Nikephoritzes replaced Ioannes of Side as chief minister, & even supplanted the kaisar Ioannes

Summary:
Ioannes the kaisar, realising that his nephew Michael VII had no adequate grasp of the empire's affairs, took charge, with the help of Ioannes of Side. Ioannes encouraged Michael to recall Nikephoritzes from Peloponnesos and Hellas where he was serving in a kind of exile, and appointed him logothetes of the dromos, unaware that he was arming his own enemy. Ioannes of Side was elbowed out of the management of public affairs by Nikephoritzes, who invented allegations against him involving other people. The emperor was devoted to childish games and rendered ineffective and incompetent by his teacher Psellos. Nikephoritzes now turned to Michael's family, accusing them of being his worst enemies, in contrast to his own absolute devotion to the emperor. Michael's mother Eudokia and his brothers Andronikos and Konstantios were charged with aiming at the throne. Eventually even Ioannes the kaisar found himself despised and suspected, then pushed aside and ignored. Nikephoritzes established complete domination over Michael 
Dates:
1072 
Andronikos Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Andronikos 62)
  • Was cut off together with the rest of the family from his brother (Michael 7) by Nikephoros 63 who strived to demonstrate his dedication to the emperor and accused them of aiming at the throne (:) ὡς βασιλειῶντας δῆθεν καὶ τὸ συνοῖσον αὐτῷ μὴ θέλοντας Attaleiates: History 200.13-18 / 147.20-24
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • Was cut off together with the rest of the family from her son (Michael 7) by Nikephoros 63 who strived to demonstrate his dedication to the emperor and accused them of aiming at the throne (:) ἀπετείχιζε δὲ τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως ἀγάπης τήν τε μητέρα Attaleiates: History 200.13-18 / 147.20-24
  • Konstantios 61 is a perfect creature to her, Michael 7 and Andronikos 62 πάγκαλον χρῆμα καὶ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 15.10-11
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • Was removed from the court by Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) who made his nephew the emperor (Michael 7 Doukas) despise and even suspect him (:) τῷ βασιλεῖ περιφρονούμενον ἢ μᾶλλον εἰπεῖν ὕποπτον ἀπεργάζεται Attaleiates: History 182.15-17 / 135.6-8
  • Realising that his nephew (Michael 7) had no adequate grasp of the empire's affairs, he took charge, introduced Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) to the emperor (Michael 7) and appointed him Logothetes tou dromou, unaware that he was arming his own enemy (:) γενναιότερον τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντελαμβάνετο καὶ...λογοθέτην τοῦ δρόμου κατέστησεν ... Λέληθεν οὖν ὁ καῖσαρ καθ ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἐξοπλίσας πολέμιον Bryennios 143.13-17
  • Was pushed aside by Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63) who made his nephew the emperor (Michael 7) suspect him (:) ὕποπτον ἀπεργάζεται Skylitzes Continuatus 156.8-10
  • Ignored by the emperor (Michael 7) under Nikephoros 63's influence, he pretended to take no notice of what was happening, but seeing the emperor's increasing disregard and total domination by the logothetes (Nikephoros 63), he decided to act (:) τέως μὲν προσεποιεῖτο τὰ δρώμενα ἀγνοεῖν Bryennios 145.4-8
  • Fell under suspicion [on the appointment of Nikephoros 63] (:) Zonaras 18.16.6
Ioannes, metropolitan of Side [1079, 1082, 1094] (Ioannes 102)
  • Was dismissed from the management of public affairs by Nikephoros 63 who invented allegations against him involving other people (:) προφάσεις διὰ παρενθέτων προσώπων κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ Attaleiates: History 182.12-15 / 135.4-6
  • Was removed (from his post in the management of public affairs) after the appointment of Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63) as logothetes (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 156.5
  • Was elbowed out of power on the appointment of Nikephortizes (Nikephoros 63) (:) Zonaras 18.16.6
