certainty: 2 Despite burning of imperial camp in Anatolikon, the army advanced across Sangarios. Romanos IV advanced eastwards and reached the province of Anatolikon where, leaving behind the wheat-bearing fields by the river, he encamped in a steep and rough place, using some buildings for shelter. But the buildings caught fire and he suffered grave losses and his baggage perished: his best horses, the most precious arms, bridles and carriages were consumed by fire and only a few things survived. He crossed the bridge of Tzoumpos over the Sangarios
Certainty: 2 Romanos gathered remnants of defeated army, while living away from his men on his own estates. After crossing the Sangarios he gathered the survivors of the previous campaign, who had been scattered around the hills and caves because of the barbarians' advance. He turned away most of them, keeping only those he wanted to join him. As often while on campaign to the East, he left his army and withdrew to his estates to visit his properties. When the army crossed the Halys he remained behind and spent a few days in a fort newly built at his orders
Certainty: 3 Dispute between Lavra & Iveron over land at Kamena (Chalkidike) settled with periorismos. Nikolaos I, hegoumenos of Lavra, summoned six persons to Kamena to witness the appropriation of Lavra properties by Iveron: they were Georgios, bishop of Hierissos, Demetrios Larissaios, Manuel tou Chochliara, Michael Lemnaios the kourator, Sisoes, hegoumenos of Theotokos, and Sisoes, hegoumenos of Hagios Ioannes Theologos. The same six would sign the eventual document as witnesses. Fields neighbouring those of Lavra had been donated to Iveron by Konstantinos the protopsaltes and his mother Maria, sister of Basileios and Merotas Psellos. Nikolaos of Lavra asked Konstantinos the protopsaltes at Kamena, in the presence of Antonios, oikonomos of Iveron, why he removed the old boundary marks separating the properties of Lavra from those of kyrou Petrou (of Iveron) and he was told that this was done out of ignorance or by mistake and that a local man should be consulted. This was Nikon, a monk at Zygos who had grown up in the area. Nikon, accompanied by Antonios, oikonomos of Iveron and Konstantinos the protopsaltes, walked along the edges of the property disputed between the monasteries, pointing out the boundaries, and a periorismos was thus established. Nikolaos, protekdikos and nomikos of Hierissos, wrote an account of the dispute and of the resulting periorismos, which was signed by the six witnesses listed above. Three signed with a cross, with explanation by Nikolaos the protekdikos
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan began his campaign against Byzantium. Alp Arslan, the Seljuk Sultan, set off from Persia against the Romans, to conduct a well-planned campaign. Some of Romanos IV's generals suggested that he should be attacked at Batana in Media, while others preferred waiting for him in central Anatolia. At least one later Islamic source describes a battle at Chliat before Mantzikert, in which Alp Arslan defeated a Byzantine force. The battle was said to be fought under a huge cross, which the sultan captured and carried off. [William of Tyre, using the compound personality "Belfeth", makes Alp Arslan conquer most of Anatolia in this one campaign]
Certainty: 2 German mercenaries plundered area near Caesarea & made abortive attack on Romanos himself. Romanos IV crossed the Halys into Charsianon, divided his troops and sent them to his estates, and from there marched past Caesarea and encamped for a few days at Krya Pege. There he got news that some German mercenaries were plundering the land and even planning an attack on himself. He mounted his horse and drew up his troops in battle order, surprised the Germans, made a truce and punished them only by placing them at the back of the army [other sources suggest more serious punishment]
Certainty: 2 Romanos IV was joined by troops from Syria & Armenia under Nikephoros Basilakes. Nikephoros Basilakes brought a considerable army from Syria and Armenia to Mantzikert where he met up with Romanos IV, whom he flattered, giving unsound answers to his questions
Certainty: 2 Romanos IV reached Sebasteia, snubbing the Arcrunis.
