Certainty: 2 Michael VI gave very generous promotions to civil aristocracy & promises to people. Michael VI promoted the senators indiscriminately to higher ranks and made unsuitable promises to the people. Psellos satirises his chaotic generosity by saying that he did not appoint people to the next rank up but raised them to the one above and the one above that; if someone came and sought a fourth, he met a ready ear; someone nudging him on the other side might get a fifth promotion
Certainty: 3 Empress Theodora's investigation into Melissourgeion: the decision. Leon finally decided to to ratify ownership for Iveron, and sent his notarios Ioannes spatharokandidatos to do so. This too needed seven witnesses: Ioannes, nomikos of Hierissos; Nikephoros, presbyter and skeuophylax; Michael, domestikos of Hierissos; Theodoros, presbyter; Basileios, son-in-law of Manglabites; Georgios Polites; and Konstantinos, son-in-law of Brichotos. The document was finally signed by Leon himself
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos replaced as doux of Antioch by Michael Ouranos. Katakalon Kekaumenos happened to be doux of Antioch when Michael VI was proclaimed. He was removed from office and replaced by Michael's nephew Michael as magistros and doux of Antioch. The latter was given the surname Ouranos, so that he might appear to be descended from the famous old general Ouranos.
Certainty: 2 Michael VI granted (or confirmed) a solemnion of 80 nomismata for Vatopedi. Michael VI granted (or confirmed) a solemnion of 80 nomismata to the monastery of Vatopedi (on Athos)
Certainty: 3 Delegation of Athonite monks to Constantinople for the proclamation of Michael VI. Joseph Gematos, hegoumenos of Hagios Nikon, while visiting Constantinople shortly after the accession of Michael VI as part of a delegation of Athonite monks, complained to the emperor about the usurpation of a property of his monastery by the monks of Hagios Panteleemon Thessalonikeos. The emperor ordered the protomystikos Ioannnes Xeros to investigate
Certainty: 3 Dispute over ownership of metochion of Melissourgeion settled in favour of Iveron after rebellion by metochion monks. After the rebellion by the monks of the monastery of Melissourgeion, the empress Theodora issued an imperial order confirming to Iveron ownership of the monastery. Arsenios, hegoumenos of Iveron, appealed to Theodora and secured an order from her for Leon Thylakas, krites of Boleron, Strymon and Thessalonike, to summon the monks of Iveron and Melissourgeion and their supporters in order to investigate the affair. He called both groups of monks, examined the affair thoroughly, but faced difficulties and reported in writing to the empress. On receiving Leon's report on the problems met, she issued a second order (prostaxis) instructing him on how to deal with the affair. He replied by issuing an act (praktikon) describing in detail the actions he had taken
Certainty: 2 Michael VI, being old, revived many customs which had fallen out of use & seemed ridiculous. Michael VI, being very old, revived many redundant and useless practices: for example, he ordered the cleaning of the Strategion for which he was derided, and appointed shorthand writers instead of senators to public posts
Certainty: 2 Death of Petrus, archbishop of Cosenza (Calabria). Petrus, the archbishop of Cosenza in Calabria, died
Certainty: 2 Turkish general Amertikes joined Michael VI. Michael VI received the Turkish commander Amertikes with great honours as an ally in Constantinople
Certainty: 2 Failed attempt of Theodosios Monomachos to seize throne. When Theodosios Monomachos heard of the accession of Michael VI, he protested, as the closest relative of the deceased Konstantinos IX. He decided to claim the throne as his inheritance before considering the difficulties involved. He summoned his kin, servants, neighbours and supporters, left his house near the Leomakellon late in the afternoon, and marched through the Plateia to the palace, complaining to bystanders about the injustice he suffered and claiming the throne. He turned back from the palace on learning that the Roman and Varangian guards were gathering in opposition, and went to Hagia Sophia instead, expecting the patriarch Keroularios, clergy and people to proclaim him emperor. He broke into the Praitorion and Chalke prisons setting free the prisoners as allies. Keroularios and his clergy shut the gates of Hagia Sophia against him. He was abandoned by his supporters, alone with his son near Hagia Sophia, where he was arrested and banished to Pergamon. The event spawned a popular line: "The moron Monomachus did whatever crossed his mind"
