Expulsion of patriarch Aimilianos from Antioch by doux Isaakios Komnenos

Summary:
Isaakios Komnenos (brother of the future Alexios I) was appointed doux of Antioch with instructions from Michael VII and Nikephoritzes to expel from the city its patriarch Aimilianos, held responsible for the unrest that broke out there. Isaakios was received with much honour and initially pretended to be favourably disposed towards the patriarch in order to avoid trouble in the divided city. Later, pretending to be unwell, he was invited to the patriarch's country estate to hunt hare. But once there, he used the excuse of going hunting to return to the city, and sent the imperial order to the patriarch ordering him to leave at once. Aimilianos, though very angry, could only go to Laodikeia, spend a few days there until his luggage was brought from Antioch, and then sail to Constantinople 
Dates:
1074 (Uncertain) 
Aimilianos, patriarch of Antioch (Aimilianos 61)
  • Was unable to carry out his threats, went to Laodikeia, spent a few days there until his luggage was brought from Antioch, and sailed to Constantinople (:) ὀλίγας ἐνδιατρίψας ἡμέρας ὥστε αὐτῷ τὰ ἐφόδια κομισθῆναι ἐκ τῆς Ἀντιοχέων, ἀπῆρε πρὸς τὸ Βυζάντιον Bryennios 205.13-15
  • Welcomed to Antioch Isaakios 61 who pretended to pay court to him behaving in a friendly manner, he visited him when the latter pretended to be ill, offered him his country estate to convalesce, accompanied him there and returned (to Antioch) (:) Φοιτᾷ τοίνυν πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ ὁ πατριάρχης καὶ περὶ τῆς νόσου φιλοσοφεῖ καὶ τὰ περὶ ταύτης κοινοῦται μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ Bryennios 203.7-25
  • Visited again Isaakios 61 (Komnenos), enquired about his health and was pleased to learn that it was improving, and, ignoring everything about Isaakios 61's plot, urged him to mount his horse and get out to hunt the hare (spotted in the vicinity) (Two days after Isaakios 2's arrival at his country estate:Δύο παρῆλθον ἡμέραι) παντάπασιν ἀγνοήσας τὸ δρᾶμα παρεκάλει τοῦτον ἐξιππασάμενον ἀπελθεῖν πρὸς τὴν θήραν τοῦ λαγωοῦ Bryennios 203.26-205.7
  • Was annoyed and threatened to react strongly when he received the imperial letters from Isaakios 61, who had left for Antioch and shut the city's gates, demanding his return to Constantinople and ordering him to go down to the sea at once (:) ἐδυσχέραινε μὲν καὶ ἠπείλει δράσειν ἀνήκεστα Bryennios 205.9-13
physicians of Isaakios Komnenos in Antioch (Anonymi 5004)
  • Summoned by Isaakios 61 (Komnenos) who pretended he was ill, they concluded that he was suffering from stoppage of the smooth arteries and advised him to leave the city (Antioch) for a place with a healthy climate (:) ὡς δ ᾿ ἐξιέναι τῆς πόλεως τοῦτον ἤρεσε τοῖς ἰατροῖς Bryennios 203.17-22
  • When Isaakios 61 (Komnenos), convalescing at the patriarch (Aimilianos 61)'s country estate, was informed of a hare in the vicinity, they encouraged him to go out hunting (:) Ἐκέλευον οὖν τοῦτον ἀπιέναι οἱ ἰατροί Bryennios 205.4-5
Isaakios Komnenos, elder brother of Alexios I (Isaakios 61)
  • Was handed the captured leader of the Bulgarian revolt Konstantinos 102 Bodin and took him with him to Antioch when he was appointed doux there (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 165.25-27
  • Visited by the patriarch (Aimilianos 61) he told him of his improving condition helped by the healthy climate and, informed about a hare in the vicinity and encouraged by the physicians (Anonymi 5004) to go out hunting, he pretended he did not want to (Two days after his arrival at the patriarch's country estate:Δύο παρῆλθον ἡμέραι) ἦκέ τις μηνύων ἔγγιστα τοῦ χωρίου κοιτάζεσθαι λαγωόν Bryennios 203.26-205.5
