Narrative Unit

Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)

Then he put aside shame and the play-acting and lived with the woman (Maria 64 Skleraina), not as a concubine nor yet as half-wife, but openly as his wife (:) Zonaras 17.21.21
Oaths of friendship are said to have been given by both women (Maria 64 Skleraina and Zoe 1) at the emperor Konstantinos 9's request (:) Zonaras 17.21.24
Considering it terrible if he could not live with her and cohabit for ever, he moved the woman (Maria 64 Skleraina) to the palace, after first speaking with the empress (Zoe 1) about it and persuading her not to be aggrieved at what was happening (:) Zonaras 17.21.23
He did not send Maria 64 gifts at long intervals, but constantly sent one thing after another to his beloved (:) συνεχῶς ἄλλα ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις τῇ ἐρωμένῃ ἀπεκομίζοντο Psellos: Chronographia VI 57.5-6
He allowed Maria 64 to give to both men and women what was appropriate, so that all, especially Zoe 1 and Theodora 1, should be in harmony with her (:) τὸ ἑκαστῷ ἢ ἑκάστῇ οἰκεῖον ἐδίδου παρέχειν ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.18-20
For a while his amorous affair was conducted half seen; but as advancing time gradually revealed the secret, he publicised his love openly, talked cleverly with Zoe 1 and persuaded her to choose to live with Maria 64 (:) ποικιλώτερον ὁμιλήσας τῇ βασιλίδι Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.2-6
Even when he had Zoe 1's consent (to accept Maria 64), he did not rest his plan here, but made a contract of friendship and organised an imperial pavilion for it (:) συγγραφὰς φιλίας ποιεῖται, καὶ σκηνὴν ἐπὶ τούτῳ βασιλικὴν διατίθεται Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.6-8
He, Zoe 1 and Maria 64 presided; the senate entered to witness this strange document, blushing and muttering, but praising the contract, calling it a 'loving cup' and other pleasing terms to flatter and deceive his frivolous heart (:) οἱ μὲν προὐκάθηντο, ἡ δὲ σύγκλητος ἐπὶ τῷ καινῷ εἰσῄεσαν γράμματι Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.9-15
Zoe 1 and Maria 64 both attended him and both discussed the same affairs (with him); Konstantinos now weighed the words of both equally, although sometimes gave more weight to Maria (:) ὁ δὲ νῦν μὲν ἐπίσης ἀμφοῖν ἐζυγοστάτει τοὺς λόγους, ἔστι δ᾿ οὗ τὸ πλέον τῇ δευτέρᾳ βασιλίδι ἀπένεμε Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.10-13
His behaviour towards Maria 64 seemed incredible to those who saw and heard it: he no longer went to her as to a mistress, but absolutely as if she were his wife (:) οὐκ ἔτι γὰρ αὐτῇ ὡς παλλακῇ προσεφοίτα, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς καθαρῶς ὁμευνέτιδι Psellos: Chronographia VI 56.7-9
He drained the imperial treasuries for Maria 64 as much as he wished: he found in the palace a bronze wine-jar, its outside decorated with engraved figures, filled it with money and sent it to her as a gift (:) ἐξήντλει δὲ αὐτῇ τῶν βασιλικῶν θησαυρῶν ὁπόσα καὶ βούλοιτο Psellos: Chronographia VI 57.1-5

Maria Skleraina, mistress of Konstantinos IX (Maria 64)