Certainty: 2 Psellos wrote Orationes Panegyricae 15 &16 for Leon Paraspondylos. In one speech, using a characterisation rather than an encomium, Psellos pictured Leon Paraspondylos as a heroic and inflexible ideal. In another, he agreed to a request from Leon to write an encomium for St Gregorios Thaumatourgos, after an elaborate double humility topos. He expressed great inferiority both to the saint and to Leon
Certainty: 1 The life of Nikolaos, epi ton deeeon, was changed by his wife's rich dowry. He received a rich dowry from his wife - 40 litrai, and as its appendages the estate of Phlorion and an unfashionable house in Bykinon, near the hippodrome. Before he was working as a hypogrammeteus with poor prospects. But his new wealth brought him access to the palace, a richer house and way of life, treating his two step-daughters as his own. He gave them rich monetary dowries but kept the poorer property (including Phlorion) for himself. They were kept quiet with plenty of cash
Certainty: 1 Ioannes Xiphilinos charged Psellos with following Plato more than Christ, receiving a long & fierce reply. Psellos defended himself at length against the charge of Ioannes Xiphilinos that he followed Plato more than Christ, with references to Ioannes' (lost) accusation and earlier letters, which leave some passages obscure. He reminded Ioannes of the fulfilment of their plans to be tonsured and their time together on Olympos. He attacked Ioannes' ignorance, stressed the role of Platonism in the formation of Christian doctrine but finally declared all the ancients inferior to the Bible
Certainty: 1 Psellos advised a newly-chosen kathegoumenos on Olympos how to carry out his duties. Psellos wrote to a monk recently installed as kathegoumenos on Olympos. He offered congratulations, advice not to be too strict and a question: was he frightened or pleased with the promotion? If he was frightened, that would give better prospects for the future
Certainty: 1 Psellos congratulated Romanos Skleros on the birth of a new grandson. Psellos greeted both his masters: first Romanos, with many virtues, hunting wild beasts on his estates, whom Psellos had praised before and would do so again, free now from the slur of flattery. Romanos was to hug Psellos' young master his baby grandson. May the boy follow family role-models (whom Psellos had not seen), growing easily through teething etc. to become a splendid adult
Certainty: 3 Chrysobull of Michael VI granting an annual donation to Lavra. Michael VI issued and signed a chrysobull granting to Lavra an annual donation of three pounds (of gold) to be paid by the sekreton tou phylakos which also paid the monastery the annual donations of earlier emperors amounting to eight pounds and twenty nomismata. He made a common annual grant of ten pounds (of gold) to the monasteries of the holy mountain of Athos
Certainty: 3 Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him. Michael VI was very generous to the civil aristocracy at the beginning of his reign, with gifts and promotions. But when it was time for the award of dignities to the military aristocracy of Asia Minor, at Easter, he praised them grudgingly and refused their requests with contempt and severe criticism. Psellos was with him. The generals were sent away and began to turn against him. Their leaders were Isaakios Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos, Michael Bourtzes, Konstantinos Doukas and Ioannes Doukas. Komnenos and Kekaumenos, who both sought the dignity of proedros, were singled out for insults as lazy and incompetent, as were the colleagues who defended them. Later Bryennios the ethnarches begged Michael VI to return the money which Theodora had confiscated from him, but Michael refused and sent him away saying that he would have to achieve something before being rewarded. Later, Hervé Phrangopoulos too asked Michael VI to be made magistros: not only was this turned down, but he was derided, mocked, and sent away. He ignored the plotting of the Roman generals and asked to return home, bid the emperor farewell, crossed to the East, and went to his house at Dagarabe. Michael should have been wiser
Certainty: 2 Bryennios recalled from exile & sent once more against Turks. Bryennios the ethnarches was recalled from exile by Michael VI, appointed chief commander of the army of Macedonia and governor of the Cappadocians, and was sent against the Turks of Samouch
Certainty: 2 Samouch was left by sultan with small force of Turks to plunder Armenia. Samouch, who had campaigned with the sultan Tughrul Beg, remained behind with 3,000 men, wandered in the plains of Great Armenia carrying out sudden attacks, and raided the empire. Michael VI was unable to defend against his aggression