  • Reached Antioch, was welcomed with great honour by the authorities and the patriarch (Aimilianos 61) and, fearing the latter's popularity with the population, he pretended he paid court to him and behaved in a friendly manner, for the city was divided (:) τὸν πατριάρχην θεραπεύειν προσεποιεῖτο καὶ φιλίως αὐτῷ προσενήκεκτο δεδιὼς τοῦ πλήθους τὴν πρὸς ἐκεῖνον εὔνοιαν Bryennios 203.6-12
  • Fearing a revolt he concealed the emperor (Michael 7)'s letters and orders to remove the patriarch (Aimilianos 61), pretended he was ill, bandaged both his arms, called the physicians (Anonymi 5004) and received the patriarch telling him of his illness (:) Σκήπτεται νόσον καὶ ἄμφω τὰς χεῖρας δεσμεῖ καὶ τοῦς βραχίονας καὶ νοσεῖν ὑποκρίνεται καὶ τοὺς ἰατροὺς συγκαλεῖται Bryennios 203.12-19
  • Urged by the patriarch (Aimilianos 61) to go out and hunt the hare (spotted in the vicinity) he pretended to heed his advice but left for Antioch, shut the gates and sent the imperial letters to the patriarch ordering him to go down to the sea at once (:) εἰσελθὼν ἐντὸς τῆς πόλεως καὶ τὰς πύλας κλείσας τὰ βασιλικὰ πρὸς τὸν πατριάρχην ἐξέπεμπε γράμματα...καὶ ἠξίου πρὸς τὴν θάλασσαν κατιέναι ὡς τάχιστα Bryennios 205.6-12
  • Appointed doux of Antioch by Michael 7, he was ordered to send to Constantinople at once the patriarch Aimilianos 61, and was promised by the logothetes (Nikephoros 63) that he would be rewarded by the emperor if he expelled him from the city (After the death of Joseph Tarchaneiotes when rebellions broke out and Katakalon Tarchaneiotes was unable to check them while Philaretos revolt was spreading:ἄρτι τοῦ δουκὸς Ἀντιοχείας τοῦ πρωτοπροέδρου Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ Ταρχανειώτου τὸ κοινὸν ἀποτίσαντος χρέος ) τὸν Ἰσαάκιον...δοῦκα Ἀντιοχείας προεχειρίσατο ... τὸν πατριάρχην Αἰμυλιανόν, ἐκέλευε τοῦτον εἰς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν ἐξαποστεῖλαι μετὰ σπουδῆς ὅτι πλείστης ... καὶ ἀμοιβὰς σχεῖν αὐτὸν ἐκ βασιλέως Bryennios 201.18-203.6
  • Advised to leave Antioch for a healthier place by his physicians who thought he was suffering from stoppage of the smooth arteries (Anonymi 5004), he was offered by the patriarch (Aimilianos 61) his country estate which he reached accompanied by him (:) Ἐδόκει οὖν τῆς νόσου αἴτιον εἶναι ἔμφραξις περὶ τὰς λείας ἀρτηρίας συνισταμένη Bryennios 203.19-25
  • With his brother Manuel 61 he waged many wars in Antioch (:) Anna Komnene 55.5-11
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • Appointed Isaakios 61 (Komnenos) doux of Antioch and ordered him to send as soon as possible to Constantinople the patriarch Aimilianos 61, whom he considered the instigator of the rebellions (:ἄρτι τοῦ δουκὸς Ἀντιοχείας τοῦ πρωτοπροέδρου Ἰωσὴφ τοῦ Ταρχανειώτου τὸ κοινὸν ἀποτίσαντος χρέος ) τὸν Ἰσαάκιον...δοῦκα Ἀντιοχείας προεχειρίσατο. Ἐπεὶ δὲ τῶν στάσεων αἴτιον ᾤετο εἶναι τὸν πατριάρχην Αἰμυλιανόν, ἐκέλευε τοῦτον εἰς τὴν Κωνσταντινούπολιν ἐξαποστεῖλαι μετὰ σπουδῆς ὅτι πλείστης Bryennios 201.18-203.1
Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63)
  • Promised to Isaakios 61 (appointed doux of Antioch) that the emperor (Michael 7) would reward him if only he expelled the patriarch (Aimilianos 61) from the city (Antioch) (:) Ὁ λογοθέτης δὲ...καὶ ἀμοιβὰς σχεῖν αὐτὸν ἐκ βασιλέως ὑπισχνεῖτο Bryennios 203.4-6