Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him

Summary:
Michael VI was very generous to the civil aristocracy at the beginning of his reign, with gifts and promotions. But when it was time for the award of dignities to the military aristocracy of Asia Minor, at Easter, he praised them grudgingly and refused their requests with contempt and severe criticism. Psellos was with him. The generals were sent away and began to turn against him. Their leaders were Isaakios Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos, Michael Bourtzes, Konstantinos Doukas and Ioannes Doukas. Komnenos and Kekaumenos, who both sought the dignity of proedros, were singled out for insults as lazy and incompetent, as were the colleagues who defended them. Later Bryennios the ethnarches begged Michael VI to return the money which Theodora had confiscated from him, but Michael refused and sent him away saying that he would have to achieve something before being rewarded. Later, Hervé Phrangopoulos too asked Michael VI to be made magistros: not only was this turned down, but he was derided, mocked, and sent away. He ignored the plotting of the Roman generals and asked to return home, bid the emperor farewell, crossed to the East, and went to his house at Dagarabe. Michael should have been wiser 
Dates:
1057 Easter 
retinue and household of Theodora who guided her rule (Anonymi 7011)
  • Those who flattered and courted them and became their dependents had many benefits, whereas generals and men skilled in military matters and of glorious and heroic background were thrown aside like earthenware pots (:) ὡς ἄγγος τι κεραμεοῦν ἄτιμον Manasses, Chronicle 6254-6260
Bryennios the ethnarches (Anonymus 195)
  • Begged the emperor (Michael 6) to return the money which Theodora 1 had confiscated from him, but the emperor refused, and when he implored him he sent him away saying that he would have to accomplish deeds before being rewarded (:) Skylitzes 484.34-40
  • Ignored by the emperor (Michael 6, who turned down his request for restitution of money), he left indignant and waited for the right time to seek revenge (:) Skylitzes 484.38-40
Hervé Phrangopoulos/Frankopoulos (Herve 101)
  • Implored the emperor (Michael 6) to award him the title of magistros, and not only was his request turned down, but he was also derided, mocked, and sent away (:) Skylitzes 484.44-46
  • Incensed by the emperor's insult (Michael 6 refused to make him magistros) and ignoring the plot being hatched by the Romans, he asked to be allowed to return home, bid the emperor farewell, crossed to the East, and went to his house at Dagarabe (:) ἀγνοῶν δὲ καὶ τὴν μελετωμένην παρὰ τῶν Ῥωμαίων συσκευήν Skylitzes 484.47-485.52
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he went to see the new emperor (Michael 6) in order to benefit from his generosity, but his requests were turned down, he was sent away, and thus turned against him: in association with Isaakios 1 Komnenos, Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, Michael 120 Bourtzes, Konstantinos 10 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-22
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he went to see the new emperor (Michael 6) in order to benefit from the latter's generosity: in association with Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, Michael 120 Bourtzes, Konstantinos 10 Doukas and Ioannes 62 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-12
  • Was received by the emperor (Michael 6) who praised him for his military virtues, but when he asked to be awarded the dignity of proedros his request was turned down, he was sent away, and thus turned against the emperor: in association with Katakalon 101 (:) Skylitzes 483.13-22
  • Went to the emperor (Michael 6) in order to receive honours, offices, and the customary gifts, but was abused and sent away empty-handed instead, and the other leading men of the east took an oath to proclaim him emperor: in association with Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos (:) πλύνας μᾶλλον ὕβρεσιν αὐτούς Glykas 600.5-12
  • Putting him in the middle with Katakalon 101, Michael 6 poured out endless abuse, saying he had almost lost Antioch, broken up the army, shown no nobility or leadership, but levied the people's money and used his office for greed not glory: in association with Katakalon 101 (:) τὴν ἀρχὴν ἐσχηκότα οὐκ εὐκλείας, ἀλλ᾿ ἀπληστίας ὑπόθεσιν Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.11-18
  • He was transfixed at (Michael 6's) sudden rebuke: he had been expecting higher honours but had been insulted instead; when his fellow-generals attempted to defend him, Michael checked them too (:) τὰ κρείττω μὲν προσδοκήσαντος, τοῖς δ᾿ ἐναντίοις καθυβρισθέντος Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.19-23
