Certainty: 3 The people in Hagia Sophia proclaimed Nikephoros Botaneiates (still at Lampe) emperor. Nikephoros Botaneiates was still at home in Lampe in Armeniakon, though he had many contacts with the disaffected in the capital. In fact he was proclaimed emperor by the officials and clergy, including the patriarch of Antioch Aimilianos and the metropolitan of Ikonion, and probably the patriarch of Constantinople Kosmas. The opponents of Michael VII gathered in Hagia Sophia, opening the gaols, making plans to gather other supporters and discourage opponents. An attempt to involve the kaisar Ioannes in the revolt via Michael Barys alerted Michael VII, then at Blachernai. But he failed to take decisive action, despite a proposal from Alexios Komnenos to Michael and Nikephoritzes that the Varangians should be used to break up the meeting. Botaneiates set out for the capital, purging two of his commanders who were afraid and had deserted
Certainty: 2 Synod of prelates decided to support rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates. At a synod convened by the patriarch Kosmas the bishop of Ikonion expressed dissatisfaction with the situation, indirectly attacking Michael VII and Nikephoritzes and blaming them for the lack of food. He predicted the imperial displeasure which would result, and took refuge in the sanctuary of Hagia Sophia. He was violently removed from there by David the megas hetaireiarches at the order of Nikephoritzes. When the bishop was brought before the emperor he was not punished, as the emperor was fearful of the wrath of God for his violation of sanctuary
Certainty: 2 Pechenegs lifted siege of Adrianople when bribed by rebel Nikephoros Bryennios. Nikephoros Bryennios had taken control of Adrianople, but it was besieged by the Pechenegs, who were too strong for him to fight off. He was forced by famine to negotiate with the besiegers and accede to their demands. He had to pay a high price for its freedom in gold and luxury items, spending his personal fortune and those of his supporters. The Pechenegs withdrew but he remained in the city levying extortionate taxes
Certainty: 2 Marriage of Alexios Komnenos to Eirene Doukaina. At the instigation of the dying Andronikos Doukas and his wife Maria of Bulgaria, their daughter Eirene was offered in marriage to Alexios Komnenos with the consent of her grandfather the kaisar Ioannes Doukas. Eirene Doukaina and the rest of Andronikos' young family were in need of a protector to replace their father, and Alexios had just done well in the defence of the city against the attack of Ioannes Bryennios. Alexios' first wife (from the Argyros family) had died. The matrimonial alliance between these two powerful clans was concluded despite the initial reservations of Anna Dalassene (who had an old quarrel with Ioannes Doukas the kaisar), Michael VII Doukas and his brother Konstantios (who had hoped to marry Alexios to his elder sister Zoe)
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Tarchaneiotes joined the rebellion of Bryennioi. Katakalon Tarchaneiotes, the katepano of Adrianople, had opposed the rebellion of the Bryennios brothers, and wrote to Michael VII and Nikephoritzes asking for troops to suppress it. He received no assistance, either because there were no troops available or because his two correspondents were too lazy to reply. Thus for several days he resisted the rebel movement in Adrianople almost single-handedly. He then realised that he was exposing himself to great risk for little purpose, and allowed himself to be persuaded by Ioannes Bryennios to join the rebellion. The move was cemented by Anna the kouropalatissa, mother of the Bryennios brothers, who arranged for a betrothal between Katakalon's sister Helena and the son of Ioannes Bryennios. Ioannes also recruited many westerners to his brother's cause
Certainty: 2 Nicaea sided with rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates, & proclaimed him emperor. Michael VII sent mercenary troops to defend Nicaea, but they defected to the rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates at Kotyaion. Botaneiates, who had been making careful preparations, left Atzoula and was welcomed with acclamations and shouting in every city he went through on his way to Constantinople. He had hurried to Nicaea before the Turks knew of his journey, but when they learned of his secret movements they caught up with him near Nicaea and attempted to hinder his march by shooting their arrows. However Erisgen/Chrysoskoulos, having given the impression he was making an attack, persuaded them to retreat. Botaneiates was welcomed near Nicaea by the strategos of Nikomedeia, the senators and clergy as well as the patriarch of Antioch Aimilianos, who was living in Constantinople, and the most prominent monks. He entered Nicaea, no longer fearing local hostility, distributed gifts and military offices, and bestowed honours on citizens, foreigners, soldiers, and whoever else happened to be there. Botaneiates was then proclaimed emperor
