Maria Skleraina, mistress of Konstantinos IX E / M XI
ἡ τοῦ Σκληροῦ ἀδελφή (DO V.25.17) (Maria 64)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(55)
Authorship
(null)
Death
(7)
Michael 61
's account of her terminated at the moment of her death
ὁ μὲν οὖν περὶ ἐκείνης λόγος εἰς αὐτὸ δὴ τὸ μέρος τῆς ἐκείνης κατέληξε λήξεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.10-11
A sudden illness seized her: it fought every provision and skill, cutting short the plans of
Konstantinos 9
and her hopes; it was resistant to every application of care: she had chest pains and terrible difficulty in breathing
ἀλγεινῶς τε εἶχε τοῦ θώρακος, καὶ τὸ ἆσθμα ἐνόσει δεινῶς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 69.5-9
Her death was marked by a long iambic monody by
Michael 61
, containing anguish over the event, the laments of her mother (
Anonyma 2108
), brother (
Romanos 104
) and of
Konstantinos 9
, ending with Michael's own consolation for the bereaved
Psellos Poema 17.1-448
In this situation and after being elevated to such great prosperity and while nurturing to herself even greater hopes, she was suddenly seized by disease and died, leaving behind great grief for the emperor
Konstantinos 9
Zonaras 17.21.28
She who had hitherto imagined greater things was carried off before in advance of her expectations
προαναρπάζεται τῶν ἐλπίδων ἡ τέως φαντασθεῖσα τὰ μείζονα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 69.9-10
The main element of
Konstantinos 9
's grief (for her) (was) the work which he did on her tomb
τὸ δέ γε κεφάλαιον τῶν ἐκείνων παθῶν, ἣν δὴ πραγματείαν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκείνης τάφῳ πεποίηται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.1-3
What
Konstantinos 9
did at her death, the laments he wailed, the deeds he did and how he howled aloud like a child, overcome by suffering,
Michael 61
thought it superfluous to describe in the fabric of his history
ὁπόσα μὲν οὖν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκείνης θανάτῳ ἐπεποιήκει ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ. Psellos: Chronographia VI 70.1-5
Description
(19)
Konstantinos 9
and she were so much in love that neither wished to be deprived of the other, even at times when they seemed to be unfortunate
εἰς τοσοῦτον δὲ ἔρωτος ἀλλήλοις ἀνεκεράσθησαν, ὡς μηδένα θατέρου μέρους ἐστερῆσθαι βούλεσθαι, μηδὲ ἐν οἷς κακοδαιμονεῖν ἐδόκουν καιροῖς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 51.1-3
She had an ear more acute than any woman - probably not a natural attribute, but because she knew that all tongues were directed against her; what was grunted between the teeth she made open talk
... ἐπειδὴ πάσας ᾔδει γλώσσας ἐπ᾿ αὐτὴν φερομένας, καὶ τὸ ὑπ᾿ ὁδόντα τινὰ γρῦξαι λαλιὰν ἐκείνη ἐποίει. Psellos: Chronographia VI 60.11-14
Konstantinos 9
's Sebaste was already dead
ἤδη γὰρ καὶ ἡ Σεβαστὴ τούτῳ τετελευτήκει. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.3
Erstwhile lover
ἡ τέως ἐρωμένη. Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.2
The money which
Basileios 2
had stored up in the palace by great sweat and toil became the plaything of her,
Zoe 1
and
Theodora 1
, given and received as presents or channelled elsewhere: soon it was all used up and wasted
ἔνθεν ἃ πολλοῖς ἱδρῶσι καὶ πόνοις ὁ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος ἐν τοῖς βασιλείοις ἀπεθησαύριζε, ταῦτα εἰς ἱλαρὰν ἐκείναις προέκειτο παιδιάν· ἄλλα γὰρ ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις ἠμείβετό τε καὶ ἀντεδίδοτο, .... Psellos: Chronographia VI 63.1-5
Michael 61
will speak at some length about
Zoe 1
, while
Konstantinos 9
is sleeping with Maria
λεγέσθω γάρ τι πλέον περὶ αὐτῆς, ἕως ἂν τῇ σεβαστῇ αὐτοκράτωρ συναναπαύηται. Psellos: Chronographia VI 65.1-3