Oaths of friendship are said to have been given by both women (Maria 64 Skleraina and Zoe 1) at the emperor Konstantinos 9's request: in association with Zoe 1 (:) Zonaras 17.21.24
Considering it terrible if he could not live with her and cohabit for ever, Konstantinos 9 moved her from there to the palace, after first deliberating with the empress (Zoe 1) about this and persuading her not to be aggrieved at what happened (:) Zonaras 17.21.23
Zoe 1 often embraced and clung to her; both attended Konstantinos 9 and both discussed the same affairs with him; Konstantinos weighted the words of both equally, although sometimes gave more weight to Maria (:) κατεφίλησε γοῦν πολλάκις προσφῦσα τὴν συμμερῖτιν τοῦ κράτους Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.8-13
Konstantinos 9 drained the imperial treasuries for her as much as he wished: he found in the palace a bronze wine-jar, its outside decorated with engraved figures, filled it with money and sent it to her as a gift (:) τοῦτον χρημάτων πεπληρωκὼς δῶρον ἀποστέλλει τῇ γυναικί Psellos: Chronographia VI 57.1-5
Konstantinos 9 allowed her to give to both men and women what was appropriate, so that all, especially Zoe 1 and Theodora 1, should be in harmony with her (:) τὸ ἑκάστῳ ἢ ἑκάστῃ οἰκεῖον ἐδίδου παρέχειν ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.18-20
Konstantinos 9 did not send her gifts at long intervals, but constantly sent her one thing after another (:) συνεχῶς ἄλλα ἐπ᾿ ἄλλοις τῇ ἐρωμένῃ ἀπεκομίζοντο Psellos: Chronographia VI 57.5-6
Since she knew of her passion for money and Theodora 1's passion for her darics, she chose to distribute appropriately to each of them the things they loved best (:) ἑκάστῃ τούτων κατάλληλος ἔδοξε τὰ ἐρασμιώτερα διανέμουσα Psellos: Chronographia VI 62.1-8
For a while Konstantinos 9's amorous affair was conducted half seen; but as advancing time gradually revealed the secret, he publicised his love openly, talked cleverly with Zoe 1 and persuaded her to choose to live with Maria (:) τὴν μετ᾿ αὐτῆς αἱρεῖσθαι πείθει συμβίωσιν Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.2-6
When the people saw her for the first time walking together with Zoe 1 and Theodora 1, some great flatterer quietly quoted the poetic phrase 'No cause for anger', without completing the line (:) τότε ταύτην οἱ πολλοὶ πρώτως ἐθεάσαντο συμπαριοῦσαν ταῖς βασιλίσι Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.6-10
Konstantinos 9, she and Zoe 1 presided; the senate entered to witness this strange document, blushing and muttering, but praising the contract, calling it a 'loving cup' and other pleasing terms to flatter and deceive a frivolous heart (:) οἱ μὲν προὐκάθηντο, ἡ δὲ σύγκλητος ἐπὶ τῷ καινῷ εἰσῄεσαν γράμματι Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.9-15
She gave no sign at the quotation (from Homer), but when the procession was done she identified the speaker and asked about the quotation, making no mistake in her rendering but pronouncing the phrase accurately (:) μηδὲν ὑποσολοικίσασα τὴν φωνήν, ἀλλ᾿ ὀρθοεπήσασα τὸ ὄνομα ἀκριβῶς Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.10-13
When the treaty was made and the oaths taken, she was brought inside the imperial chambers, no longer called 'mistress', but 'lady' and 'empress' outright (:) ἐντὸς τῶν βασιλικῶν ἀδύτων ἡ τέως ἐρωμένη εἰσάγεται Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.1-4
Konstantinos 9's behaviour towards her seemed incredible to those who saw and heard it: he no longer went to her as to a mistress, but absolutely as if she were his wife (:) οὐκ ἔτι γὰρ αὐτῇ ὡς παλλακῇ προσεφοίτα, ἀλλ᾿ ὡς καθαρῶς ὁμευνέτιδι Psellos: Chronographia VI 56.7-9
When the speaker told the story of Helen exactly and the people by their word approved the interpretation, she was at once filled with pride and repaid the flatterer for his praise with the generous presents she usually received and gave (:) φρονήματος αὐτίκα ἐκείνη πλησθεῖσα Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.13-18
Konstantinos 9 poured money from the imperial treasuries on her daily like rivers and opened up veins of gold and visited her without disguise (:) Zonaras 17.21.22

Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)

Maria 64 captivated him with her frequent questions about pagan myths, herself making an addition if she had heard something from an expert on these matters (:) ἐμὲ γοῦν ᾕρει ἐπανερωτῶσα πολλάκις μύθους ἑλληνικούς Psellos: Chronographia VI 60.9-11
When he and the other under-secretaries were gathered one day, Zoe 1 and her entourage were making a procession: Zoe and Theodora 1 went out, together with Maria 64; their route led to the theatre (:) συνειλεγμένων ποτὲ τῶν ὑπογραμματευομένων ἡμῶν Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.1-6

Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)

