Konstantinos IX began Mangana monastery near Skleraina's house

Summary:
Konstantinos IX was said to have begun building the Mangana monastery because of his beloved Skleraina, so that he might visit her continually on the pretext of the construction of the sanctuary, since she was then residing in the nearby house of the Kynegion. At first his visits were furtive, but later he became shameless. Even Zoe's supporters, when they realised what was happening, helped in the charade. He pulled down the previous structure on the Mangana site and built on the ruins, at first modestly, but later on an excessive scale 
Dates:
1043 
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • Said to have begun building the Mangana monastery because of his beloved, (Maria 64) Skleraina, so that he might visit her continually - since she was then residing in the house of the Kynegion - on the pretext of the construction of the sanctuary (:) Zonaras 17.27.18
  • For a certain time he masked his love [for Maria 64 Skleraina] and as it were blushed at what was happening (:) Zonaras 17.21.20
  • Contrived Maria 64 Skleraina's place of residence for the building of his own house, so that he could go to her frequently on the pretext of making an inspection of the building works (:) Zonaras 17.21.19
  • Euprepeia 61 particularly opposed him (on the question of Maria 64) and advised him what would be best (:) ἀντιπραττούσης αὐτῷ καὶ τὰ συνοίσοντα βουλευομένης Psellos: Chronographia VI 52.10
  • He founded the church for the martyr George (the greatest of his excesses in Michael 61's opinion), after completely pulling down and demolishing the former church and siting the present one on the ruins (:) πάντα συνέτριψε καὶ ἠφάνικε, καὶ τέλος καὶ αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τοῖς συντριβεῖσι προσέθετο Psellos: Chronographia VI 186.1-5
  • When (Zoe 1's supporters) knew that he was restless to go (to Maria 64) but hesitated to go out, being generally ashamed, by devising different pretexts they smoothed his path to Maria and in this way won him over to themselves (:) μάλιστα ἑαυτοῖς ᾠκειοῦντο τὸν βασιλέα Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.10-15
  • He did not begin the project (of the Mangana) from the best motive, but Michael 61 need say nothing of that; his first church was of modest proportions (:) ἤρξατο μὲν οὖν αὐτῷ ἡ ὑπόθεσις οὐκ ἀπὸ κρείττονος ἀφορμῆς, περὶ ἧς οὐδὲν δέομαι λέγειν Psellos: Chronographia VI 185.5-9
  • In order to have an excuse to visit he made Maria 64's lodging his own house, and so that it might be made magnificent and fit to receive an emperor he laid larger foundations outside and made it ready for more splendid buildings (:) θεμελίους τε ἔξωθεν μείζονας καταβάλλεται καὶ πρὸς λαμπροτέρας ἑτοιμάζει τοῦτον οἰκοδομίας Psellos: Chronographia VI 54.2-6
  • Each time he made the excuse of some aspect of the buildings and went away often each month, on the pretext of seeing something of what was happening, but in fact to be with Maria 64 (:) πρόφασιν ὀψόμενος τι τῶν γιγνομένων, τὸ δ᾿ ἀληθὲς τῇ γυναικὶ συνεσόμενος Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.1-4
  • People from the other side (that of Zoe 1) followed him and, so that they would not be too inquisitive, he put a lavish table outside and requested them to party: whatever they had demanded before, they got it then (:) ἵνα μὴ περιεργότεροι εἶεν, τράπεζάν τε ἐτίθει πολυτελῆ ἔξωθεν καὶ συμποσιάζειν ἠξίου Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.4-8
  • Poured money from the imperial treasuries on Maria 64 Skleraina daily like rivers and opened up veins of gold and visited her without disguise (:) Zonaras 17.21.22
  • At first he dissembled concerning Maria 64 and his love was not without blushes; but gradually he gave up his shame at going out, revealed his schemes and, abandoning the 'lodging', openly attended and lived with her whenever he wanted (:) τὴν σκηνὴν καταστρέψας, εἰς ὕπαιθρον αὐτῇ, ὁσάκις βούλοπιτο, παρεγίγνετό τε καὶ συνεγίγνετο Psellos: Chronographia VI 56.1-6
Maria Skleraina, mistress of Konstantinos IX (Maria 64)
  • Konstantinos 9 is said to have begun building the Mangana monastery because of her, so that he might visit her continually - since she was then residing in the house of the Kynegion - on the pretext of the construction of the sanctuary (:) Zonaras 17.27.18
  • Konstantinos 9 contrived her place of residence for the building of his own house, so that he could go to her frequently on the pretext of making an inspection of the building works (:) Zonaras 17.21.19
  • In order to have an excuse to visit Konstantinos 9 made her lodging his own house, and so that it might be made magnificent and fit to receive an emperor he laid larger foundations outside and made it ready for more splendid buildings (:) ἵνα δὲ πρόφασις εἴη τῷ βασιλεῖ ἐκεῖσε φοιτᾶν, οἶκον ἑαυτοῦ πεποίηται τὴν σκηνήν Psellos: Chronographia VI 54.2-6
  • Each time Konstantinos 9 made the excuse of some aspect of the buildings and went away often each month, on the pretext of seeing something of what was happening, but in fact to be with her (:) πρόφασιν ὀψόμενός τι τῶν γιγνομένων, τὸ δ᾿ ἀληθὲς τῇ γυναικὶ συνεσόμενος Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.1-4
  • When Zoe 1's supporters knew that Konstantinos 9 was restless to go to her but hesitated to leave, being generally ashamed, by devising different pretexts they smoothed his path to her and in this way won him over to themselves (:) ἐξωμάλιζον τούτῳ τὴν πρὸς τὴν ἐρωμένην ὁδὸν Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.10-15
  • Then Konstantinos 9 put aside shame and play-acting and lived with her, not as a concubine nor yet as half-wife, but openly as his wife (:) Zonaras 17.21.21
  • As time passed both an imperial bodyguard was allocated to her and her house was transformed into a palace (:) Zonaras 17.21.18
  • At first Konstantinos 9 dissembled concerning her and his love was not without blushes; but gradually he gave up his shame at going out, revealed his schemes and, abandoning the 'lodging', openly attended and lived with her as he wanted (:) τὴν σκηνὴν καταστρέψας, εἰς ὕπαιθρον αὐτῇ, ὁσάκις βούλοιτο, παρεγίγνετό τε καὶ συνεγίγνετο Psellos: Chronographia VI 56.1-6
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Her supporters knew the purpose of what (Konstantinos 9) was doing to divert them in his amorous visits, but their grievance for her was less than their pleasure for themselves in getting what they wanted (:) οὐ μᾶλλον τι περὶ τῇ δεσπότιδι ἐδυσχέραινεν ἢ περὶ ἑαυτοῖς ἠγαλλίων ἐπιτυγχάνουσιν ὧν ἐσπούδαζον Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.8-10