Certainty: 2 Tutush, marching west from Khorasan, wiped out the population of Buza'a & took 'Azaz. Tutush, brother of the sultan Malik-Shah, advanced from Khorasan toward Syria. In this campaign he conquered Buza'a, with the surrounding fotresses, and wiped out the whole population. He later also besieged 'Azaz and captured that too
Certainty: 2 Kutulmush's sons offered support to the rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates at Nicaea. Kutlulmush, a cousin of Tughrul Beg the Turkish sultan, with his five sons, had ambitions to set up a power to rival that of their relative, and saw the rebellion of Botaneiates as a useful means to that end. Mansur and Sulayman ibn Kutulmush, in particular, came to Botaneiates at Nicaea and knelt before him, something they had never allowed themselves to do before either a Turkish or a Roman ruler, indicating thus that they would help pave his way to rule in Constantinople. Botaneiates, with his wise words, turned them into loyal supporters
Certainty: 2 Turks sent against Nikephoros Botaneiates by Michael VII were bribed by the rebel. Michael VII with embassies and numerous gifts bribed Kutulmush and his sons to hold the roads against Botaneiates' advance on the capital. Sulayman and Mansur ibn Kutulmush were camped at Chrysopolis and primed for war. However Botaneiates sent his ally Chrysoskoulos/Erisgen who won them over with larger bribes to his cause. The Turks received huge gifts daily from the imperial treasury, and so left the way to Nicaea open
Certainty: 2 Botaneiates sent letter to Michael VII offering bloodless change of rulers. Botaneiates had occupied Nicaea at the head of an army which was now large. he sent from there a letter to Michael VII offering him the opportunity to abdicate without bloodshed and thereafter lead a quiet life
Certainty: 3 Troops of rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates reached Chalcedon & Chrysopolis. The troops of Nikephoros Botaneiates advanced towards the coast of the Sea of Marmara, occupying the area and welcomed by its inhabitants. They camped at Chalcedon and Chrysopolis, recapturing soldiers of Nikephoros Bryennios earler taken prisoner by thew imperial fleet at Kyzikos
Certainty: 3 Esphigmenou took the proasteion of Partarea (Chalkidike) from the metropolis of Thessalonike which had seized it. Partarea was bequeathed to Esphigmenou in around 1060 by Ioannes; Maria, the daughter of protospatharios Theodoros Gymnos; Moschonas Karbeas, tourmarches; and Theodora. It was later taken over by the metropolis of Thessalonike. Klemes, hegoumenos of Esphigmenou objected, presenting Christophoros, krites of the velon of Boleron, Strymon and Thessalonike with the act (of Leon Thylakas) defining the proasteion of Esphigmenou at Portarea. He then sent a document ordering Nikolaos protospatharios and ChristophorosÂ’ own man to investigate the complaint of Klemes the hegoumenos against the metropolis of Thessalonike. Representatives of the metropolis (Niketas, bishop of Berroia and oikonomos of the metropolis; the bishop of Kassandra and Bryai; Konstantinos, logothetes of the metropolis; Ioannes, nomikos; and Leontares, hieromnemon) and Esphigmenou (Klemes, the hegoumenos and Georgios the oikonomos) went to Partarea to witness the investigation of Nikolaos. It was settled in favour of Esphigmenou. Kosmas, oikonomos of Bromosyrta (a dependency of Lavra); Kyriakos, protopapas of Karbea; Nikolaos; and Theophanes, presbyter of Lavra were also present and signed the document handing over Partarea to Esphigmenou (by the hand of Nikolaos the investigator)
Certainty: 2 Herakleia (Thrace) captured by Roussel from supporters of Bryennios; Nikephoritzes imprisoned. Roussel de Bailleul, sent against Ioannes Bryennios, marched unopposed to Herakleia which he captured. While still celebrating his victory, he was joined by Nikephoritzes and David the megas hetaireiarches, who had fled from Constantinople after the deposition of Michael VII. Roussel thereupon arrested and imprisoned Nikephoritzes, with the idea of handing him over to Botaneiates