  • Even if Michael 6 despised the other generals, he ought to have thought him worthy of every praise and honour; but Michael denied that favour even to him (:) ὁ δὲ κἀκείνῳ ἀπείπατο τὴν εὐμένειαν Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.22-5
  • When the soldiers asked for bread Michael 6 gave them stones, when they objected he refused those and repelled them; they were all for attacking and deposing Michael at once, but he restrained them, saying wiser planning was needed (:) βουλῆς δεῖσθαι τὸ πρᾶγμα συνετωτέρας εἰπών Psellos: Chronographia VII 4.7-12
  • When the other most illustrious men and fellow leaders of contingents rushed to the defence of Katakalon 101 Katakalon Kekaumenos, Michael 6 did not spare his tongue against them, nor indeed did he show respect to Isaakios 1 Komnenos himself (:) Zonaras 18.1.7
  • He was a good example of the generals and men skilled in military matters and of glorious and heroic background who were thrown aside like earthenware pots, while those who flattered and courted Anonymi 7011 and became their dependents won many benefits (:) ὡς ἄγγος τι κεραμεοῦν ἄτιμον Manasses, Chronicle 6254-6260
  • He approached Michael 6 expecting to gain more benefits from him, but not only was he unsuccessful but he was insulted by the keepers of the empire Anonymi 7011 (:) Manasses, Chronicle 6266-6270
  • He became greatly distressed, planning usurpation and recruiting Konstantinos 10 and many others who were very rich and of splendid origin; thus he gathered an armed host from Asia against the emperor to remove him from the throne (:) Manasses, Chronicle 6270-6276
Katakalon Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he went to see the new emperor (Michael 6) in order to benefit from the latter's generosity: in association with Isaakios 1 Komnenos, Michael 120 Bourtzes, Konstantinos 10 Doukas and Ioannes 62 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-12
  • Was received by the emperor (Michael 6) who praised him for his military virtues and deeds that won him his office, but when he asked to be awarded the dignity of proedros his request was turned down, he was sent away, and thus turned against him: in association with Isaakios 1 (:) Skylitzes 483.13-22
  • On the grounds that he had used his office ill and had dismissed his forces and become a burden to those under his hand, Michael 6 rebuked him over hastily, hurled insults at him and did not spare him from insolence (:) Zonaras 18.1.6
  • When the other most illustrious men and fellow leaders of contingents rushed to his defence, Michael 6 did not spare his tongue against them, nor indeed did he show respect to Isaakios 1 Komnenos himself (:) Zonaras 18.1.7
  • Putting Isaakios 1 in the middle with him Michael 6 poured out endless abuse, saying he had almost lost Antioch, broken up the army, shown no nobility or leadership, but levied the people's money and used his office for greed not glory (:) ὕβρεσι μυρίαις κατέπλυνεν Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.11-18
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he went to see the new emperor (Michael 6) in order to benefit from his generosity, but his requests were turned down, he was sent away, and thus turned against him: in association with Isaakios 1 Komnenos, Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, Michael 120 Bourtzes and Ioannes 62 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-22
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he received the leaders of the army Isaakios 1 Komnenos, Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, Michael 120 Bourtzes, Konstantinos 10 Doukas and Ioannes 62 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-12
  • Praised Komnenos (Isaakios 1) and Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101) for their military virtues, particularly the latter for winning his office through his own deeds, but refused to grant them the dignity of proedros as they requested, and sent them away (:) Skylitzes 483.13-22
  • When the leading men of the east, including Isaakios 1 Komnenos and Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, came to receive honours, offices, and the customary gifts, he abused them and sent them away empty-handed (:) πλύνας μᾶλλον ὕβρεσιν αὐτούς Glykas 600.5-9
  • Treated the military registers, and particularly the prominent among them to whom the task of leading infantry or cavalry had been allotted long before, in exactly the opposite manner to the rest [secular officials] (:) Zonaras 18.1.2
