Psellos returned from Olympos & decided to break the engagement of his adopted daughter

Summary:
Psellos' worries over his adopted daughter troubled him whilst preparing for withdrawal to Olympos and during his time there. They recurred as soon as he returned, finding her fiance Elpidios depraved and showing clearly that he disliked her. Psellos finally decided not to proceed with the marriage. He petitioned Theodora that the dignities conferred on Elpidios be cancelled, apart from the greatest (the position of patrikios), which he would keep in reserve for use in another betrothal. Theodora received the petition sympathetically, knowing the story, and issued a binding decree that Elpidios be demoted: other details were to be settled in court 
Dates:
1055 
Elpidios Kenchres, affianced son-in-law of Michael Psellos (Elpidios 2101)
  • The situation concerning him [unnamed, the family problem of Michael 61 when on Olympos which he could not face philosophically?] was partly desperate, partly nearly so νοσεῖ γάρ μοι τὰ φίλτατα ... Psellos Letters (Sathas) 177.45
  • He became depraved while Michael 61 was on Mt Olympos, and completely ignored his fiancée; Michael, when he returned, sent a petition to Theodora 1 and had Elpidios demoted, with a detailed settlement to be worked out in court (:) Psellos Hypomnema 126-169
Euphemia, adopted daughter of Michael Psellos (Euphemia 103)
  • The fact that Elpidios 2101 basically disliked her was seen by Michael 61 as he returned from Olympos, and was later testified by his witnesses at the trial (:) Psellos Hypomnema 126-206
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • When he returned from Olympos, he found that Elpidios 2101, unsupervised, had become depraved and completely ignored his fiancée; so he petitioned Theodora 1, reminding her of the whole story, asking for the betrothal to be annulled (:) Psellos Hypomnema 133-153
  • His petition to Theodora 1 asked for the dignities conferred on Elpidios 2101 to be cancelled (despite their cost), apart from the greatest (the position of patrikios), which he wanted to keep in reserve for use in another betrothal (:) Psellos Hypomnema 153-158
  • His petition was received sympathetically by Theodora 1 (who knew the story), and she issued a binding decree that Elpidios be demoted; this decision could not be questioned, but the details were later settled in court (:) Psellos Hypomnema 159-169
Empress Theodora (Theodora 1)
  • She received the petition of Michael 61 sympathetically, knowing the story, and she issued a binding decree that Elpidios 2101 be demoted; this decision could not be questioned, but the details were to be settled in court (:) Psellos Hypomnema 159-169