Certainty: 2 Romanos chose route beyond Sebasteia covered with corpses from campaign of 1070. The defeat of the Roman troops led by Manuel Komnenos the previous year left the road from Sebasteia into the theme of Koloneia littered with corpses, seen the following year by the emperor Romanos IV on his way to Iberia and Mantzikert with his army. Romanos took the left-hand of the two roads that lead into Koloneia, making his way slowly to Theodosioupolis
Certainty: 2 At Theodosioupolis Romanos took two months of provisions, because country ahead was destroyed. Joseph Tarchaneiotes and Nikephoros Bryennios wanted to keep the army together and stay where they could control the availability of supplies. But other rasher generals persuaded Romanos to divide the army and advance. They took supplies for two months, as the lands ahead had been ravaged and destroyed. The sultan Alp Arslan sent envoys to Romanos IV, and they had been travelling with him. They were received rather discourteously but were given a cross, so as to return safe with the sultan's response to the emperor's demands. He told them aggressively that if the sultan wanted peace he should vacate the place where his camp was, because Romanos wanted to camp there. Some of his intimates had persuaded the emperor that the sultan was seeking peace out of fear, as he was not leading a battleworthy force. At Theodosioupolis Romanos met Paulos the katepano of Edessa, who was to govern Theodosioupolis at the end of the campaign
Certainty: 2 Byzantine army divided: Roussel & Tarchaneiotes marched on Chliat, Romanos made for Mantzikert. Romanos IV had already sent Roussel de Bailleul with Frankish and Pecheneg mercenaries to plunder the area of Chliat. Now he detached more than half of the rest of the army under Joseph Tarchaneiotes, including the best of the cavalry, to follow them. Tarchaneiotes opposed the dividing of the army. Romanos, with a smaller force, wanted to capture Mantzikert and then join the others at Chliat. These arrangements, not foolish in themselves, proved disastrous when the sultan appeared unexpectedly at Mantzikert
Certainty: 3 Dispute over property at Melitziane (Strymon) between Iveron & Eunouchou settled with praktikon. The dispute was settled by the tracing of the border between the properties of the two monasteries by a large mixed goup. Five of those recorded as tracing the border and three others signed a praktikon of Stephanos, metropolitan of Serres (drawn up by Kyriakos the nomikos) describing the measures taken to settle the dispute
Certainty: 2 Information reached Romanos IV at Mantzikert that Alp Arslan had fled to Baghdad. The whereabouts of the sultan were unknown. The presence of his peace envoys must have raised suspicions, but Romanos IV also had credible information in a letter from Leon Diabatenos that Alp Arslan had learnt about his campaign and, fearing his force, had left Persia and retreated to Babylon. His arrival at Mantzikert was an unpleasant surprise
Certainty: 2 Mantzikert surrendered by its Turkish garrison to Romanos IV. Romanos IV pitched camp at Mantzikert, reconnoitered the walls, and brought up the siege-engines, carried on a thousand carts. His Armenian troops eventually captured the citadel, while the Turkish garrison of the town surrendered on terms. When its garrison refused to let the Roman soldiers in as agreed, Romanos negotiated new terms with the Turks, whom he received unarmed although they came sword in hand, to Attaleiates' disapproval. The Turks left, and Romanos appointed a governor
Certainty: 2 Romanos garrisoned Mantzikert with Byzantine troops, cruelly punishing misdemeanors. Romanos IV sent a Roman garrison into Mantzikert and returned to the camp accompanied by singing and acclamations. Discipline was harsh: he sentenced a soldier accused of stealing a donkey from the Turks to have his nose slit, showing an apparent concern for justice. He was left unmoved by the soldier's appeal to the icon of the Blachernitissa, carried as usual on campaign as an invincible weapon. Attaleiates intensely disapproved. But the next day, while arranging the city's defence, he received news of a Turkish attack on his foraging troops
Certainty: 2 Turkish forces reported nearby: Nikephoros Bryennios, sent against them, later demanded reinforcements. Nikephoros Bryennios, sent by Romanos IV from Mantzikert with a considerable force to drive away the Turks who attacked the foraging troops, failed in his encounters with the enemy because they fought in small groups and more courageously than usual. He feared the possibility of defeat and requested reinforcements from Romanos
Certainty: 2 In celebration of liturgy, Attaleiates & others felt appropriateness of John 15.20-16.2. Romanos IV summoned a council and a priest read from the Gospels. Romanos talked about the war in unusual terms using harsh words, stressing the Christian sacrifice of their struggle, using John 15.20-16.2, and impressing some of those present (including the historian Michael Attaleiates) with the likelihood of a negative outcome. He then sent Nikephoros Basilakes to reinforce Nikephoros Bryennios
