Rise of Konstantinos Leichoudes to become the mesazon of Konstantinos IX

Summary:
When Konstantinos IX became emperor, he felt that it was time to relax from the pressures of his exile. He was very willing to pass the imperial duties to others, especially Konstantinos Leichoudes, in whose hands the empire prospered. Leichoudes gradually became prominent and was elevated to the most conspicuous position in the empire (mesazon). He would often give the impression in public that he was consulting the emperor, when in fact he was not. But then Monomachos became jealous and, as if the empire had been transferred to Leichoudes, was unable to bear it 
Dates:
1043 (Uncertain) 
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • Applied himself to learning or rather to those who pursue learning and have glory for their learnedness, since he himself tasted of learning only with his fingertip as the saying goes (:) Zonaras 17.20.5
  • When he had won the Roman sceptre, like a man who had put into the imperial harbour after a long sea-voyage, he thought that he should take respite, and he put the administration of power in someone else's hands [Konstantinos 13] (:) ἀναπνευστέα τε αὐτῷ ἐδόκει Psellos: Chronographia VI 178.1-5
  • He deferred to others care of public affairs, the privilege of exercising justice and superintendance of the troops, carving out only a small part of all this for himself (:) βραχεῖάν τινα τούτων μερίδα ἀποτεμόμενος ἑαυτῷ Psellos: Chronographia VI 47.8-11
  • Having entrusted the rule to Konstantinos 13, he took respite, as a man newly emerged from the ocean and spitting out the salt of misfortunes; affairs prospered, or changed (for the better) (:) αὐτός τε ἠρέμα πως ἀπέπνει Psellos: Chronographia VI 179.1-4
  • Konstantinos 13 gradually became prominent and was elevated to the most conspicuous position in the realm; then Monomachos became jealous and, as if the empire had been transferred to Leichoudes, was unable to bear the blow (:) ὡς ἐπ᾿ ἐκείνῳ τῆς βασιλείας μετατεθείσης, οὐκ εἶχεν ὑπενεγκεῖν τὴν πληγήν Psellos: Chronographia VI 179.5-8
  • He decided that, realising the many-faceted nature of imperial rule, it was best to to avoid fragmentation by putting one man in charge of all aspects, and chose Konstantinos 13 (:) Psellos Leichoudes 399
  • He would often sit in state with Konstantinos 13, and his minister would whisper in his ear as if consulting before taking decisions: this theatre added lustre to his reign (:) σκηνὴν περιστήσας τῷ ὄντι βασίλειον Psellos Leichoudes 402
Konstantinos III Leichoudes, patriarch of Constantinople (Konstantinos 13)
  • When Konstantinos 9 had won the Roman sceptre ... he thought that he should take respite, and he put the administration of power in someone else [Konstantinos 13]'s hands (:) ἐφ᾿ ἑτέρῳ προσώπῳ τὴν τοῦ κράτους ποιεῖται διοίκησιν Psellos: Chronographia VI 178.1-5
  • Having entrusted the rule to him, Konstantinos 9 took respite, as a man newly emerged from the ocean and spitting out the salt of misfortunes; affairs prospered, or changed (for the better) (:) τούτῳ δὴ τῷ καλλίστῳ ἀνδρὶ τὴν ἀρχὴν πιστεύσας Psellos: Chronographia VI 179.1-4
  • He gradually became prominent and was elevated to the most conspicuous position in the realm; then Konstantinos 9 became jealous and, as if the empire had been transferred to Leichoudes, was unable to bear the blow (:) εἰς τὴν πρώτην ἀνήχθη τῆς ἀρχῆς περιωπήν Psellos: Chronographia VI 179.5-8
  • He was chosen by Konstantinos 9 as one minister to cover all the many facets of government, to avoid fragmentation (:) Psellos Leichoudes 399
  • As chief minister of Konstantinos 9, he became involved successfully in every aspect of the government, in each being regarded as an equal by the experts (:) Psellos Leichoudes 400-401
  • He gave the impression of consulting before making decisions, often appearing to discuss them with Konstantinos 9; this theatre added lustre to the latter’s reign (:) Psellos Leichoudes 402