Certainty: 3 Citizens of Constantinople proclaimed Nikephoros Botaneiates emperor. Nikephoros Botaneiates was proclaimed emperor at Constantinople by the people under the leadership of the patriarch of Antioch Aimilianos and of the metropolitan of Ikonion
Certainty: 3 Defeat of rebel Nikephoros Bryennios by Roussel de Bailleul. Roussel de Bailleul attacked the troops of Ioannes Bryennios, who had been sent by his brother the rebel Nikephoros to subdue the region of Kyzikos, and routed them
Certainty: 3 Abdication of Michael VII Doukas, who was tonsured at Stoudios. Michael VII was deposed by the supporters of Nikephoros III Botaneiates who overpowered the Great Palace mercenaries. Michael fled to Blachernai with his empress Maria and their son Konstantinos; there he was made to take the monastic habit and was sent to Stoudios on a wretched mount having reigned for six years and six months. Konstantinos voluntarily removed his crimson sandals and replaced them with regular black ones: later Nikephoros III told him to throw these away
Certainty: 2 Abdication of Michael VII in favour of his brother Konstantios, who refused throne. Under pressure of events and the urging of Alexios (I) to take action, Michael VII said that he had long been planning to abdicate in favour of his brother Konstantios. At Alexios' request, he put these wishes in writing. Konstantios however refused the throne, in the childish and mistaken belief that his position would be better if Botaneiates became emperor, so he had decided to support him
Certainty: 3 Nikephoros Botaneiates entered Constantinople & occupied palace. After the abdication of Michael VII, supporters of Nikephoros Botaneiates took over the palaces and guarded them for a three-day interregnum, writing to Botaneiates to hurry. The latter sent sent his slave Boril with troops from Prainetos to prepare his arrival. In the meantime, he continued distributing honours and gifts. He then crossed himself on the imperial dromon from Damalis to the city, where he was welcomed with great splendour and loud acclamations
Certainty: 2 Tonsure of Michael VII & election as metropolitan of Ephesos. The deposed Michael VII was tonsured in the presence of his uncle the kaisar Ioannes Doukas, who knew how superficial he was (especially under the influence of Nikephoritzes) and was afraid he would suffer something worse. Michael was offered the metropolitan see of Ephesos by Botaneiates with the consent of the patriarch Kosmas, who knew of his purity and was willing to accept him into the clergy. He ordained the ex-emperor at the monastery of Rouphinianai
Certainty: 3 Distribution of rogai to senators by Nikephoros Botaneiates. Once established in the palace Nikephoros Botaneiates distributed dignities to the countless senators. They were so numerous that the protovestiarios who called out their names lost his voice
Certainty: 2 Accession of Nikephoros III Botaneiates instead of legitimate heir Konstantios Doukas. Nikephoros Botaneiates ascended the throne, put on the imperial costume, and devoted himself at once to the management of public affairs. He made arrangements to win the loyalty of many public figures and to dispense with some tarnished figures from the last reign. He struck with terror the Turks who ravaged the East, while dealing politely with those who had supported him. He was crowned by the patriarch Kosmas I. The legitimate heir Konstantios Doukas was passed over
Certainty: 2 Attempt of Alexios (I) in favour of Konstantios Doukas failed through his reluctance & unpopularity. Alexios (I) Komnenos tried to place on the throne the brother of Michael VII, Konstantios Doukas. He first had to deal with the man's timidity and lack of ambition. When he had persuaded him to act by showing him the document signed by Michael VII, he took him through the streets wearing the imperial purple shoes, but met with considerable hostility from the public. They reached the palace, but instead of sitting on the throne, Konstantios begged Alexios to abandon the plan. One result of the episode was to make Alexios suspect to Botaneiates' men