Konstantios Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Konstantios 61)
  • Was cut off together with the rest of the family from his brother (Michael 7) by Nikephoros 63 who strived to demonstrate his dedication to the emperor and accused them of aiming at the throne (:) ὡς βασιλειῶντας δῆθεν καὶ τὸ συνοῖσον αὐτῷ μὴ θέλοντας Attaleiates: History 200.13-18 / 147.20-24
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • Recalled from exile Nikephoros 63 and invested him with all power (:) Glykas 613.11-12
  • Recalled Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) from Peloponnesos and Hellas where he was serving, appointed him to the management of public affairs shortly thereafter, and made him logothetes tou dromou, but then fell victim to his machinations and tricks (:) τοῦτον ἐπὶ κακῷ τῆς τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς μεταπεμψάμενος ... ταῖς ἐκείνου μαγγανείαις καὶ περινοίαις ἁλώσιμος γέγονεν Attaleiates: History 182.6-12 / 134.24-135.4
  • Was made to despise and even suspect his uncle the kaisar (Ioannes 62) by the evil Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) who removed all his associates from his entourage and brought him under his power, and all his decrees were subject to his approval (:) καὶ τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως ἀποστερήσας ἐγγύτητος Attaleiates: History 182.16-22 / 135.7-11
  • Was devoted to childish games, thus allowing Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63) to take charge of the empire's affairs, and was rendered ineffective and incompetent by Psellos (Michael 61) ἀθύρμασι τοῦ Μιχαὴλ καὶ παιδιαῖς παιδαριώδεσι προσκειμένου, τοῦ ὑπάτου τῶν φιλοσόφων, τοῦ Ψελλοῦ, πρὸς ἅπαν ἔργον ἀδέξιον καὶ ἄπρακτον αὐτὸν ἀπεργασαμένου Skylitzes Continuatus 156.5-8
  • Recalled Nikephoros 63 (from his post as judge of Hellas and Peloponnesos), entrusted him with the management of public affairs and appointed him logothetes, to the detriment of the Roman empire, turning himself into a victim of his machinations (:) ἁλώσιμος ταῖς αὐτοῦ τερατείαις καὶ μαγγανείαις Skylitzes Continuatus 156.1-5
  • Was incited by Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63) to suspect his uncle (Ioannes 62), saw all his associates accused of being his worst enemies and removed from his entourage by Nikephoritzes, and thus he fell under the latter's full domination (:) ὅλον τὸν μειρακίσκον ὑποποιεῖται ἄνακτα Skylitzes Continuatus 156.8-12
  • Was introduced to Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) by his uncle (Ioannes 62) who considered that Michael 7 had no adequate grasp of the affairs of the empire and thus took charge (:) οὐκ ἐπιτηδείως πρὸς τὴν τῶν κοινῶν ἀντίληψιν ἔχοντα...τῷ βασιλεῖ οἰκείωσας Bryennios 143.13-17
  • Nikephoros 63 (Nikephoritzes) abused his vanity and made him so dependent on him that he was convinced to pay as little attention as possible to his uncle the kaisar (Ioannes 62) (:) ἥκιστα πείθων φροντίζειν τοῦ θείου καίσαρος Bryennios 145.3-5
  • Was engaged in childish pursuits, since Michael 61 was guiding him in letters (:) Zonaras 18.16.8
  • The entire administration of the empire came under Nikephoros 63 and he was led around by Nikephoros 63 like a captive slave (:) Zonaras 18.16.6
  • Entrusted the reins of empire to Nikephoros 63, naming him logothetes (:) Zonaras 18.16.5
  • Sent for another eunuch Nikephoros (Nikephoros 63) from Hellas and Peloponnesos where he conducted judgements (:) Zonaras 18.16.2
  • Since he was engrossed in this [studies], he put the government of public affairs under another, one man only, and what seemed good to the logthetes (Nikephoros 63) was law (:) ὑφ᾿ ἔτερον, καὶ τοῦτον ἕνα Zonaras 18.16.9
  • All his wishes were fulfilled by Nikephoros 63 who strived to demonstrate his dedication and who also cut him off from his mother (Eudokia 1), his brothers (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61) and other family, claiming they were aiming at the throne (:) ἀπετείχιζε δὲ τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως ἀγάπης Attaleiates: History 200.13-18 / 147.20-24
