Dispute at court over proposed appointment of Nikephoros Bryennios as kaisar

Summary:
Michael VII was very worried about events in the Balkans, and wanted to associate with himself a good and experienced military man, offering the position of kaisar (formally vacated by the tonsured Ioannes Doukas). He and Nikephoritzes agreed to make Nikephoros Bryennios kaisar and doux of all Bulgaria, with the task of subduing the whole people of the Slavs. Bryennios was summoned from Thrace to Constantinople, despite the disagreement of Konstantinos (nephew of Keroularios) with this decision: Konstantinos was said to covet the position for himself 
Dates:
1074 (Uncertain) 
Konstantinos, nephew of patriarch Michael I Keroularios (Konstantinos 120)
  • Asked for his opinion (on Michael 7's plan) he praised the man (Nikephoros 62) but not the plan, saying that the emperor should either abdicate in favour of him, or, if not prepared to do this, he should renounce the idea of making him his associate (:) ἔφησε τὸν μὲν ἄνδρα γινώσκειν καὶ ἐπαινεῖν, τὴν δὲ περὶ αὐτοῦ σκέψιν τε καὶ βουλὴν οὐ πάνυ τι ἐπαινεῖν Bryennios 213.3-9
  • Informed by the emperor (Michael 7) of his plan (to bestow upon Nikephoros 62 Bryennios the title of kaisar) he was upset, for he had been coveting the imperial throne (Before the return of Bryennios:Πρὸ τοῦ δὲ τοῦτον τὸν ἄνδρα εἰς τὴν βασιλίδα ἐπανε) κοινοῦται ὁ βασιλεὺς τὸν λόγον ... Ὁ δ᾿ ἀκούσας βαρέως ἔφερε τὰ λεχθέντα Bryennios 211.17-213.3
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • In great fear (of events in the Balkans) and thinking of getting an associate and bestowing upon him the second dignity, that of kaisar, he looked for the best military men among the officials, searching the best in experience, wisdom and virtue (:) ἐσκέπτετο κοινωνόν τινα προσλαβέσθαι καὶ τὴν δευτέραν αὐτῷ ἀπονεῖμαι τιμήν Bryennios 211.6-11
  • Changing his intention (to bestow the title of kaisar), he wanted to appoint Bryennios (Nikephoros 62) doux of the entire land of the Bulgarians in order to subjugate the nation of the Sthlabinoi (Slavs) (:) τὸν σκοπὸν μεταθέμενος ἐβούλετο τοῦτον δοῦκα τῆς τῶν Βουλγάρων ἀποδείξασθαι πάσης χώρας Bryennios 213.12-16
  • Summoned from Odrysoi (Thrace) Nikephoros 62 Bryennios and informed of his plan to make him kaisar the droungarios Konstantinos 120, who expressed his disagreement, causing great fear to the emperor (:) εἰς δέος μέγα τὸν βασιλέα ἐνέβαλε καὶ ἄλλως δειλόν τε ὄντα Bryennios 211.16-213.11
Nikephoros Bryennios usurper [1077] (Nikephoros 62)
  • Thought by both the emperor (Michael 7)'s officials and the logothetes (Nikephoros 63) to be the most suitable man to be bestowed the title of kaisar, he was summoned from Odrysoi (Thrace) to Constantinople (:) γράμμασι βασιλικοῖς ἐξ Ὀδρυσῶν μετεπέμπετο Bryennios 211.12-17
Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63)
  • Agreed with the emperor (Michael 7)'s officials that Nikephoros 62 Bryennios was the most suitable man to be bestowed the title of kaisar (:) πᾶσιν ἐδόκει τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτῷ τῷ λογοθέτῃ τοιοῦτος εἶναι ὁ Βρυέννιος Νικηφόρος Bryennios 211.12-13