Nestor's demand for surrender of Nikephoritzes rejected: he finally retreated because he feared a plot

Summary:
Nestor brought his troops up to Constantinople and refused to leave unless Nikephoritzes, who had confiscated his properties, was handed over to him. Facing a rebellion by his own troops and the refusal of Michael VII to satisfy his demand, he withrew, ravaging the regions of Thrace and Macedonia up to the Danube, until he reached Pecheneg territory 
Dates:
1074 (Uncertain) 
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • Turned down the demand of Nestor 101 to hand over Nikephoros 63 in exchange for the Pecheneg troops' withdrawal and did not consent to his dismissal from the imperial administration either, which would have saved the empire (:) οὐδ ᾿ ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς ἀπραξίας σωτηρίαν τοῦ γένους παντὸς τῶν Ῥωμαίων ἀνταλλάξασθαι πρόθυμος ἦν Attaleiates: History 208.20-209.6 / 153.14-21
  • Asked to get the logothetes Nikephoros 63 out of the way by Nestor 101 (who threatened Constantinople with a Pecheneg army) he refused, succumbing to the logothete's cunning and deceit (:) ἑαυτὸν ταῖς αὐτοῦ γοητείαις καὶ ἀπάταις ἐκδεδωκώς Skylitzes Continuatus 166.19-23
  • When he did not do this [remove Nikephoros 63], Nestor 101 withdrew from the city, but ravaged the regions of Thrace and Macedonia and the parts of Bulgaria adjacent to them, and moved on to the land of the Pechenegs (:) Zonaras 18.17.6
  • When he indicated to Nestor 101 to lay down his arms, Nestor 101 said he was ready to do this if the logothetes Nikephoros (Nikephoros 63), a public calamity and bane to the people, were handed over to him or put out of the way (:) Zonaras 18.17.5
Nestor, doux of Paristrion (Nestor 101)
  • Demanded that Nikephoros 63 be handed to him in order to be punished as the cause of all troubles, promising to withdraw at once from Constantinople and leave the Romans in peace, but his request was turned down by the emperor (Michael 7) (:) τοῦτον γὰρ ἰσχυρῶς ἐπεζήτει λαβεῖν καὶ κολάσαι Attaleiates: History 208.15-21 / 153.9-15
  • Afraid of a possible conspiracy against himself, he took his army away from Constantinople back through Macedonia, joined the other Pechenegs, and raided the villages and estates around the Istros capturing much booty in men, animals and provisions (:) ἐκεῖθεν ἀναστήσας τὴν στρατιὰν ὀπισθόρμητος ἤλαυνε Attaleiates: History 209.8-18 / 153.23-154.2
  • Appointed doux and sent to Paristrion, he joined Tatous 101 instead, armed many Pechenegs with whom he marched on Constantinople, and when asked to lay down his arms he refused unless Nikephoros 63 be removed as the enemy who had seized his estates (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 166.14-22
  • Facing a rebellion in his (Pecheneg) army he left Constantinople, ransacked Macedonia, Thrace, and the regions of Bulgaria, and withdrew to Pecheneg territory (:) ἐπιβουλευθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν οἰκείων Skylitzes Continuatus 166.23-26
  • When the emperor (Michael 7) did not do this [remove Nikephoros 63], he withdrew from the city, but ravaged the regions of Thrace and Macedonia and the parts of Bulgaria adjacent to them, and moved on to the land of the Pechenegs (:) Zonaras 18.17.6
  • When the emperor (Michael 7) indicated to him to lay down his arms, he said he was ready to do this if the logothetes Nikephoros (Nikephoros 63), a public calamity and bane to the people, were handed over to him or put out of the way (:) Zonaras 18.17.5
Nikephoritzes (Nikephoros 63)
  • Confiscated the properties of Nestor 101 who, having arrived with Pecheneg troops before Constantinople, demanded to get him out of the way as an enemy who had wronged him greatly, but his influence over the emperor (Michael 7) prevented this (:) τὴν αὐτοῦ περιουσίαν δημεύσαντα Skylitzes Continuatus 166.19-23
  • When the emperor (Michael 7) indicated to Nestor 101 to lay down his arms, Nestor 101 said he was ready to do this if he were handed over to him or put out of the way, since he was a public calamity and bane to the people (:) Zonaras 18.17.5