Deljan & Alousianos plotted against each other; Alousianos won, blinding Deljan

Summary:
The supposed kinsmen Deljan and Alousianos, despite mutual suspicions, set up a system of double rule. However they continued to plot against each other, but Alousianos proved the shrewder player. After his embarrassing defeat at Thessalonike, he conspired with his companions and invited Deljan to dinner. When the latter was drunk, he attacked him with a cook's knife, gouged his eyes out and cut off his nose. He did this without his countrymen's intervention, so that the mutilated Deljan was arrested by Michael IV and sent to Thessalonike. Bulgaria's dyarchy then ended and the country returned to single rule. A small role in the rebellion was played by a monk from Galesion, who encouraged Deljan, then advised a loyal general to make a disatrous attack on the Bulgarians on a Sunday 
Dates:
1041 
Alousianos, son of Ioannes/John Vladislav (Alousianos 101)
  • Embarrassed about his defeat at Thessalonike, he became suspicious of Deljan (Petros 102) and plotted against him with some of his companions, invited him to dinner, got him drunk and blinded him without the Bulgarians' noticing anything (:) κραιπαλοῦντα καὶ μεθύοντα κατασχὼν ἀπετύφλωσεν Skylitzes 414.29-35
  • Many (Bulgarians) abandoned doubt and went over to him, and the kingdom was divided (:) Zonaras 17.17.31
  • Preparing drink and inviting his fellow-ruler (Petros 102) to drink with him, he attacked Petros 102 while he was drinking with him and dug out the poor man's eyes, and hence Scythia [i.e. Bulgaria] passed to single rule (:) Zonaras 17.17.33
  • Blinded Deljan (Petros 102) (:) ὑπὸ τοῦ Ἀλουσιάνου τετύφλωται Lazaros of Galesion 579A
  • Was found sharper at plotting and anticipated the trickery of Petros 102 ὀξυτέρος εὑρέθη ὁ Ἀλουσιάνος πρὸς τὴν ἐπιβουλὴν Zonaras 17.17.32
  • Before the (Bulgarian) war began he became a major cause of Michael 4's victory, not because he wished this, being eager rather for the contrary; but in stirring him God from circumstances contrary brought about Michael 4's victory (:) πρὸς τοὐναντίον ὁρμήσας· ἀλλ' ὁ κινήσας τοῦτον Θεὸς ἐκ τῶν ἐναντίων περιποιεῖται τὴν νίκην Psellos: Chronographia IV 45.1-11
  • Most of the Bulgarians had gone over to him, so there was diarchy rather than monarchy, some having chosen him, some Petros 102; then the two leaders were hastily reconciled, lived on equal terms and talked, but each suspected the other: in association with Petros 102 (:) κἀντεῦθεν ὁμοδιαίτω μὲν ἤστην, ἀλλήλοιν δὲ διελεγέσθην, πλὴν ἅτερος τὸν ἄλλον ὑπώπτευεν Psellos: Chronographia IV 48.13-19
  • He pre-empted Petros 102's plotting, suddenly arrested him and removed his nose and eyes, cutting both away with a cook's knife; so Scythia [Bulgaria] returned again to single rule (:) συλλαβὼν ἀθρόον τῆς τε ῥινὸς καὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἀφαιρεῖται, μαγειρικῇ σφαγίδι ἄμφω συνεξελών Psellos: Chronographia IV 49.1-4
monk on Mount Galesion involved in rebellion of Peter Deljan (Anonymus 550)
  • Reached Bulgaria during the rebellion of Deljan (Petros 102), entered a city whose strategos (Anonymus 551) summoned him, advised him to attack the Bulgarians on the Sunday, but when the army was annihilated and the strategos killed he had to flee (:) Lazaros of Galesion 578E-F
Petros (Peter) Deljan, Bulgarian rebel (Petros 102)
  • Became suspicious of Alousianos 101 who joined him after his (Alousianos') defeat at Thessalonike; was invited to dinner, got drunk, was blinded by Alousianos without the Bulgarians' noticing; was arrested by the emperor (Michael 4) and sent to Thessalonike (:) κραιπαλοῦντα καὶ μεθύοντα κατασχὼν ἀπετύφλωσεν Skylitzes 414.29-40
  • Alousianos 101 was found sharper at plotting and anticipated his trickery (:) Zonaras 17.17.32
  • Alousianos 101, preparing drink and inviting his fellow-ruler (Petros 102) to drink with him, Alousianos 101 attacked his fellow drinker and dug the poor man (Petros 102)'s eyes out; hence Scythia passed to single rule (:) Zonaras 17.17.33
  • Alousianos 101 pre-empted his plotting, suddenly arrested him and removed his nose and eyes, cutting both away with a cook's knife; so Scythia [Bulgaria] returned again to single rule (:) συλλαβὼν ἀθρόον τῆς τε ῥινὸς καὶ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἀφαιρεῖται, μαγειρικῇ σφαγίδι ἄμφω συνεξελὼν Psellos: Chronographia IV 49.1-4
  • His eyes were mutilated πεπηρωμένον τὰ ὄμματα Zonaras 17.17.37
  • The bastard Bulgarian leader, his nose mutilated and deprived of his eyes αὐτὸν δὴ τὸν νόθον ἐκείνοις ἀρχηγὸν τήν τε ῥῖνα διαλελωβημένον καὶ ἀπεστερημένον τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν Psellos: Chronographia IV 49.22-3
  • Rose in rebellion in Bulgaria, received the false prophet monk (Anonymus 550) and was encouraged by him with deceitful words until he was blinded by Alousianos 101 (:) ἡ τοῦ Δολιάνου ἐπανάστασις Lazaros of Galesion 578E