  • Was advised by Nikephoros 63 on how to rule and was induced to grant him many properties and revenues (:) παρεσκεύαζε τὸν βασιλέα Attaleiates: History 200.21-201.7 / 147.26-148.7
Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63)
  • Having gained control over the young emperor (Michael 7), all imperial decrees were subject to his approval, and from then on accusations and demands from innocent men, unjust trials, and the confiscation of properties became common (:) καὶ τοῦτο ἦν βασιλικὸν ἐπίταγμα καὶ συντήρημα, ὅπερ τῷ κακίστῳ τούτῳ Νικηφόρῳ συνέδοξεν Attaleiates: History 182.21-183.3 / 135.11-15
  • To the detriment of the empire, he was recalled by Michael 7 Doukas from Peloponnesos and Hellas where he was serving, was appointed to the management of public affairs shortly thereafter, and was made logothetes tou dromou (:) εἰς τὴν τῶν κοινῶν πραγμάτων διοίκησιν προστησάμενος Attaleiates: History 182.6-9 / 134.24-135.1
  • Made the emperor (Michael 7) despise and even suspect his uncle (Ioannes 62) whom he dismissed and generally slandered all his associates turning them into enemies, removed them from the imperial entourage and brought the young emperor under his power (:) ὅλον εἰς ἑαυτὸν ὑποποιεῖται τὸν μειρακίσκον ἄνακτα Attaleiates: History 182.15-20 / 135.6-10
  • Recalled by Michael 7 (from his post as judge of Hellas and Peloponnesos) to the detriment of the Roman empire, he was entrusted with the management of public affairs and was appointed logothetes, taking charge of everything (:) ἐπὶ κακῷ τῆς τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἀρχῆς Skylitzes Continuatus 156.1-7
  • Pushed aside the kaisar (Ioannes 62) accusing him to the emperor (Michael 7) whose associates he slandered as his worst enemies removing them from the emperor's entourage, and thus brought the young emperor under his complete domination (:) τοὺς οἰκειοτάτους ὡς πολεμιωτάτους συκοφαντεῖ Skylitzes Continuatus 156.8-12
  • Was introduced to the emperor (Michael 7) by the kaisar (Ioannes 62) who appointed him Logothetes tou dromou, unaware that he was arming his own enemy (:) τῷ βασιλεῖ οἰκείωσας λογοθέτην τοῦ δρόμου κατέστησεν ... Λέληθεν οὖν ὁ καῖσαρ καθ ᾿ ἑαυτοῦ τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἐξοπλίσας πολέμιον Bryennios 143.13-17
  • Abusing the emperor (Michael 7)'s vanity he made him so dependent on him that he convinced him to pay as little attention as possible to his uncle the kaisar (Ioannes 62) (:) Ὑπελθὼν οὖν οὖτος τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως κουφότητα ὅλον τοῦτον πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ἐφειλκύσατο Bryennios 145.3-5
  • Accused on account of numerous evil deeds in the past and banished, he was recalled by Michael 7, was invested with all power, and his accusations, confiscations and unfair demands caused much wailing (:) καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν ἐνδύεται Glykas 613.9-15
  • Michael 7 sent for him from Hellas and Peloponnesos where he conducted judgements (:) Zonaras 18.16.2
  • Since Michael 7 was engrossed in this [studies], he put the government of public affairs under another, one man only, and what seemed good to the logthetes (Nikephoros 63) was law (:) Zonaras 18.16.9
  • There was nothing which was not done through him, and many were deprived of wealth, different pretexts being applied to different people, and there was affliction and suffering among men and nowhere the man to reverse this (:) Zonaras 18.16.7
  • The entire administration of the empire came under him and the emperor (Michael 7) was led around by him like a captive slave (:) Zonaras 18.16.6
  • Michael 7 entrusted the reins of empire to him, naming him logothetes (:) Zonaras 18.16.5
  • His machinations and tricks deceived the emperor (Michael 7) to whom he feigned devotion, and he managed to dismiss the metropolitan of Side (Ioannes 102) from the management of public affairs by inventing allegations against him involving other people (:) προσωπεῖον γὰρ εὐνοίας ὁ Νικηφόρος ἐπιδειξάμενος Attaleiates: History 182.9-15 / 135.1-6