The people demanded violent punishment for Michael V: Zoe demurred, but Theodora gave the order

Summary:
Zoe in the palace asked what should happen to Michael V, and was pressured to order death or mutilation, but refused to do so. Theodora at Hagia Sophia had no such qualms, as she and her advisers knew that Zoe would gladly see a stable-boy on the throne rather than share rule with her sister. They thought it likely that Zoe would scorn Theodora and secretly elevate Michael V again. Theodora sent a group, probably under the command of Nikephoros Kampanarios, prefect of Constrantinople, to blind Michael and his uncle. They arrived at Stoudios, finding it guarded by another citizen force 
Dates:
1042 
supporters of Theodora (Anonymi 6022)
  • As day was already waning, afraid Zoe 1 might recall again the exiled Michael 5 so as not to share the empire with Theodora 1, they sent men (Anonymi 6023) to root out the eyes of both Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 (:) Zonaras 17.19.20
  • They knew of Zoe 1's envy of Theodora 1 and that she would gladly see a stable-boy on the throne rather than share rule with her; so they thought it likely that Zoe would scorn Theodora and secretly elevate Michael 5 again (:) οἱ γὰρ περὶ τὴν Θεοδώραν τὸ τῆς ἀδελφῆς εἰδότες ζηλότυπον Psellos: Chronographia V 46.1-6
  • All unanimously decreed to remove Michael 5, but the more moderate were unwilling to condemn him to death, so planned and agreed another means to quench the hopes of Michael and Konstantinos 64 (:) τὸ δ’ ἄλλως πως ἀποσβέσειν αὐτοῖς τὰς ἐλπιδας μελετῶσί τε καὶ συντίθενται Psellos: Chronographia V 46.7-10
  • They despatched with all speed reckless and bold men with orders to put out the eyes of Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 with iron when they saw that they had come out of the divine church (:) ἄνδρας ἰταμοὺς καὶ θρασεῖς, ἐγκεκελευσμένους ... σιδήρῳ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐξελεῖν Psellos: Chronographia V 46.11-13
captain of the guard sent by Theodora for Michael V (Anonymus 7009)
  • Accompanied by Michael 61 he was sent by Theodora 1's attendants after Michael 5 with a guard (:) φρουράν τινα ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἀφιᾶσι καὶ φρούραρχόν τινα Psellos: Chronographia V 39.1-3
  • When he came to the gates of the (Stoudios) church he saw another self-appointed guard, a citizen company who were surrounding the holy church and at the point of wanting to tear it down; so his entry into the church was not without difficulty (:) ἐτέραν αὐτοκέλευστον ὁρῶμεν φρουράν, δημώδη φάλαγγα Psellos: Chronographia V 39.5-8
  • A great mob rushed into the (Studios) church with him, shouting out against Michael 5 and sending forth all kinds of unseemly language against him (:) ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ πολύ τι πλῆθος συνερρύησαν Psellos: Chronographia V 39.9-11
Konstantinos, brother of Michael IV (Konstantinos 64)
Emperor Michael V Kalaphates (Michael 5)
  • Although Zoe 1 was reluctant to follow the crowd's plea to crucify and blind him, Theodora 1 urged the eparch (Nikephoros 141 Kampanares) and the people to pursue him and when he realized they were approaching he fled into the sanctuary (Stoudios) (:) σταυρωθήτω τυφλωθήτω Glykas 592.11-16
  • As day was already waning, Anonymi 6022, supporters of Theodora 1, afraid Zoe 1 might recall him again so as not to share the empire with Theodora 1, sent men (Anonymi 6023) to root out the eyes of both him and Konstantinos 64 (:) Zonaras 17.19.20
Nikephoros Kampanarios, prefect of Constrantinople (Nikephoros 141)
  • Day was already waning when he suddenly stood at hand saying that Theodora 1 had ordered him to move the refugees (Konstantinos 64 and Michael 5) to another place; a throng of citizens and soldiers followed him (:) ἀπὸ τῆς Θεοδώρας προστεταγμένον αὐτῷ ἐφ’ ἕτερον τινα τόπον μεταστῆσαι τοὺς πρόσφυγας Psellos: Chronographia V 44.1-5
  • Approaching the altar where Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 had taken refuge he instructed them in a somewhat violent tone to come out (:) ἰταμωτέρᾳ φωνῇ τὴν ἔξοδον αὐτοῖς προὔτρεπεν Psellos: Chronographia V 44.5-7