Certainty: 2 Collusion of Herve Phrangopoulos with Turks of Samouch collapsed: Franks killed or captured at Chliat. Herve Phrangopoulos, furious at his treatment by Michael VI, corrupted 300 Franks wintering in Armeniakon and led them to Media, making an alliance with the Turkish raider Samouch against the Romans. But Herve became suspicious of his new allies, though Samouch seemed thonest. Herve secretly ordered his troops not to sleep unarmed, expecting an assault from Samouch. The latter found out, attacked at breakfast time, but was defeated. Herve returned from pursuit of the Turks towards Chliat, ordering his Franks to stay in camp. But his troops demanded to enter Chliat whose governor, Aponasar, had been their ally, to rest after the battle with Samouch. He vainly tried to persuade them not to trust a heathen's oaths, but was forced to follow them. Samouch planned with Aponasar to order the city's inn-keepers to arrest or murder their Frankish guests on a given signal. They were successful: the Franks were attacked while asleep after drinking, Herve was captured and many of his men killed. Samouch sent goodwill embassies to Michael VI, claiming to have destroyed those plotting against him and captured their leader Herve Phrangopoulos
Certainty: 3 Property dispute between monasteries of Hagios Nikon & Hagios Panteleemon Thessalonikeos. When Joseph Gematos of Hagios Nikon complained that the monks of Hagios Panteleemon Thessalonikeos had usurped a property of his monastery, the bureau of Ioannes Xeros ordered Metrophanes, the hegoumenos of Thessalonikeos, to take an oath that his monastery owned the property in question. The protos and hegoumenoi, on a visit to the property, saw it was adjacent to Thessalonikeos, and asked Joseph to renounce his claim. When he refused, they had Metrophanes and two of his monks walk along the boundary establishing a periorismos confirming the property to Thessalonikeos. The document was signed by 26 hegoumenoi and a copy was subsequently signed by 5 monks of Thessalonikeos
Certainty: 2 Death of count Humphrey of Apulia; Robert Guiscard took power in his place. After the death of his brother Humphrey de Hauteville, Robert Guiscard became count of Apulia in his place
Certainty: 2 Failure of second attempt by eastern generals to gain promotion, via Strabospondylos. Leon Paraspondylos (Strabospondylos ) was approached by the eastern generals (Isaakios (I) Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos, Konstantinos (X) Doukas, Ioannes Doukas and Michael Bourtzes), to mediate on their behalf with Michael VI over promotions. This was their second attempt, having failed in a direct approach to the emperor at Easter. They alone (they said) should not be left unrewarded when all benefited from Michael's generosity, especially as the rest lived comfortably, while they stood at arms, fighting for the Roman realm. He rejected their requests, and even sent them away with insults
Certainty: 2 Isaakios Komnenos made a plot with angry eastern generals to remove Michael VI from throne. The eastern generals, Isaakios (I) Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos, Michael Bourtzes, Konstantinos (X) Doukas and Ioannes Doukas sought mediation with the emperor via Leon Paraspondylos. But they were insulted and sent away. At this they lost all hope, were incensed at the emperor and reviled him, sought revenge, and took an oath in Hagia Sophia to punish those who insulted them. They even thought of refusing to fight the Turks. Once this was done all retired home, announcing their departure to the emperor
Certainty: 2 Bryennios joined rebel generals against Michael VI. Bryennios the ethnarches was introduced into the conspiracy of the eastern generals by Katakalon Kekaumenos as accomplice in the plan, and acquiesced at once. He was an eminent man, commander of forces from Macedonia and invested with rule of Cappadocia, and also had a grievance against Michael VI, since he would not return to him the money confiscated by Theodora
Certainty: 2 Bryennios arrested & blinded by loyal generals in squabble over soldiers' pay. Bryennios the ethnarches became strategos of Cappadocia. After joining the rebel eastern generals, he crossed to the east with the patrikios Ioannes Opsaras, sent by Michael VI to pay the troops and administer the military budget: he ordered Opsaras to raise the salaries of his army. When he refused, saying that these were not the emperors orders, Bryennios grew angry, punched him, took him by the beard, threw him to the ground, tied him up, kept him in his tent, and distributed the gold as he wished. Lykanthes was camped near Bryennios in Anatolikon. Though unaware of the generals plot, he considered the treatment of Opsaras an act of rebellion. He attacked Bryennios in his tent with the two tagmata of Anatolikon, proclaiming the emperor Michael VI, imprisoned Bryennios and released Opsaras. He then handed Bryennios to Opsaras, and distributed the army salaries as ordered. Opsaras immediately took vengeance on Bryennios by blinding him, and sent him to Michael VI with a report of revolutionary behaviour