  • Did not show himself at all generous to the military once he had gained the queen of cities, nor indeed did he welcome them with kindly words (:) Zonaras 18.1.3
  • On the grounds that Katakalon 101 Katakalon Kekaumenos had used his office ill and had dismissed his forces and become a burden to those under his hand, he rebuked him over hastily, hurled insults at him and did not spare him from insolence (:) Zonaras 18.1.6
  • When the other most illustrious men and fellow leaders of contingents rushed to the defence of Katakalon 101 Katakalon Kekaumenos, he did not spare his tongue against them, nor indeed did he show respect to Isaakios 1 Komnenos himself (:) Zonaras 18.1.7
  • Even if he despised the other generals, he ought to have thought Isaakios 1 worthy of every praise and honour; but he denied that favour even to him (:) δέον τόν γε Ἰσαάκιον πάσης ἀξιῶσαι εὐφημίας τε καὶ τιμῆς Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.22-5
  • His attack on Isaakios 1 was the first blow to the soldiers and initiated the plot against him as it shook their spirits; but they did not at once scheme for the empire, but made a second attempt, hoping he might be kinder (:) τοῦτο τὸ δρᾶμα τὰς ἐκείνων γνώμας διέσεισε Psellos: Chronographia VII 4.1-7
  • When the soldiers heard about his promotions, the generals and other elite came to Byzantium to win equal or superior honours and a day was fixed for an audience with him; Michael 61 was present beside him (:) ὥριστο γοῦν αὐτοῖς ἡμέρα τῆς εἰς τὸν βασιλέα εἰσόδου Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.1-5
  • When the soldiers asked for bread he gave them stones, when they objected he refused even stones and repelled them; they were all for laying hands on him at once and deposing him, but Isaakios 1 restrained them, saying wiser planning was needed (:) οὐδ᾿ ἐκείνας παρεῖχεν, ἀλλ᾿ ἀπωθεῖτο καὶ ἀπεκρούετο Psellos: Chronographia VII 4.7-12
  • The noble, heroic (generals) entered, bowed their heads and acclaimed him as was fit, then stood in turn at his command; instead of taking each alone as he ought and speaking generously, he began by meanly insulting them all together (:) δέον καθένα τούτους διαιρεῖν καὶ λόγων πρὸς ἐκείνους βασιλικῶν καὶ φιλοτίμων ἀπάρξεσθαι Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.5-11
  • Putting Isaakios 1 in the middle with Katakalon 101 he poured out endless abuse, saying he had almost lost Antioch, broken up the army, shown no nobility or leadership, but levied the people's money and used his office for greed not glory (:) ὕβρεσι μυρίαις κατέπλυνεν Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.11-18
  • Isaakios 1 was transfixed at his sudden rebuke: he had been expecting higher honours but had been insulted instead; when his fellow-generals attempted to defend him, Michael checked them too (:) ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ τούτοις τὴν γλῶτταν ἐπέσχε Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.19-23
  • When Konstantinos 9 died ... he came to power; affairs were in crisis; the army felt the need to enter the struggle for power; the senate precipitated the problem, but he gave the army a pretext for rebellion and fuelled their anger (:) πρόφασίν τινα δοὺς αὐτοῖς ἀπονοίας εἰς ὀργὴν ἐξάπτει Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 7.24-31
  • Treated Herve 101 Phrangopoulos the same way he had treated Bryennios (Anonymus 195), and when the former asked for the title of magistros not only did he turn down his request, but he derided and mocked him, before sending him away (:) Skylitzes 484.41-46
  • Ordered the principal commanders (including Isaakios 1 and Katakalon 101) to march against the Persians (Turks) and save the country, threatening them that he would grant their salaries to the enemy in order to establish peace, but they refused (:) Aristakes 95.103
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • When the soldiers heard about Michael 6's promotions, the generals and other elite came to Byzantium to win equal or superior honours and a day was fixed for an audience with Michael 6; Psellos was there beside the emperor (:) κἀγὼ τηνικαῦτα παρεγενόμην τῷ αὐτοκράτορι Psellos: Chronographia VII 3.1-5
Michael Bourtzes, vestarches (Michael 120)
  • At the time of the imperial gifts, distributed annually to the senate at Easter, he went to see the new emperor (Michael 6) in order to benefit from his generosity, but his requests were turned down, he was sent away, and thus turned against him: in association with Isaakios 1 Komnenos, Katakalon 101 Kekaumenos, Konstantinos 10 Doukas and Ioannes 62 Doukas (:) Skylitzes 483.94-22