Certainty: 2 Romanos still unaware of danger: he called Bryennios a coward & sent Nikephoros Basilakes to aid him. Romanos IV still did not know that Alp Arslan himself was present with his army and responsible for most of their successes. If anyone had said he had seen Alp Arslan, Romanos would not believe it, as he did not want peace. He accused Bryennios of cowardice, and at first refused to help. Then he sent Nikephoros Basilakes with a detachment of soldiers to link up with Bryennios. The contest with the Turks was evenly balanced for a time [Note that Bryennios (the historian) makes Basilakes the villain of the piece, despite the help of Bryennios (the general)]
Certainty: 2 Psellos implies that though Romanos knew nothing of sultan's presence, he (Psellos) did know. Romanos did not know (although Psellos says that he (Psellos) did) that Alp Arslan was with his army and responsible for most of their successes. [This claim is striking and hard to interpret. Does he claim that he knew at the same moment when Romanos did not? If so, he must have been somewhere nearby, e.g. at Chliat. Other possible explanations include a narrator's playfulness - the narrative is not ignorant of Alp Arslan's presence]
Certainty: 2 Bryennios & Basilakes continued the fight, the latter taking the lead & being captured. The sultan Alp Arslan advanced not far from the Roman camp, preparing for battle and planning to capture the emperor. He sent cavalrymen to reach the Roman camp and then pretend to withdraw. Nikephoros Basilakes, initially accompanied by Nikephoros Bryennios and his forces, followed them. But then Bryennios abandoned the struggle, and Basilakes was left alone with his followers to pursue the Turks. When he reached their camp his horse was hit, he fell under the weight of his armour and was captured and taken to the sultan. Bryennios meanwhile had to fight his way back to the Roman camp, being seriously injured on the way. When he reached the camp he told the emperor of Basilakes' capture and his own struggles. He was asked to remain in his tent to heal his wounds, which he did [Note that Bryennios' account may be read as a vindication of his relative, and it is tempting to do so]
Certainty: 2 No enemy was visible till dusk. The capture of Nikephoros Basilakes by the Turks forced Romanos to leave the camp to examine the situation. He climbed a high hill and remained there until dusk. But he saw nothing suspicious and returned to the camp as soon as the sun set
Certainty: 2 The Roman camp was surrounded, & no word came from Chliat. The Turks encircled and attacked the Roman camp. Romanos hoped for assistance from the major part of his army, which had been sent to Chliat with Tarchaneiotes, but there was no word. Though Romanos did not realise that the force had withdrawn completely, it became increasingly clear that he would have to fight a battle with the forces at hand
Certainty: 2 Some of Romanos IV's generals remained overconfident, though Uze mercenaries defected to the Turks. At the council convened by Romanos IV some of his generals (called "flatterers" in the sources) opposed the suggestion to remain in the camp and summon the forces sent to Chliat. Their praise for Romanos' previous succeses made him over-confident. Their counter-suggestion that the army should go out and face the Turks immediately at dawn convinced Romanos and prevailed. At the same moment, Tames, the commander of some mercenaries from the Uzes, defected to the enemy with his troops, causing fear among the Romans that the other mercenaries would follow suit
Certainty: 2 Romanos still hoped for aid from Tarchaneiotes at Chliat: but he had retreated dishonourably. Romanos IV had sent messengers from Mantzikert to Chliat to summon the commanders there with their troops, to help in the imminent battle. When they failed to join him he assumed that they were prevented from doing so. In fact Joseph Tarchaneiotes, as soon as he heard of the sultan's attack on the emperor, took all his troops (and Roussel de Bailleul, whom he persuaded to join him) and fled from Chliat in a cowardly manner through Mesopotamia into Roman territory, without concern for the emperor or his duty
Certainty: 2 Attaleiates successfully had remaining Pechenegs swear loyalty: no more would defect. Romanos IV prepared in his tent at Mantzikert as much as possible for the battle of the next day. He accepted Michael Attaleiates' advice to bind by oath the Scythian (Uze) mercenaries in order to remove any suspicion against them, and entrusted him with the implementation of the plan, which was a success
Certainty: 3 Turks requested peace from Romanos IV as he drew up his army, but he decided to attack. Even at this late stage, the sultan Alp Arslan sent envoys to Romanos to treat for peace. The emperor did not receive them very courteously, and sent them back spitefully to their master to ask him to move his camp. He made the mistake of giving them a cross, as a token of safe-conduct, thus giving his enemy a sign of victory before the battle. Yet Romanos was persuaded by some of his advisors to reject as deceitful and disadvantageous the peace proposals of the sultan's envoys who had just left, assuming that Alp Arslan was trying to buy time. He was encouraged to go to war and, before the envoys had a chance to return, gave the unreasonable order to open hostilities
Certainty: 2 Battle of Mantzikert (general factoids).