Certainty: 2 Failure of Alexios (I) Komnenos to have Nikephoros III install Konstantios as his heir. Following the reluctance of Konstantios Doukas to succeed his brother Michael VII, Alexios Komnenos proposed his nomination as successor to Nikephoros Botaneiates, with an equal lack of success
Certainty: 2 Marriage of Nikephoros III to Maria of Alania. Following the death of his wife Bebdene, Nikephoros Botaneiates first planned to marry Eudokia Makrembolitissa, but she was advised to refuse by her servant Leon Kydoniates, and the match was opposed as adulterous by monks including Panaretos. Eudokia was rumoured to have wooed the new emperor, maybe in favour of her daughter Zoe porphyrogennetos. Botaneiates then decided to marry his predecessorÂ’'s wife, Maria of Alania, persuaded by Ioannes kaisar's praise of her beauty and lack of meddlesome relatives, being a foreigner. At the start of the wedding, Ioannes saw the priest was reluctant to continue (since this marriage was just as adulterous). Ioannes looked across at Michael Doukas (brother of Eirene Doukaina), who immediately understood. He went to the altar, grabbed the reluctant priest by the vestments, led him quietly away and replaced him by another whom he had kept hidden. The second priest performed the ceremony but was immediately defrocked for blessing an obviously adulterous union. Maria's son Konstantinos Doukas was allowed to wear slippers including some imperial crimson
Certainty: 2 Boril & Germanos, Botaneiates' chief henchmen, became hostile to the Komnenian brothers. Boril and Germanos, a pair of ill-educated barbarian slaves, managed and directed everything as they wished, including the emperor Nikephoros III himself. Through them Nikephoros came to be hated by other officials, since the slaves behaved towards them boastfully and insolently. They were particularly hostile to Isaakios and Alexios Komnenos, who roused their envy by being favourites of Nikephoros, who was well aware of their competence
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros III debased system of dignities as never before. Following his acession Nikephoros Botaneiates found that the wealth of the palace had been stripped out and looted at the fall of Michael VII more than at any previous change of regime. Despite this, he granted a general remission of debts and a multitude of gifts, dignities and offices, far more than in similar situations in the past. The recipients were not the best persons in the state, nor even the most loyal, but simply anybody who asked. Many were of low social status. This activity was more important to him than defending Byzantine areas threatened by barbarians
Certainty: 2 Reinstatement of Eudokia Makrembolitissa & her family by Nikephoros III. Following the accession of Nikephoros III Botaneiates, Eudokia Makrembolitissa, his predecessor's banished mother, was reinstated, allowed back into Constantinople, granted revenues and gifts, and greatly honoured by the new emperor. He treated her like a family member, much more sympathetically than the way she had been persecuted by her son Michael VII. Similar privileges were enjoyed by her children, Andronikos, Konstantios, Anna, Theodora and Zoe
Certainty: 2 Psellos forgave the envy of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, whom he had now overtaken in dignity. Psellos received a promotion [to kouropalates from Nikephoros III?] and Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, reacted jealously but soon apologised, having stumbled in friendship, like Atlas. Konstantinos, who had started with a higher dignity than Psellos, now, as protoproedros, had been overtaken. Psellos accepted the apology with a eulogy. The rest of the letter alternates between equality and generous condescension (sun to moon, Psellos to Konstantinos). He is generous in praise of Konstantinos as his possible superior, but implies omniscience to guarantee his praise. [Later that year the balance was restored: Psellos addresses Konstantinos as sebastos]
Certainty: 2 Psellos appears to have prepared his simple introduction in verse on the Song of Songs for dedication to Nikephoros III. Many of Psellos' poems are simple introductions in verse written in decapentasyllable metre for emperors. Most were originally composed for Konstantinos IX, then updated at least once, for Michel VII. In one ms., it seems that he also prepared his simple introduction in verse on the Song of Songs for dedication to Nikephoros III