  • Laying aside his arrogance he spoke to Michael 5 and Konstantinos 64 more reasonably, swearing on the holy objects and deploying every argument that they would suffer no harm, nor would he be harsher on them than circumstances demanded (:) οὔτε βαρύτερος αὐτοῖς ὁ πεμφθεὶς γενήσεται τοῦ καιροῦ Psellos: Chronographia V 44.11-15
Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)
  • Ordered the blinding of Michael 5 (Kalaphates) and his uncle the nobelissimos (Konstantinos 64), which was carried out when her decree reached them while arriving at Sigma, dragged by her supporters (:) δόγμα κατεφοίτησε τῆς Αὐγούστης, τὴν πήρωσιν τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν αὐτοῦ καὶ τοῦ πατραδέλφου αὐτοῦ τοῦ νωβελλισίμου αὐτίκα ἐγκελευόμενον Attaleiates: History 17.11-14 / 14.5-8
  • Restored to the throne together with her sister Zoe 1 she reigned for a month, and persuaded the eparch (Anastasios 101) and the people to pursue Michael 5 whom they caught and blinded following her orders (:) ὡς ἡ Θεοδώρα ἐνέσκηψεν Glykas 592.9-20
  • Her attendants sent a guard for Michael 5 with a captain (Anonymus 7009) whom Michael 61 accompanied (:) οἱ δὲ περὶ τὴν βασιλίδα Θεοδώραν φρουράν τινα ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἀφιᾶσι Psellos: Chronographia V 39.1-3
  • Day was already waning when Nikephoros 141 suddenly stood at hand with a throng of citizens and soldiers saying that she had ordered him to move the refugees (Konstantinos 64 and Michael 5) to another place (:) ἀπὸ τῆς Θεοδώρας προστεταγμένον αὐτῷ ἐφ’ ἕτερον τινα τόπον μεταστῆσαι τοὺς πρόσφυγας Psellos: Chronographia V 44.1-5
  • She and her sister Zoe 1 gave orders for the blinding of Michael 5 (: ) Lupus protospatharius 58.26-27
  • Summoned the leaders of the city and informed them of her sister (Zoe 1)'s banishment by the kaisar (Michael 5), and when she saw her sister (brought back from exile) she ordered the arrest of the emperor (Michael 5) and his relatives and associates (:) Aristakes 50.16-25 (39-40)
  • After the arrest and blinding of Michael 5 she ordered that his family's properties be put to the sack (:) եւ հրամայէ զտունս նոցա յաւար, յաւեր, յապականութիւն դարձուցանել Aristakes 51.5-6 (40)
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • After Theodora 1 returned to the palace from Hagia Sophia she addressed first the senate and then the people from a vantage point, thanked them for their support, and asked for their views on the emperor (Michael 5) 's future (:) Skylitzes 420.78-83
  • Was reluctant to follow the angry crowd's desire (whose views she had asked for) to have the emperor (Michael 5) punished and was sympathetic to the latter's plea, but Theodora 1 ordered his blinding (:) Skylitzes 420.83-89
  • Restored to the throne together with her sister Theodora 1 she reigned for a month, thanked the people for their support, and pondered on the fate of Michael 5, but when urged by the people to crucify and blind him she hesitated (:) συμπαθὴς αὐτῷ κατεφαίνετο Glykas 592.9-20
  • Anonymi 6022 knew of her envy of Theodora 1 and that she would gladly see a stable-boy on the throne rather than share rule with her; so they thought it likely that she would scorn Theodora and secretly elevate Michael 5 again (:) ὡς βούλοιτ’ ἂν ἀσμένως τῶν περὶ τὸν ἱππῶνά τινα ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλείου θρόνου θεάσασθαι Psellos: Chronographia V 46.1-6
  • The war against Michael 5 flared up all the more; then the people, afraid that Michael and Zoe would put them to flight and most would succumb to her persuasive words, turned to another plan, in itself a match for his tyrannical schemes (:) καὶ ἐνδοῖεν οἱ πλεῖστοι τοῖς ἐκείνης λόγοις πειθόμενοι Psellos: Chronographia V 33.1-6
  • She and her sister Theodora 1 gave orders for the blinding of Michael 5 (: ) Lupus protospatharius 58.26-27
  • It was because of his shameful decision to exile her that Michael 5 was blinded (: ) Anonymus Barensis 151