Certainty: 2 Turks used tactic of feigned flight, enticing Romanos far from his camp & confusing the ranks. Romanos began the battle unexpectedly while the the Turks were still discussing his conditions for peace. Having limited troops, he left his camp undefended and attacked with all his forces. Partly through surprise, partly out of set tactics, the Turks withdrew, pursued by the Roman forces. More than once the Turks made a stand and captured Roman generals, then turned again to flight. The pursuit continued till the evening, when the Romans, surprised to be facing little resistance, were exhausted. Romanos was far from his camp, and only too well aware that it was undefended. He decided that he should return there by nightfall, and ordered the imperial standard to turn back
Certainty: 3 Turkish tactics & intervention of Andronikos Doukas led to defeat & capture of emperor. When the exhausted Romans were asked to retreat to their camp, many of Romanos' more distant men feared that this meant defeat. This impression was strengthened by Andronikos, son of the kaisar Ioannes, who led the rearguard. Andronikos withdrew at this point, supporting the pessimistic view. When the sultan was informed by his soldiers of the confusion among the Romans, he attacked the emperor, who was trying in vain to prevent his own troops from fleeing. The sultan also gave considerable tactical control to his general Taranges, who set ambushes and tried to encircle the emperor. Attaleiates tried in vain to stem the flight. The Roman camp was plundered, including the imperial tent: a beautiful table and rich cross from this booty would reappear much later at Shayzar, used as a bribe to save the city from Ioannes II
Certainty: 3 Tricked by sultan, with divided forces, dangerously exposed, Romanos was defeated & captured. Romanos IV encouraged his men not to give in and as an experienced soldier he fought bravely for a long time against the Turks at Mantzikert. He was exhausted and encircled but was not captured easily, killing many of the enemy. He was recognised and surrounded, struck on the hand by a sword, and when his horse was hit he dismounted and continued fighting on foot, as Psellos had heard. The army scattered, some fleeing but most being captured or killed. That night Romanos slept on the ground, dishonoured and in pain, suffering from endless and unbearable thoughts and troubles
Certainty: 3 Andronikos Doukas (or Ioannes the kaisar) turned Byzantine victory to defeat, leaving Romanos IV to be captured. Andronikos Doukas, son of the kaisar Ioannes, has been accused of malice in causing the defeat of Romanos IV. He was said to have conceived a plot against Romanos. According to many eye-witnesses, he spread among the soldiers (who saw the imperial standard turning back) the rumour that the emperor had been defeated. He fled at full gallop with his men returning to the camp. Wilder stories implicate kaisar Ioannes himself, who was not present
Certainty: 2 Alp Arslan reassured Romanos he would be treated honourably, kept him for 8 days & set him free. Alp Arslan the sultan, told of the capture of Romanos IV the next day, was pleased but also reluctant to believe the news. Even when presented with the captive, he was still in doubt and asked proof of his identity, which was confirmed by the envoys sent earlier and by Nikephoros Basilakes. The sultan jumped up and embraced Romanos, telling him not to fear for his safety and assuring him he would be honoured according to his position. He may have formally trodden on his neck as victor. He shared his throne, food and honours with him, entertaining him for eight days. He ordered a tent, clothing and an appropriate retinue for Romanos, and had him seated by him, talking with him twice a day, providing consolation. He considered it a great feat not only to have vanquished the emperor, but also to have enslaved him. He asked the captive emperor during one of their meetings what he would have done had the roles been reversed. At Romanos' frank response that he would have inflicted great bodily injuries on him, the sultan confirmed that he would not act so brutally. He respected his captive, treated him like a brother, and was rightly granted victory by God for showing such humane feelings, wisdom and forbearance. He agreed with the emperor on a peace treaty and a marriage alliance involving their children. Romanos was promised great gifts and released with great honour and given the freedom of as many captives as he asked and many envoys to escort him. In general the sultan was not elated by his success but humbled at his great good luck, more moderate in victory than anyone would have expected. Some later Muslim accounts make the sultan more confrontational, introducing acts of humiliation, huge ransoms and signs of the triumph of Islam