Certainty: 2 Psellos compared the family of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios with his own state, consoled only by Eudokia. Psellos wrote a tragic letter to Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios. Konstantinos had sent him a fish, which reminded him of those sent by his uncle decades ago. The letter compares Konstantinos' house full of family with his own isolation. Among Konstantinos' companions are the children of his first marriage, especially Charistikarea (?), Psellos' favourite, and his second wife and her young child. Psellos, by contrast, is on his own, apart from meeting the ex-empress Eudokia. As for his family, he knows where his daughter Styliane was buried and the convent where his wife was immured. His adoptive family were not with him, and he did not know if they were alive or dead
Certainty: 2 Rebellion of Nikephoros Bryennios & Nikephoros Basilakes against Nikephoros III Botaneiates. Nikephoros Basilakes refused to accept the accession of Nikephoros Botaneiates to the throne and continued the rebellion he had started with Nikephoros Bryennios against Michael VII. From Dyrrachion he gathered troops, especially Franks from Italy summoned by the bishop of Diabolis, and then set out for Thessalonike
Certainty: 2 Pechenegs raiding the Chersonnesos were defeated by Ioannes Bryennios & became his allies. Ioannes Bryennios used a Pecheneg attack as an excuse for his retreat from the failed siege of Constantinople. He led his troops against them, defeated them and subsequently a treaty was agreed with an exchange of hostages. This secured Pecheneg support for the rebellion of Ioannes' brother Nikephoros
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros Bryennios marched on Constantinople; Nikephoros III gathered a few defenders. After Alexios (I) Komnenos returned from the East he was apppinted domestikos and sent by Nikephoros III to the West to deal with Nikephoros Bryennios. He was given some troops from Crete and some Turkish fighters. Bryennios was bringing the whole army of Thrace and Macedonia in his attack on Constantinople
Certainty: 2 Several peace overtures from Nikephoros III rejected by Nikephoros Bryennios. Nikephoros III attempted to bring peacefully to his side the rebel Nikephoros Bryennios with three successive embassies involving Konstantinos Choirosphaktes and Romanos Straboromanos. He offered to adopt the rebel and thus nominate him as his successor with the dignity of kaisar, and to confirm all honours he had given his men; but there were difficulties over the location of the adoption ceremony. Bryennios completely refused to cooperate with the third embassy, not even accepting the envoys' imperial status, so that the only solution was war
Certainty: 2 Death of Roussel de Bailleul, probably poisoned by Nikephoritzes. Roussel de Bailleul, who held Nikephoritzes in chains, died suddenly in mysterious circumstances. There was a reliable rumour that he was poisoned by his prisoner
Certainty: 2 Arrest, imprisonment & death of Nikephoritzes. After his arrest by Roussel de Bailleul (whom he may have poisoned), Nikephoritzes was sent by Roussel's relatives to Nikephoros III who banished him (to Prote or Oxeia). He was then questioned about the whereabouts of public money and tortured by Romanos Straboromanos dying as a result of his treatment
Certainty: 2 Submission of Philaretos Brachamios to Nikephoros III Botaneiates. Philaretos Brachamios pledged his loyalty to the new emperor, Nikephoros II Botaneiates, blaming Michael VII for his earlier opposition to imperial power
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros Bryennios set unacceptable conditions to Nikephoros III's peace overtures. Nikephoros Bryennios demanded that his adoption by Nikephoros II Botaneiates, suggested by the new emperor's envoys, be sealed with a ceremony outside Constantinople. Botaneiates should come out of the city with the patriarch to the church of the archangel Michael at Damokrania and perform there his adoption as kaisar. This the envoys rejected
Certainty: 2 Alexios Komnenos, now domestikos, marched against Nikephoros Bryennios with few troops. Nikephoros III Botaneiates sent Alexios Komnenos, whom he appointed domestikos, against the rebel Nikephoros Bryennios. It was hard to find troops, since the Turks controlled most of the east and Bryennios most of the west. When Botaneiates realised that the troops were inadequate, he requested Turkish reinforcements from Mansur and Sulayman ibn Kutulmush, leaders of the Turks at Nicaea. They sent 2,000 men and prepared more. Traulos the ex-Manichaean at this time became one of Alexios' servants
