Reluctant entry of Ioannes Mauropous to court of Konstantinos IX

Summary:
Pellos wanted to introduce all his learned friends to imperial service. Ioannes Mauropous was the most reluctant, but eventually he had a successful interview with Konstantinos IX and Zoe. Mauropous wrote epigrams to commemorate the occasion 
Dates:
1043 
Ioannes Mauropous, metropolitan of Euchaita (Ioannes 289)
  • Was introduced to the emperor (Konstantinos 9) and empress (Zoe 1) (:) Ὅτε πρῶτον ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Mauropous: Orations 28
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • Had Ioannes 289 (Mauropous) introduced to him and to the empress (Zoe 1), and on this occasion Ioannes 289 composed an epigram (:) Ὅτε πρῶτον ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Mauropous: Orations 28
  • Thinking it intolerable to be cut off in any way from Ioannes 289 and Ioannes 18, Michael 61 introduced Xiphilinos to him at once, and Mauropous later, as it was not the latter's wish to approach him immediately (:) οὐ γὰρ ἦν ἐκείνῳ βουλομένῳ εὐθὺς προσιέναι τῷ αὐτοκράτορι Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.15-18
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He had links of friendship with many, but two men in particular (Ioannes 18, Ioannes 289: neither named) from abroad who were living in Constantinople had captured him with their deep souls (:) ἐν μέσαις αὐτῶν ἡρπάκασί με ταῖς ψυχαῖς Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.1-4
  • When Ioannes 18 and Ioannes 289 met him, each as it were recognised in him his own soul and he was no less close to them: they depended upon one another (:) ἀλλήλων ἐτυγχάνομεν ἐκκρεμεῖς Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.9-12
  • Thinking it intolerable to be cut off in any way from Ioannes 18 and Ioannes 289, he introduced the former to Konstantinos 9 at once, the latter afterwards, as it was not his wish to approach Konstantinos immediately (:) οὐκ ἀνεκτὸν δὲ ἡγούμενος ἐν οὐδενὶ ἐκείνων ἀποτετμῆσθαι Psellos: Chronographia VI 192.15-18
Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)
  • Ioannes 289 (Mauropous) composed an epigram for her and her sister (Zoe 1) (:) Δισσαῖς ἀνάσσαις αὐταδέλφαις Αὐγούσταις Mauropous: Orations 32
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Had Ioannes 289 (Mauropous) introduced to her and to the emperor (Konstantinos 9), and on this occasion Ioannes 289 composed an epigram (:) Ὅτε πρῶτον ἐγνωρίσθη τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Mauropous: Orations 28
  • Ioannes 289 (Mauropous) composed an epigram for her and her sister (Theodora 1) (:) Δισσαῖς ἀνάσσαις αὐταδέλφαις Αὐγούσταις Mauropous: Orations 32