Certainty: 2 Surviviors of the battle fled to castle of Mantzikert; others (including Attaleiates) took ship at Trebizond. Some of the survivors of Mantzikert fled for safety to the castle of Mantzikert itself. Others fled to Trebizond, including the historian Michael Attaleiates, with other courtiers and senators. There news arrived of Romanos IV's release, but they nevertheless hired ships and embarked, to return to the capital by sea
Certainty: 2 Brief list of prominent casualties from Mantzikert. At the battle of Mantzikert, Eustratios Choirosphaktes and Leon, the epi ton deeseon were killed, while Basileios Maleses the protovestiarios was captured
Certainty: 3 The Parthenon inscriptions record the death on September 15 of David domestikos.
Certainty: 2 Survivors of Mantzikert brought confusing news to Constantinople. After a few days a messenger announced in the City first news of the dreadful battle of Mantzikert. Another came and another after him, with a terrible sense of doom but no clear information. News about Romanos VII was unpredictable and caused diverse reactions. Some said he was dead, others that he was only captured, others that they had seen him wounded and thrown to the ground, others that he was led in chains to the enemy camp
Certainty: 3 Coup against Romanos by kaisar Ioannes in favour of Eudokia Makrembolitissa & Michael VII. The empress Eudokia received letters from Romanos IV relating what had happened, which caused great uproar in the palace. She was distraught, wondering what to do, and quickly lost all hope of the emperor's release. She summoned the kaisar Ioannes and his sons, Andronikos and Konstantinos. Opinions were divided over who should rule: some favoured Eudokia, others Michael VII, others still (including Psellos) a compromise between the two. It was decided with the support of Ioannes that she should assume power with her elder son Michael VII, and share the administration of the empire with him. In practice, he seems usually to have deferred to her. Then orders were sent to all the provinces banning meetings with Romanos and the award of imperial honours to him
Certainty: 2 Romanos hurried westwards via Koloneia: at Melissopetri he learned that his wife had deposed him. The freed Romanos IV reached Theodosioupolis dressed as a sultan and was welcomed. He spent a few days there recuperating from the wound to his hand, changed into Roman clothes, and left through the Iberian villages to Koloneia and Melissopetrion, accompanied by the sultan's envoys. His confidant Paulos, ex-katepano of Edessa, learned of the revolution in Constantinople (either at Theodosioupolis or at Melissopetrion) and left for Constantinople to learn more. Paulos seems to have given the bad news to Romanos when he was at Melissopetrion. The first approach from the capital was peaceful: Romanos received letters from Michael VII with envoys offering him amnesty for his evil actions. He was indignant, having done no wrong, and answered that he would not renounce the empire and that he was greatly wronged. He thought he could return to power at once without trouble, and, like a herald of good news after that great disaster, wrote and signed with his own hand letters to Eudokia about what happened to him, causing great uproar in the palace. Some later Muslim sources ignore the civil war, making Romanos become a monk as soon as he learned of his deposition