Certainty: 2 Alexios Komnenos & Nikephoros Bryennios drew up elaborate battle lines. Sent against the rebel Nikephoros Bryennios in Thrace, Alexios Komnenos camped in Thrace near the Halmyros river whilst his enemy Nikephoros Bryennios camped on the plain of Kedoktou. Alexios left a good distance between the camps, so that Bryennios (and his own men) should not see the weakness of his army. Bryennios drew up his forces for battle, with his brother Ioannes leading the right wing, comprising Italians, the men brought by the famous Maniakes, Thessalian horsemen and some of the Hetaireia, 5,000 in all. The left wing, under the command of Katakalon Tarchaneiotes, included Macedonian and Thracian troops totalling 3,000, flanked by Pecheneg auxiliaries who were to attack the enemy from the rear. Nikephoros himself was in the centre with elite Macedonian and Thracian troops, especially the Thessalian cavalry. Alexios hid some of his men in hollows, ordering them to attack when they found themselves behind the enemy. Despite instructions from Nikephoros III to postpone battle till the arrival of Turkish reinforcements, he divided the rest of the army in two: he himself commanded the Athanatoi and the Kelts, while Konstantinos Katakalon Euphorbenos had troops from Choma and the Turks, to keep watch on the Pechenegs
Certainty: 2 Battle of Halmyros: victory of Alexios Komnenos over Bryennios. Battle began between the troops of Alexios Komnenos and the rebel Nikephoros Bryennios. When the army of Bryennios entered the valleys where Alexios' ambush was concealed, he ordered his men to attack Bryennios' right wing. After the first surprise, Ioannes Bryennios, Nikephoros' brother, fought well and put Alexios' Athanatoi to flight. Meanwhile Alexios, fighting well behind the enemy, suddenly realised his army was in flight. He gathered six good men and planned a desperate attack on Bryennios himself, but was deterred by Theodotos, an old friend, and regrouped. Bryennios' Pechenegs defeated their opponents and, as always, turned to pillage. Alexios then captured Bryennios' horse and other imperial trappings, and announced via a herald that Bryennios had fallen. At the same time extra Turkish reinforcements happened to join Alexios [in some versions of the battle they probably arrived earlier]. Surveying the battlefield, he put some Turks in ambush, using others and his remaining troops to lure Bryennios towards them. The plan worked well and Bryennios, his brother Ioannes and his son, though fighting heroically, were exhausted and worn down. Alexios had won
Certainty: 2 Capture & blinding of rebel Nikephoros Bryennios. Though his brother and son escaped from the battle of the river Halmyros, Nikephoros Bryennios was captured by the Turks, who praised his bravery. He was brought to Alexios Komnenos, who, rebuked him for his folly but showed compassion and admiration for his defeated enemy. God stopped Bryennios from killing Alexios as they rested together under a tree. Alexios sent him to Nikephoros III at Constantinople, with his imperial footwear and a letter announcing victory. There he was handed over to Nikephoros' henchman Boril, who took him to the Philopation and blinded him. Nikephoros pardoned all Bryennios' associates and even awarded honours to their blinded leader
Certainty: 2 Varangians attacked Nikephoros III at a parade but failed to harm him. Nikephoros III Botanneiates was watching the customary parade of armed guards late in the afternoon from an open-air corridor on an upper story of the palace. Suddenly he was attacked with arrows, one of which lodged in the neck of a nearby secretary. Other assassins climbed the stairs to reach him with their swords. Although unprepared for the attack and with few soldiers available to avert it, he did not run away, being accustomed to fighting, and resisted courageously with a few men who rushed to his aid. He pushed the drunken barbarian attackers diown the stairs, where they barricaded themselves into a tower but were overpowered by his guards. He only punished the ringleaders, and claimed that his salvation was due to divine favour
