Ioannes (orphanotrophos) took control of finance, giving out money & favours

Summary:
While most sources imply that Ioannes took full control as soon as his brother was crowned, Psellos does not: he gives Michael IV responsibility for everything but finance, and declares that he was impressed by Michael's serious commitment to his office. Ioannes won over the Senate by giving many promotions and the common people by distributions of money and other favours, successfully achieving dominance. Most sources praise Ioannes' energy and intelligence, as does Psellos, but he was amazed at the effectiveness of a man who (as Psellos himself saw) was often drunk and overcome with laughter 
Dates:
1034 
Ioannes the Orphanotrophos, brother of Michael IV (Ioannes 68)
  • After his brother (Michael 4)'s accession to the throne, no matter, either small or big, was decided without his consent; and, fearing for the emperor's safety, he prevented him from taking walks and baths (:) οὐδὲ μικρὸν ἢ μέγα ἦν, ὃ μὴ μετὰ γνώμης αὐτοῦ διεπράττετο Skylitzes 392.23-25
  • Sent letters announcing the death of Romanos 3 and the marriage of the empress (Zoe 1) to (his brother) Michael 4, claiming that the latter was proclaimed while Romanos was still alive, having given his consent (:) γράμματα κατὰ πάσης ἐκπέμπει τῆς οἰκουμένης Skylitzes 392.25-29
  • Brought the senate under his control by granting dignities to prominent senators, and the public by distributing gifts and favours (:) Skylitzes 393.41-45
  • Real power in both political and military matters rested in his hands; the emperor (Michael 4) held the throne in name only, tormented as he was by his disease and being dull and slow in dealing with the empire's affairs (:) Skylitzes 395.95-3
  • Was clever and energetic, covert in character, variable towards those whom he encountered, quick and indefatigable under the weight of cares ἦν γὰρ καὶ δεινὸς ὁ ἄνθρωπος καὶ δραστήριος καὶ τὸ ἦθος ὑποκαθήμενος καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας ποικιλλόμενος, περισπερχής τε καὶ πρὸς φροντίδων ὄγκον ἀκάματος Zonaras 17.14.12
  • Neither when gorging himself nor lusting for strong drink (for he was a slave to wine) did he relinquish his zeal for public administration οὐδε γαστριζόμενος οὐδὲ περὶ τὸν ἄκρατον λιχνευόμενος (ἥττητο γὰρ ὄινου) τῆς περὶ τὰς δημοσίας διοικήσεις καθυφίει σπουδῆς Zonaras 17.14.12
  • Took the entire navigation of the realm over, having long since assumed the monastic habit but preserving such only as far as the outward dress was concerned (:) μοναχικὸν μὲν πάλαι σχῆμα ἐπενδυθείς, τοῦτο δὲ τηρῶν ἄχρι μόνου τοῦ σχήματος Zonaras 17.14.15
  • Elder brother of Michael 4 ... a man most ready with ideas and energetic in actions ὁ πρεσβύτερος τοῦ Μιχαὴλ ἀδελφὸς ... ἀνὴρ δεινότατος περὶ τὰς ἐνθυμήσεις καὶ περὶ τὰς πράξεις δραστήριος Psellos: Chronographia IV 2.6-9
  • Elder of the brothers (Anonymi 6008) of Michael 4 τοῦ πρεσβυτέρου τῶν ἀδελφῶν ᾽Ιωάννου Psellos: Chronographia IV 11.18-22
  • He was indeed bulwark as well as brother to Michael 4, for neither by day nor night did he relax from cares, but even at times when sated with delights, at drinking-parties, ceremonies and festivals, he did not neglect his due commitment ... προπύργιον ὡς ἀληθῶς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ἀδελφός· οὔτε ... τῶν φροντίδων ἀνεῖτο, ἀλλὰ καὶ χαρίτων ἔστιν οὗ πληρούμενος, καὶ συμποσίοις παραγινόμενος, τελεταῖς τε πανηγύρεσιν, τῆς καθηκούσης οὐκ ἠμέλει σπουδῆς Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.18-22
  • He wished to live more magnificently and to attend to government more imperially, but his innate character contended against this and his nature did not, as it were, cast off its initial greed ἐβούλετο ... μεγαλοπρεπέστερον διαζῆν καὶ βασιλικώτερον τῶν πραγμάτων ἀντέχεσθαι, ἀντεῖχε δὲ ὅμως πρὸς τοῦτο τὸ ἔμφυτον ἦθος, καὶ ἡ φύσις, ἵν’ οὕτως εἴπω, τὴν πρώτην οὐκ ἀπερρίπτει λιχνείαν Psellos: Chronographia IV 13.12-15