Hope of rule nourished her
ἔτρεφε γὰρ κἀκείνην ἡγεμονίας ἐλπίς. Zonaras 17.21.14
Her talk were like no other: subtle, full of flowers, with sophistic excellence in its rhythms; sweet diction tripped automatically from her tongue, inexpressible grace accompanied her tales
τὸ δὲ φθέγμα οἷον οὐκ ἄλλο· λεπτὸν γὰρ αὐτῇ τοῦτο καὶ διηνθισμένον καὶ σοφιστικὴν ἀρετὴν ἔχον ἐν τοῖς ῥυθμοῖς· ἐπέτρεχε δέ τις τῇ γλώττῃ καὶ γλυκεῖα λέξις αὐτόματος, διηγουμένην δὲ ἀδιήγητοι χάριτες περίθεον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 60.5-8
Lovely and in general prudent
ὡραίαν τε οὖσαν καὶ τἆλλα σώφρονα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.9
Partner in power (to
Zoe 1
)
τὴν συμμερῖτιν τοῦ κράτους. Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.9
In appearance she was not particularly remarkable, but she was not a target for abuse or slander; in character and natural judgement she could charm stones and was most able in her whole grasp of affairs
... οὐδὲ πρόχειρον εἰς κακήγορον γλῶτταν καὶ λοίδορον, τὸ δέ γε ἦθος καὶ τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς φρόνημα, τὸ μὲν καὶ θέλξαι λίθους δυνάμενον, τὸ δὲ πρὸς πᾶσαν ἐπιβουλὴν πραγμάτων ἀξιολογώτατον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 60.1-5
Zoe 1
had relinquished envy now as she was past her prime and was no longer enraged with her ... and
Theodora 1
, as she was enjoying what she wanted, was less concerned than Zoe
τὸ ζηλότυπον ἤδη διὰ τὴν τῆς ἡλικίας παρακμὴν καταλύσασα, οὐκ ἔτι πρὸς αὐτὴν ἐμηνία ... καὶ ἡ ἀδελφὴ δέ, ἀπολαύουσα ὦν ἐβούλετο, τῆς ἀδελφῆς ἐφρόντιζεν ἔλαττον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 62.9-12
Having reached this point in his account of
Zoe 1
,
Michael 194
wil return again to her and
Konstantinos 9
, arousing and separating them, if it seems good, and while saving Konstantinos up for later, complete now her life
... ἐπανακαλέσωμεν αὖθις εἰς τὴν σεβαστὴν καὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτρορα, καί, εἰ δοκεῖ, διεγείρωμέν τε καὶ διέλωμεν, καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐς τὸν μέλλοντα λόγον ταμιευσώμεθα, τῇ δὲ διὰ τοῦ παρόντος συνέλωμεν τὴν ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 68.1-5
Was both of youthful years and had exceeding physical beauty and a prominent family: for she was born from the stock of the Skleroi
ἡ δὲ καὶ νέας ἦν ἡλικίας καὶ κάλλους εἶχε τοῦ σώματος περιττῶς καὶ γένους ἐπιφανῶς· ἐξέφυ γὰρ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν Σκληρῶν. Zonaras 17.21.11
The second empress
τῇ δευτέρᾳ βασιλίδι. Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.12-13
Konstantinos 9
and she were so immersed in one another and their love so burned that unless were with one another they thought they were not living and could not endure
οὕτω δ᾿ ἀλλήλοις ἐνετετήκεσαν καὶ οὕτω σφίσιν ὁ ἔρως ἐγκέκαυτο ὡς εἰ μὴ συνεῖεν ἀλλήλοις, μηδὲ ζῆν δοκεῖν μηδ᾿ ἀνέχεσθαι. Zonaras 17.21.12
Lover of the emperor (
Konstantinos 9
Monomachos)
παλλακευομένης γὰρ τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ Σκληροῦ τῷ βασιλεῖ. Skylitzes 434.65
Lived with
Konstantinos 9
in widowhood
χηρείᾳ συζώσῃ. Zonaras 17.21.10
In touching on her and wanting to tell her story in its entirety,
Michael 61
's account omitted many noteworthy things which preceded, so as not to have to mention matters relating to her one by one and break the continuity of the subject
... φιλοτιμηθεὶς δι᾿ ὅλου τὴν περὶ ταύτης ἱστορίαν ἐμφανθῆναι, πολλὰ ... παρῆκεν, ἵνα μὴ καθ᾿ ἕκαστον τῶν πεπραγμένων μνημονεύειν ἐκείνης ἐπαναγκάζωμαι καὶ τὸ συνεχὲς διακόπτειν τῶν ὑποθέσεων. Psellos: Chronographia VI 71.5-10
Dignity/Office
(11)
Basilis
βασιλὶς. Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.4; 59.13
Eutychestate
εὐτυχεστάτης.