Certainty: 2 The rebel generals, seeing fate of Bryennios, gathered at Kastamon, home of Isaakios Komnenos. The rebel eastern generals, when they heard of the capture of Bryennios, feared that if tortured, he might betray them. Thus they travelled to the east and met at the home of Isaakios Komnenos at Kastamon. They had to elect a leader. Katakalon Kekaumenos and Konstantinos (X) Doukas were reportedly asked to take the position, but both stood aside for Isaakios (I). Those reported at the gathering were Isaakios Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos. Konstantinos (X) Doukas, the sons of Basileios Argyros, (Michael) Bourtzes, Ioannes Doukas, Nikephoros (III) Botaneiates and Romanos Skleros
Certainty: 3 Isaakios Komnenos proclaimed emperor by the army at Gounaria. The conspirators moved on from Kastamon to Gounaria, where Isaakios Komnenos was proclaimed emperor, with that part of the army of the east which had not remained loyal to Michael VI
Certainty: 2 Isaakios (I) stayed near Kastamon, worried by rumours that Katakalon Kekaumenos had joined Michael VI. Isaakios (I) encamped and awaited at Gounaria for the remaining conspirators to arrive. He received a messenger explaining that the delay of Katakalon Kekaumenos (only prominent in Skylitzes) was due to the latter's defection to the emperor. This was untrue. Kekaumenos was worried that the inaction of the others might mean that they might not continue with the plot. He also had no troops on hand to contribute to the rebel army
Certainty: 2 Isaakios (I) sent his family for safety to the fort of Pemolissa. Isaakios (I), once joined by all his fellow-rebels, felt secure and handed his wife Aikaterine and valuables to his brother Ioannes, whom he sent to the fort of Pemolissa. He crossed the Sangarios with his army and marched onwards amidst praise and acclaim
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos announced his revolt to the court, but was now worried that others would not continue. Katakalon Kekaumenos left Constantinople to return home, and reached Nikomedeia, where he came across an imperial courier, with whom he sent a message to Niketas Xylinites the logothetes of the dromos, complaining of Michael VI's behaviour and requesting troops. He then hurried home. When he saw that Isaakios (I) was inactive, he started worrying that he and the other conspirators might change their minds, leaving Katakalon himself exposed as the sole actual rebel
Certainty: 2 Being without men, Kekaumenos gathered local troops, then approached five tagmata wintering nearby. Katakalon Kekaumenos had inadequate forces for rebellion and did not know the intentions of the local troops. He thought how to protect himself from accusations of rebellion which would lead to arrest by the local Frankish and Russian tagmata. He gathered a 1000-strong force and revealed his rebellious plans to his family and household. To put them in practice, he approached each of the local magnates, failing to win them over. He started to test the army instead. He rode out each morning (at Nikopolis) and addressed the commanders of each force separately, revealed his plan to revolt and threatened them to chose, either side with him or lose their head, and forced them to take an oath. He grew fearless, and gathered Armenian troops from Sebasteia, Melitene, Tephrike and elsewhere. He sent a message to Isaakios (I) announcing his support and imminent arrival with a strong army
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos tricked two Byzantine & three mercenary tagmata, with others, to join the revolt. Katakalon Kekaumenos forged imperial letters allegedly ordering him to march against Samouch with three allied tagmata (two Frankish, one Russian) and those of Koloneia and Chaldia. He gathered all five in the plain of Nikopolis, and started his campaign. On his way to Isaakios (I) at Gounaria, he brought over to the rebels' side the tagma of Armeniakon and, either willingly or unwillingly, the theme's leaders
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos joined the other rebels, & Isaakios (I) led them towards Nicaea. Having been joined by Katakalon Kekaumenos and sent his family to safety, Isaakios felt able to advance. He set out across th Sangarios to get control of Nicaea, so that he might have the city as a base or refuge, however the scale of fortune turned for him. Though this was his first such campaign, he organised his soldiers in a careful and professional way. He was joined by many supporters of every kind. He cut off routes to the city to establish a blockade, while Michael VI was passive