Certainty: 3 Michael VII proclaimed sole emperor by palace guard; Eudokia evicted. Ioannes the kaisar befriended the Varangian guard in two, fearing for himself and his sons if Romanos returned to power. He divided them in half. One section was put under his sons, Andronikos and Konstantinos: at a moment of crisis, thinking the emperor was in danger, with clashing shields and loud war-cries they formed an impenetrable circle round Michael VII and led him to the upper part of the palace, where he was proclaimed sole emperor. The other section, under Ioannes' own command, concentrated on terrifying the empress Eudokia. Those with Eudokia, including Psellos, not knowing what was going on, were petrified, thinking they were in grave danger. Psellos gives an important role to himself: he protected the terrified empress, who veiled her head and fled to a distant place of concealment. Bryennios gives a similar role to Ioannes the kaisar, who persuaded her, for her safety, to leave the palace. Eventually it was decided to tonsure and banish her. Psellos is insistent that Michael VII opposed this decision against his mother, but other sources include him among those responsible
Certainty: 2 Eudokia made a nun & exiled by Michael VII with her other children to her convent of Piperoudion. Michael VII was proclaimed sole emperor and enthroned in the Chrysotriklinos by the kaisar Ioannes and his sons Andronikos and Konstantinos, who removed Michael's mother Eudokia from power and banished her. They were supported by some senators led by Psellos. She was forced to turn from empress into nun and to exchange the gilded imperial garments for black, and was banished outside the city moving from one place to another with her other children, ending at the convent of Piperoudion (Kyperoudes) across the Bosporos which she had founded herself. Her other sons, the new emperor's brothers, were badly treated. Her daughters, Michael VII's sisters, though of marriageable age, were not allowed to marry
Certainty: 2 Dokeia captured by Romanos Diogenes, who established himself in Amaseia. Romanos Diogenes, realising that he had been deposed in Constantinople, captured Dokeia. There he was joined by many Franks (Normans?), and hoped he would prevail over Konstantinos, son of the kaisar Ioannes, who had been sent against him. He summoned with messages and letters many Cappadocians under Theodoros Alyates. Feeling confident in his superiority, he left the stronghold at Dokeia for Cappadocia. He moved from place to place, quite fearless that anyone would prevent him, taking over money from the public taxes. He reached the city of Amaseia with his whole army
Certainty: 2 Troops under kaisar's son Konstantinos Doukas sent by Michael VII against Romanos. Ioannes Doukas the kaisar, ruling through Michael VII especially in the military sphere, sent his younger son Konstantinos quickly out of Constantinople as strategos autokrator at the head of an army against Romanos Diogenes. He collected troops from the provinces along the way, recommended by imperial letters, and thought that he had mustered a mighty force. Upon arriving near Amaseia, he first organised his troops for skirmishing tactics and devised indirect ways of either seizing Diogenes or driving him out of the city
Certainty: 2 Romanos won Cappadocians under Alyates & many Franks, but Michael VII sent exiled Robert Crépin. Both sides in the civil war increased in strength. Romanos Diogenes received strong reinforcements from Cappadocia under Theodoros Alyates, together with many Frankish troops. On the other side, Michael VII recalled Robert Crépin from exile at Abydos, bestowed upon him gifts and honours to recover his loyalty, and sent him with others to join the army of Konstantinos Doukas
Certainty: 2 Victory of Konstantinos Doukas over Romanos Diogenes at Dokeia: Theodoros Alyates blinded. Romanos Diogenes sent Theodoros Alyates to fight the army of Konstantinos Doukas, which was supplemented at a crucial moment by Robert Crépin, who was able to suborn Alyates' Franks in their own language. Alyates was defeated and captured and his eyes were gouged out with tent-poles, which distressed Romanos greatly. Konstantinos Doukas returned to Constantinople and his army was dispersed because winter was approaching. Romanos, who in some sources played an active role in the battle himself, escaped to the fortress of Tyropoion
Certainty: 2 Khacatur, doux of Antioch, ordered by Michael VII to attack Romanos Diogenes, joined his forces. Khacatur, doux of Antioch, was sent by the emperor Michael VII to fight Romanos Diogenes. He arrived at Tyropoion with a great force of cavalrymen and infantry. However, being indebted to Romanos, who had appointed him to his position at Antioch, he pitied his fate and went over to his side. He persuaded Romanos to retreat into Cilicia