Certainty: 2 Rebellion of Nikephoros Basilakes who captured Thessalonike. Nikephoros Basilakes collected a considerable army of Romans, Bulgarians, Arbanitai and his own troops, with the excuse that he had to fight the rebel Nikephoros Bryennios, and marched from Dyrrachion towards Thessalonike. He allied himself with the Pechenegs, but was prevented from proclaiming himself emperor at Ohrid by the stance of the local archbishop. When he learned of the accession of Nikephoros III Botaneiates and the capture and blinding of Bryennios, he wrote to the new emperor in a servile tone, but secretly planned to revolt. He was assisted by Gymnos, Tessarakontapechys and Gregorios Mesemerios. He rejected a chrysobull sent by Botaneiates via a close confidant, offering amnesty, the rank of nobelissimos and other privileges; he summoned his allies and occupied Thessalonike. Alexios (I) was appointed sebastos and sent to Thessalonike against him
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros III sent Alexios Komnenos against Basilakes: Alexios left his camp as a trap. Alexios Komnenos, advancing against the rebel Nikephoros Basilakes, crossed the Strymon and the passes between Strumica and the Black Mountain. He then vanquished the garrison under Gymnos which Basilakes left at Peritheorion, sending the prisoners to Botaneiates, and encamped near Thessalonike. The rebel mobilised his forces in Thessalonike and at sunset, when the trumpets gave the signal, he left the city, going by an indirect route, planning to surprise the army of Alexios in his camp by the river Varadar during the night; but Alexios had been warned by Gemistos and was kept up to date by his spies, who saw the clouds of dust as the enemy left Thessalonike. He prepared his troops with food and rest during the day, so that they would be ready to fight at night, and took his army out of the camp. He left there his attendants, the former monk Ioannikios and others, with orders to keep lights burning all night
Certainty: 2 Nikephoros Basilakes surprised at night while pillaging Alexios' camp. The rebel Nikephoros Basilakes planned to surprise the army of Alexios Komnenos during the night. But Alexios was forewarned, and Basilakes' men attacked and began to plunder a near-empty camp. When Basilakes arrived, he saw that the camp had already been pillaged by his men. He made for the tent of Alexios (I) thinking that he would capture him, but found there only the monk Ioannikios (who denied all knowledge of events), and a burning torch. After a frantic search, destroying the tent and much of its furniture, Basilakios realised he had been tricked, and ordered his officers with a great shout to get out of the camp. At that moment the imperial army attacked. Tatikios had informed Alexios of the enemy approach, claiming to have recognised Basilakios. Alexios cut off the hand of a tall man trying to restore discipline among the pillagers, but it was not Basilakios. Basilakios was recognised and attacked by Goules, but the latter's sword shattered. Alexios called the unarmed Goules a coward, till he saw the hilt of the shattered sword. Another of Alexios' men, Petros Tornikios, made a further brave charge. Another of his guards, a Kelt, by mistake attacked Alexios himself and nearly unseated him: Alexios spoke to him by name and spared him, and he apologised, having not recognised his general in the dark. At this point day broke
Certainty: 2 Battle on the banks of the Vardar: Basilakes was defeated & fled to Thessalonike. After daybreak a more regular battle was fought on the banks of the river Vardar. Alexios (I) attempted as much as possible to break any remaining order among the army of Nikephoros Basilakes and ordered his army not to delay but to follow him as quickly as possible. He made a personal raid on the enemy. Basileios Kourtikios climbed the hill where Manuel, Basilakes' brother, was stationed on horseback. When Manuel drew his sword against him, he hit him with his staff on the helmet causing him to fall off his horse; he then carried him as a captive to the domestikos Alexios (I). The rebel Nikephoros Basilakes fled and took refuge in the acropolis of Thessalonike
Certainty: 2 Thessalonike surrendered to Alexios Komnenos; arrest & blinding of Nikephoros Basilakes. Alexios (I) took up position outside Thessalonike as if contemplating a siege. He sent a message via Symeon, hegoumenos of Xenophontos [or his servant, the ex-monk Ioannikios], asking Basilakes to surrender both himself and the city, but to no avail, though he promised that no harm would come to him. Thessalonike was handed over to Alexios Komnenos by its terrified inhabitants while the rebel Nikephoros Basilakes remained in the acropolis, but his position was collapsing and his men deserting. Soon Basilakes was surrendered too. Large sums of money were captured with him. On the way to Constantinople, between Philippi and Amphipolis, at a place which became known as the fountain of Basilakes, he was blinded following orders from Nikephoros III Botaneiates
