Elpidios Kenchres was promoted patrikios at the request of Psellos, his potential father-in-law

Summary:
Psellos, as well as enriching his potential son-in-law Elpidios, tried to persuade him to ignore external display and begin inner renewal through education. He gave him books, but Elpidios refused them, preferring horses and entertainment. They had a fierce struggle over education, in which Psellos eventually was totally defeated and Elpidios achieved total ignorance. In frustration, Psellos gave up on Elpidios' education, but tried to reform him by regulating the company he kept, promoting contact with sober citizens rather than entertainers. This also failed, and so he tried more promotions: Elpidios was appointed krites of the velon, thesmographos, mystographos and exaktor. Psellos fell seriously ill soon after, and the closeness of death made him decide to be tonsured and become a monk. In a brief respite from sickness, he was granted by Konstantinos IX one request; when he asked for Elpidios to become patrikios, Konstantinos hesitated but finally agreed, after intervention by Theodora 
Dates:
1054 
Elpidios Kenchres, affianced son-in-law of Michael Psellos (Elpidios 2101)
  • He was equally deaf to entreaties from Michael 61 to improve the company he kept; but Michael did not give up, arranging more promotions for him: he became krites of the velon, thesmographos, mystographos and exaktor (:) Psellos Hypomnema 102-112
  • He was even raised to the rank of patrikios, as Michael 61 (who was ill and became a monk) made a petition to Konstantinos 9, which succeeded with the help of Theodora 1; Michael would spend a time on Mt Olympos (:) Psellos Hypomnema 123-132
  • He won the tremendous battle of wills with Michael 61 over his education, gaining complete victory and achieving total ignorance (:) τὴν ἐσχάτην ἀμαθείαν ἀναδησάμενος Psellos Hypomnema 84-90
  • His determination to avoid education frustrated Michael 61, but the latter persisted in the attempt to reform him by trying to regulate the company he kept, seeking to promote contact with sober citizens rather than entertainers (:) Psellos Hypomnema 91-101
  • As well becoming rich, he came under sustained pressure from Michael 61 to ignore external display and undergo inner renewal through education; he was given books, but refused the light of learning, preferring horses and etertainment (:) Psellos Hypomnema 72-84
Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos (Konstantinos 9)
  • Having supported Michael 61 in offering earlier promotions to Elpidios 2101, he was reluctant (despite a promise to fulfil any request for Michael) to raise him to the dignity of patrikios; he was finally persuaded to relent by Theodora 1 (:) Psellos Hypomnema 121-126
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He had a fierce struggle with Elpidios 2101 over education, but eventually was totally defeated; Elpidios succeeded in achieving total ignorance (:) τὴν ἐσχάτην ἀμαθείαν ἀναδησάμενος Psellos Hypomnema 84-90
  • In frustration, he gave up on the education of Elpidios 2101, but persisted in the attempt to reform him by trying to regulate the company he kept, seeking to promote contact with sober citizens rather than entertainers (:) Psellos Hypomnema 91-101
  • When the regulation of Elpidios’ company also failed, he tried to improve him by securing more promotions for him: Elpidios was appointed krites of the velon, thesmographos, mystographos and exaktor (:) Psellos Hypomnema 102-112
  • He fell seriously ill soon after the second round of promotions for Elpidios 2101, and the closeness of death made him decide on a complete change of life; he was tonsured and began his life as a monk (:) χρονος οὔ τι βραχὺς μετὰ ταῦτα παρεληλύθει, καὶ ... Psellos Hypomnema 113-121
  • During a brief respite from sickness, he was granted by Konstantinos 9 the fulfilment of one request; when he asked for Elpidios 2101 to become a patrikios, Konstantinos hesitated but eventually agreed, after intervention by Theodora 1 (:) Psellos Hypomnema 121-126
  • As well as enriching Elpidios 2101, he tried to persuade him to ignore external display and to undergo an inner renewal through education; he gave him books, but Elpidios refused the light of learning, preferring horses and etertainment (:) Psellos Hypomnema 72-84
Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)