Certainty: 2 Michael VI took advice on the rebellion, especially from Michael Psellos. Michael VI sought advice in this perilous situation, approaching Psellos (among others) as if he were a beloved adopted son. Psellos, who had no quarrel with him, advised three changes: (1) To end his diagreement with Keroularios, who had great power in this situation and would join the rebels if Michael did not win him over; (2) To send an embassy to Isaakios (I), asking him to disband his army, promising him all he safely could and also working to try to destabilise his army; (3) To assemble the troops of the west with other remaining forces, invoke alliances with neighbouring barbarians, strengthen existing mercenaries, appoint a good general, making his forces adequate to oppose the numbers everywhere opposing them. Later Michael rejected (1), enough to cause his downfall. He accepted (2) and (3), but accomplished nothing on (2). On (3), he did quite well
Certainty: 2 Michael VI made no attempt to use Keroularios as a bridge to the rebels of Isaakios (I), till it was too late. To the last the imperial side ignored the possibility of using Keroularios to bridge the gap between the two armed sides outside the city, or inside the city, between the emperor and the mob now keen to murder him
Certainty: 2 Michael VI prepared western armies & any loyal eastern troops, under experienced leaders. The experienced Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai, and Aaron, brother of Aikaterine wife of Isaakios Komnenos, were appointed chief commanders of the army by Michael VI. He granted honours, gifts and money to both soldiers and generals. They had under their command most of the western army and some loyal units from the east, especially the armies of Anatolikon and Charsianon
Certainty: 2 With Isaakios (I) near Nicaea, many opposing troops went home, while their generals rallied to Michael VI. Isaakios (I) intended to use Nicaea as a base of operations, and so he advanced slowly in order to allow troops and generals still loyal to Michael VI to leave. Among the latter were Lykanthes, Theophylaktos Maniakes and Pnyemios the Iberian, who withdrew from Nicaea when told of his arrival and went to Michael VI to announce the news. When Isaakios heard that the domestikos Theodoros and his men had encamped on Mount Sophon, he sent out spies everywhere, marched quickly, took Nicaea and installed an adequate garrison there while himself pitching camp twelve stades away. There were many desertions from Michael to Isaakios
Certainty: 2 Two rival armies camped close together, testing each other's will, then drawn up in battle formation. Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai and Aaron, brother of Alousianos were put in command against Isaakios (I): they crossed to Chrysopolis and Nikomedeia, sent troops to capture the Sangarios bridge, camped on Mount Sophon and prepared for war. According to Skylitzes, Isaakios' men in many skirmishes tried to convince the army of Michael VI to defect, but failed. He ordered them to limit their forays and remain in camp - a decision interpreted as weakness. Psellos reported more mass desertions from Michael to Isaakios. The armies faced each other at no great distance, but there was no action. Michael VI's men were more numerous, but Isaakios had superior force and order, especially his men's cohesion and firm loyalty to him. When the army of Michael VI moved their camp closer, Isaakios drew up his army in battle order, placing Katakalon Kekaumenos at the head of the left wing, Romanos Skleros on the right, Isaakios himself leading the centre. In the other army Aaron led the left wing, having under his command Lykanthes, Pnyemios the Iberian and Radulf the Frank. Basileios Tarchaneiotes, stratelates of the West, led the right wing. Theodoros, the domestikos of the scholai, was in overall command. The battle took place at a spot locally called Hades
Certainty: 2 Victory of rebel Isaakios Komnenos over imperial army at battle of Polemon/Hades. The course of the battle was quite different on the two wings. Aaron defeated the right wing of the army of Isaakios, pursued the troops to their camp, captured Romanos Skleros, and would have won a clear victory had he not hesitated, for Isaakios was planning to flee to Nicaea. The left wing of Isaakios' army, led by Katakalon Kekaumenos, routed the imperial right, reached and entered their camp, destroyed the tents and killed the generals Maurokatakalos and Katzamountes, thus encouraging their own side while scaring the successful men of Aaron. In this ambiguous situation, Isaakios in the centre was able to stand firm, and encouraged his men to advance. He had a narrow escape when attacked by four Pechenegs. Nikephoros Botaneiates distinguished himself in single combat with Radulf the Frank, who was captured. Finally Isaakios' troops won a great victory, with considerable bloodshed. Theodoros and Aaron returned defeated to Michael VI. Isaakios advanced towards the city