When a certain matter arose, Konstantinos 9 would have clashed with Theodora and Zoe 1 at once, had not Zoe agreed with him, either hiding her jealousy or being devoid of it because of her age (:) ἀφορμῆς δέ τινος προηγησαμένης, προσκεκρούκει ταύταις εὐθύς Psellos: Chronographia VI 49.6-9
Like the people, the senate, and her sister (Zoe 1), she was much frustrated by the affair of the emperor (Konstantinos 9 Monomachos) with the daughter of Skleros (Maria 64) (:) οὐκ ὀλίγος ἦν γογγυσμός Skylitzes 434.65-66
Konstantinos 9 allowed Maria 64 to give to both men and women what was appropriate, so that all, especially Theodora and Zoe 1, should be in harmony with her (:) ἵνα γε αὐτῇ οἵ τε ἄλλοι καὶ αἱ βασιλίδες συμπνέωσι μάλιστα Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.18-20
Maria 64, knowing of Zoe 1's passion for money and Theodora's passion for her darics, chose to distribute appropriately to each of them the things they loved best (:) ἑκά´στῃ τούτων κατάλληλος ἔδοξε τὰ ἐρασμιώτερα διανέμουσα Psellos: Chronographia VI 62.1-8
When the people saw her Maria 64 the first time walking together with Theodora and Zoe 1, some great flatterer quietly quoted the poetic phrase 'No cause for anger', without completing the line (:) τότε ταύτην οἱ πολλοὶ πρώτως ἐθεάσαντο συμπαριοῦσαν ταῖς βασσιλίσι Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.6-10

Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)

Like the people, the senate, and her sister (Theodora 1), she was much frustrated by the affair of the emperor (Konstantinos 9 Monomachos) with the daughter of Skleros (Maria 64) (:) οὐκ ὀλίγος ἦν γογγυσμός Skylitzes 434.65-66
Considering it terrible if he could not live with Maria 64 Skleraina and cohabit for ever, Konstantinos 9 moved her to the palace, after first speaking with the empress (Zoe 1) about it and persuading her not to be aggrieved at what was happening (:) Zonaras 17.21.23
Oaths of friendship are said to have been given by both women (Maria 64 Skleraina and Zoe 1) at the emperor Konstantinos 9's request: in association with Maria 64 Skleraina (:) Zonaras 17.21.24
For a while Konstantinos 9's amorous affair was conducted half seen; but as advancing time gradually revealed the secret, he publicised his love openly, talked cleverly with Zoe and persuaded her to choose to live with Maria 64 (:) ποικιλώτερον ὁμιλήσας τῇ βασιλίδι, τὴν μετ᾿ αὐτῆς αἱρεῖσθαι πείθει συμβίωσιν Psellos: Chronographia VII 58.2-6
Even when Konstantinos 9 had her consent, to accept Maria 64, he did not rest his plan here, but made a contract of friendship and organised an imperial pavilion for it (:) ἐπεὶ κατανεύσασαν ἔσχεν Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.6-8
Konstantinos 9, she and Maria 64 presided; the senate entered to witness this strange document, blushing and muttering, but praising the contract, calling it a 'loving cup' and other terms to flatter and deceive a frivolous heart (:) οἱ μὲν προὐκάθηντο, ἡ δὲ σύγκλητος ἐπὶ τῷ καινῷ εἰσῄεσαν γράμματι Psellos: Chronographia VI 58.9-15
While most were upset to see her deceived, overlooked and scorned, she was completely unchanged, looked smilingly on all and was pleased with the situation: she often embraced and clung to her partner in power (Maria 64) (:) ἡ δὲ οὐδέν τι μᾶλλον ἠλλοίωτο, ἢ μειδιῶσα πᾶσι καθωρᾶτο καὶ ἐπαγαλλομένη τῷ πράγματι Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.4-9
She and Maria 64 both attended Konstantinos 9 and both discussed the same affairs with him; Konstantinos now weighed the words of both equally, although sometimes gave more weight to Maria (:) ἄμφω παρεγενέσθην τῷ βασιλεῖ καὶ περὶ τῶν αὐτῶν διελεγέσθην πραγμάτων Psellos: Chronographia VI 59.9-13
When the people saw Maria 64 the first time walking together with Zoe and Theodora 1, some great flatterer quietly quoted the poetic phrase 'No cause for anger', without completing the line (:) τότε ταύτην οἱ πολλοὶ πρώτως ἐθεάσαντο συμπαριοῦσαν ταῖς βασιλίσι Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.6-10
Konstantinos 9 allowed Maria 64 to give to both men and women gifts which were appropriate, so that all, especially Zoe and Theodora 1, should be in harmony with her (:) ἵνα γε αὐτῇ οἵ τε ἄλλοι καὶ αἱ βασιλίδες συμπνέωσι μάλιστα Psellos: Chronographia VI 61.18-20
Maria 64, knowing of Zoe's passion for money and Theodora 1's passion for her darics, chose to distribute appropriately to each of them the things they loved best (:) ἑκάστῃ τούτων κατάλληλος ἔδοξε τὰ ἐρασμιώτερα διανέμουσα Psellos: Chronographia VI 62.1-8

Konstantinos IX persuaded Zoe to let Skleraina move into palace

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