Certainty: 2 Romanos & Khacatur wintered in Cilicia, missing (Attaleiates says) a good chance to advance. Khacatur joined Romanos Diogenes at Tyropoion. He expelled some soldiers sent to him as reinforcements by Michael VII, but kept their horses and equipment. He spent some time with Romanos and his soldiers, and left with them to winter in Cilicia. In Cilicia he would have the mountains for protection, in order to collect additional troops in safety, and to receive the sultan's envoys, from whom much was expected. He prepared an army for Romanos, gave him money, but held the troops back until the right time to face the enemy. Some of the sources call this a significant missed opportunity to advance, after the departure of Konstantinos Doukas
Certainty: 2 Psellos congratulated Andronikos Doukas on his victory, though Romanos IV was still free, & prepared a poem for his triumph. Psellos wrote to congratulate Andronikos Doukas, son of Ioannes the kaisar, on his victory. He not only admired his success, but his command of military science. The capital had been anxious, but victory was now won, announced by a supernatural voice. Yet the serpent Romanos IV was still free in his lofty nest. Psellos wanted Andronikos soon to announce final success, and had a poem ready for his triumph. The snake Khacatur too must not escape. Psellos embraced Andronikos for saving the dying empire
Certainty: 2 Psellos playfully wrote of Christ's disciples among Scythian nomads; Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, misunderstood. Psellos said that Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, misunderstood his letter, not reading it as playful, while he had almost danced as he wrote it. Was this not how they spoke to each other? Psellos would never deliberately offend. He asked in the letter what Christs disciples would say if put among Scythian nomads. This was funny and clever, like Plato or Attic comedy, where exaggeration caused laughter. He ended with humour about the empress Eudokia
Certainty: 2 Psellos presented Michael VII as a new, accessible & cultivated ruler after bad times. Psellos praised the recently installed Michael VII (in Oratio Panegyrica 8) as a young, accessible and cultivated ruler following bad times
Certainty: 0 Nikoulitzas Delphinas, advised by Nikephoritzes, visited Michael VII in the capital. Nikoulitzas Delphinas had been sent home to Larissa by Romanos IV, and had spent four years resting and thanking God and the emperor. But when Romanos was captured by the Turks, he returned to Constantinople. He was given advice by Nikephoritzes, an acquaintance who wished to help him. Nikephoritzes, as krites of Peloponnesos and Hellas, was passing through Larissa and advised him to go to Constantinople where the young and gentle Michael VII was reigning. He followed this advice, and went to pay his respects to the emperor. He was receivd by the emperor, but delayed by other business. Michael was inspired by God to help him, he appointed him commander and anagrapheus of the infantry and the navy
Certainty: 1 Kyrillos Phileotes was introduced to Anna Dalassene. Kyrillos Phileotes was sent by the monk Hilarion to Anna Dalassene at the beginning of the reign of Michael VII. She recognised his holiness and fell at his feet asking for his blessing and advice, which he gave. She persuaded him to accept some money, which he mostly gave to the poor on his way home
Certainty: 1 (?) Psellos wrote to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, that he was involved in tactics & siege engines (at Chliat?). It is not possible to exclude the possibility that this letter refers to the presence of Psellos at Chliat during the Mantzikert campaign. The strongest evidence is that Psellos claims elsewhere to know about the emperor's presence at Mantzikert before Romanos IV. But on balance the letter is more likely to have been written during Psellos' sharing of Romanos' expedition in 1069
Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote a much-delayed monody on Michael Radenos. Michael Radenos was a high provincial functionary who fell seriously ill and was brought back to the capital to die. After a time, Psellos wrote a monody for him, having delayed it for some time in order to assuage the pain of his grief. Psellos drew traditional conclusions from his death, finally telling the survivors, his mother and brother Christophoros, to console each other and remember the deceased
Certainty: 1 Alp Arslan murdered in Samarkand; Malik-Shah succeeded.