  • While drinking he would watch the demeanour of each of his fellow-drinkers and, as if having caught them red-handed, would later submit them to scrutiny, examining what they had done and said in their cups; so he was more feared drunk than sober (:) ὥσπερ ἐπ’ αὐτοφώρῳ τούτους εἰλημμένους ἔχων εἰς εὐθύνας ὕστερον καθίστη Psellos: Chronographia IV 14.3-8
  • Michael 4 handed over to him surveillance and control of public finance and likewise entrusted to him most of the civil administration (:) τὴν ... τῶν δημοσίων συνεισφορῶν παρατήρησιν καὶ ἀκρίβειαν ... καὶ οἷον τὸ πλέον τῆς πολιτικῆς διοικήσεως Psellos: Chronographia IV 19.15-18
  • Was established in the imperial city of Constantinople (unlike his brothers appointed to posts outside the city), was appointed senator by his brother (Michael 4), and was entrusted with palace justice (:) Aristakes 47.7-9 (34)
  • When just getting a beard Michael 61 saw him and heard him speaking, witnessed his actions and characterised him precisely (:) αὐτὸν καὶ τεθέαμαι τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ λέγοντος ἤκουσα καὶ πράττοντι συνεγενόμην καὶ ἐχαρακτήρισα ἀκριβῶς Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.2-5
  • Early in the night he would search every part of the City on horseback, moving like lightning through all the inhabited world all at once; all were suspicious of his unforeseen inspection and remained at home, since meetings were abolished (:) ἀωρὶ γὰρ τῶν νυκτῶν ἀθρόον ἐξιππαζόμενος πᾶν ὁτιοῦν διηρευνᾶτο τῆς Πόλεως Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.25-30
Emperor Michael IV Paphlagon (Michael 4)
  • He handed over to Ioannes 68 surveillance and control of public finance and likewise entrusted to him most of the civil administration (:) τὴν ... τῶν δημοσίων συνεισφορῶν παρατήρησιν καὶ ἀκρίβειαν ... καὶ οἷον τὸ πλέον τῆς πολιτικῆς διοικήσεως Psellos: Chronographia IV 19.15-18
  • The rest he managed himself, now taking care of civil affairs in part, now organising Rome's sinews, the army, and strengthening its power (:) τοῦ πολιτικοῦ κατὰ μέρος ἐπιμελόμενος, ... τὰ νεῦρα ῾Ρωμαίων, τὸν στρατόν, συγκροτῶν Psellos: Chronographia IV 19.18-21
  • Appointed his third brother synklitos (senator) and entrusted him with palace justice (Ioannes 68) (:) Aristakes 47.8-9 (34)
  • When he contemplated the magnitude of power and realised the diversity of forethought and how great a share of crises the cares of government gather for the true emperor, he suddenly changed completely (:) ἐπεὶ δὲ πρὸς τὸ μέγεθος τοῦ κράτους διέβλεψε καὶ τὸ πολυειδὲς τῆς προνοίας διέγνω, καὶ ὁπόσον μέρος τῶν περιστάσεων αἱ περὶ τὰ πράγματα φροντίδες τῷ ὡς ἀληθῶς συλλέγουσιν βασιλεῖ, ὅλως ἀθρόος μετήλλακτο Psellos: Chronographia IV 9.7-10
  • He did not innovate in any of the customary practices, did not annul law, nor bring in contradictory measures, he did not change any of the senate - the kind of innovation that is usually made under new emperors (:) οἷα δὴ φιλεῖ ἐν ταῖς καιναῖς βασιλείαις νεωτερίζεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia IV 10.8-11
  • After this, having been proclaimed basileus autokrator, he set about taking thought for the interests of the realm (:) περὶ τῶν συνοισόντων τῇ ἀρχῇ φροντίσειν ἔμελλεν Psellos: Chronographia IV 3.10-12
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • When just getting a beard he saw Ioannes 68 and heard him speaking, witnessed his actions and delineated him precisely (:) καὶ γάρ τι γενειῶν αὐτὸν καὶ τεθέαμαι τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ λέγοντος ἤκουσα καὶ πράττοντι συνεγενόμην καὶ ἐχαρακτήρισα ἀκριβῶς Psellos: Chronographia IV 12.2-5
  • Sitting beside Ioannes 68 at banquets, he often wondered how such a man who was under the power of drink and laughter shouldered the axle of Roman power (:) ἐγὼ γοῦν πολλάκις αὐτῷ παρεντυχὼν συμποσιάζοντι ἐθαύμαζον ὅπως ... Psellos: Chronographia IV 14.1-3