Certainty: 2 Rebels Nikephoros Bryennios & Nikephoros Basilakes arrested by Alexios Komnenos. Alexios Komnenos was successful in his task of capturing both major rebels (Nikephoros Bryennios and Nikephoros Basilakes). He was greatly honoured by Nikephoros III Botaneiates upon returning to Constantinople, though not so honoured as he had hoped
Certainty: 0 Death of Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch: to be replaced by Nikephoros Mauros. Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch, died. He was succeeded as patriarch by Nikephoros Mauros
Certainty: 3 Gregory VII at a synod in Rome excommunicated Nikephoros III. Gregory VII held a synod in Rome at which Nikephoros III, who had just made himself emperor of Constantinople, was excommunicated
Certainty: 2 Unsuccessful rebellions of Leka, supported by Pechenegs, & Dobromir. The Paulician Leka from Philippopolis defected to the Pechenegs and prepared to attack the empire. His ally Dobromir ransacked Mesembria and killed Michael the loyal bishop of Serdica in his sacred vestments. But when Nikephoros III prepared to send an army against them, they were forewarned by the fate of others, gave up, were forgiven, and awarded high dignitaries and splendid gifts
Certainty: 2 Successful campaign under Alexios Komnenos against Pechenegs. Alexios Komnenos marched into Thrace where at Adrianople he learnt of the hostile intentions of the Pechenegs and gathered a large army. He advanced to Philippopolis from where he planned to reach the region of Skopje. The Pechenegs however fled when the army arrived at Serdica, and Alexios returned again victorious to Constantinople, where he was again well received
Certainty: 2 Peace with Pechenegs after embassy to Nikephoros III. Nikephoros III received an embassy from the Pechenegs of the Danube who offered their loyalty and proved it by maltreating the envoys who had previously sided with them
Certainty: 2 Stephanos the megas droungarios restored (as Symeon) the monastery of Xenophontos. Stephanos the megas droungarios was granted by Nikephoros III permission to become a monk (as Symeon). The emperor also gave permission and funds to restore the abandoned monastery of Xenophontos: he embellished its church, built fortifications and cells, and added vineyards, prairies and proasteia thus making it one of the greatest monasteries of Athos. He was followed there by three beardless and disrespectful youths, Eusebios, Hilarion and Kandidos. He bought for Xenophontos 700 modioi of land at Gymnou and 1000 modioi at Sybre on Kassandra, 2 properties at Thessalonike, houses at Hagios Menas, and 100 horses and donkeys, 130 buffaloes, 150 cows, and 2000 sheep and goats. Nikephoros III appointed Paulos, hegoumenos of Docheiariou as protos of Athos, and told him to compensate Xenophontos for the removal from its jurisdiction of the metochion of Phalakrou
Certainty: 2 Athanatoi sent to Chrysopolis against Turks. Nikephoros III Botaneiates, having dealt with the rebellions of Bryennios and Basilakes in the Balkans, sent an army against the Turks in Asia Minor. While at Nicaea the troops requested reinforcements and he sent the Athanatoi to Chrysopolis to join them
Certainty: 1 Murder of Ioannes Bryennios by the Varangian he had mutilated. As Ioannes Bryennios was leaving the palace in Constantinople, he was attacked by the Varangian whom he had previously mutilated by having his nose slit. He was killed by a dagger. The murder caused an affray when Varangians supporting Bryennios arrived to take revenge
Certainty: 1 Death of Michael Psellos. [Psellos wrote two letters in this year, and probably began to prepare a poem for dedication to Nikephoros III. No letter can be dated later, and other later texts attributed to him range from uncertain to completely mistaken. This is probably the year of his death. Severe doubts have been expressed over the authenticity of a letter of Theophylaktos of Ohrid, which consoles Psellos' brother for his death. Psellos, who was passionate about family, never mentions the existence of a brother]