Seal 0
Hyperperilampros
ὑπερπεριλάμπρου.
Seal 0
Protospatharea
πρτωτοσπαθαρία. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 15.16
Sebaste
Σεβαστή. Zonaras 17.21.25
σεβαστή. Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.1; 58.1
σεβαστή. Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.4-5; 63.9; 65.2; etc.
σεβαστή. Psellos: Chronographia VI 151.3
σεβαστή. Psellos Poema 17.10, 84
σεβαστήν. Christophoros of Mitylene 70.1-4
σεβαστῆς.
Seal 0
Education
(1)
She captivated
Michael 61
with her frequent questions about Greek myths, herself making an addition if she had heard from an expert on these matters
ἐμὲ γοῦν ᾕρει ἐπανερωτῶσα πολλάκις μύθους ἑλληνικούς, καὶ αὐτὴ προστιθεῖσα εἴ τινος τῶν ἀκριβούντων περὶ ταῦτα ἀκήκοεν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 60.9-11
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(5)
Skleros
τὴν Σκλήραιναν. Glykas 595.18
Σκληραίνης. Lazaros of Galesion 584E
ἐξέφυ τοῦ σπέρματος τῶν Σκληρῶν. Zonaras 17.21.11
Σκλήραινα. Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.1; 58.1
Σκληραίνης. Psellos Poema 17 (tit.)
Kinship
(14)
daughter of
Anonyma 2108
θυγατρί. Psellos Poema 17.145-146
daughter of
Anonymus 181
τῆς θυγατρός. Skylitzes 434.65
θυγάτηρ. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 15.16
lover of
Konstantinos 9
ἐπαλλακεύετο. Skylitzes 427.61
(εἰς παρανομωτάτην ἑαυτῷ μετῆξε συμβίωσιν). Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.9-10
τὴν ἐρωμένην. Psellos: Chronographia VI 55.14; 57.6; 63.11
ξυνευνέτιδι. Zonaras 17.21.21
niece of
Anonyma 6006
ἀνεψιάν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.9-10
ἀνεψιᾷ τῆς αὐτοῦ γαμετῆς. Zonaras 17.20.10
sister of
Romanos 104
ἀδελφή. Skylitzes 427.62
(ἀδελφοῦ). Lazaros of Galesion 584F
(ἀδελφὸς). Zonaras 17.22.3
τὴν ὁμαίμονα. Zonaras 17.22.3
συγγόνην. Psellos Poema 17.251-252
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(12)
Constantinople
arrived at Constantinople τὴν βασιλίδα τῶν πόλεων. Psellos: Chronographia VI 53.9-10
was brought to Constantinople τὴν βασιλεύουσαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 50.2
was summoned to Constantinople Βυζάντιον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 53.5-6
Constantinople: Great Palace
was brought into palace τῶν βασιλικῶν ἀδύτων. Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.2
was introduced into palace τα βασίλεια. Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.1
Constantinople: Hagios Mamas
received, as payment of debt, the monastery of Hagios Mamas μονὴν τοῦ ῾Αγίου Μάμαντος. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 15.16
Constantinople: Hippodrome
went in procession to the Hippodrome θέατρον. Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.6-10
Constantinople: Kynegion
resided at Kynegion (house of the) ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τοῦ Κυνηγίου. Zonaras 17.27.18
Constantinople: Mangana
possessed Mangana, St Georgios the Tropaiophoros τοῦ ἁγίου μεγαλομάρτυρος Γεωργίου τοῦ Τροπαιοφόρου.
Seal 0
Mitylene
she followed Konstantinos IX to exile in Mitylene ἐν ξένῃ γῇ. Psellos Poema 17.61-70
was brought back from Mitylene Μιτυλήνης. Zonaras 17.21.17
Pausolype (near Mount Galesion)
granted 720 nomismata to
Lazaros 104
which were used for the construction of (the monastery at) Pausolype (near Mount Galesion) τῆς Παυσολύπης. Lazaros of Galesion 584E
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(1)
The monastery of Hagios Mamas (Constantinople)
μονὴν τοῦ ῾Αγίου Μάμαντος. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 15.16
Religion
(null)
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)