Bryennios arrested & blinded by loyal generals in squabble over soldiers' pay

Summary:
Bryennios the ethnarches became strategos of Cappadocia. After joining the rebel eastern generals, he crossed to the east with the patrikios Ioannes Opsaras, sent by Michael VI to pay the troops and administer the military budget: he ordered Opsaras to raise the salaries of his army. When he refused, saying that these were not the emperor’s orders, Bryennios grew angry, punched him, took him by the beard, threw him to the ground, tied him up, kept him in his tent, and distributed the gold as he wished. Lykanthes was camped near Bryennios in Anatolikon. Though unaware of the generals’ plot, he considered the treatment of Opsaras an act of rebellion. He attacked Bryennios in his tent with the two tagmata of Anatolikon, proclaiming the emperor Michael VI, imprisoned Bryennios and released Opsaras. He then handed Bryennios to Opsaras, and distributed the army salaries as ordered. Opsaras immediately took vengeance on Bryennios by blinding him, and sent him to Michael VI with a report of revolutionary behaviour 
Dates:
1057 
Bryennios the ethnarches (Anonymus 195)
  • Appointed strategos of Cappadocia he deceived the envoy (Ioannes 116) sent by the emperor (Michael 6) to administer the military supplies, arrested and imprisoned him, but was then captured and blinded when the envoy was rescued by his soldiers (:) ἐχειρώσατο τοῦτον καὶ δεσμοῖς καθυπέβαλε Attaleiates: History 54.1-6 / 41.2-6
  • Captured when his tent was attacked by Lykanthes 101 (who heard of his treatment of Ioannes 116 Opsaras), he was handed to Opsaras who gouged out his eyes at once, and was sent in fetters to the emperor (Michael 6) (:) Skylitzes 488.53-60
  • Having sided with the rebels (Katakalon 101, Michael 120, Konstantinos 10, Ioannes 62, Isaakios 1), he crossed to the East with Ioannes 116 whom the emperor (Michael 6) sent with gold to pay the troops, and arrived at a flat place in Anatolikon (:) Skylitzes 487.34-488.39
  • Ordered Opsaras (Ioannes 116) to raise the salaries of his army but when the latter refused he grew angry, hit him with his fist, took him by the beard, threw him to the ground, tied him up, kept him in his tent, and distributed the gold as he wished (:) Skylitzes 488.39-49
  • Lykanthes 101 enchained him, while loosing (Ioannes 116) Opsaras from chains, and handed him over to Ioannes 116 (:) Zonaras 18.2.12
  • When (Ioannes 116) Opsaras still did not obey, but contradicted him even more boldly, seized with rage, he leapt up from his seat and, grasping the man's hair and beard, dashed him to the ground and threw chains on him (:) Zonaras 18.2.10
  • Recklessly bid Ioannes 116 Opsaras be silent and do what was being commanded (:) Zonaras 18.2.9
  • Also departed together with the contingents under him, and when he arrived in the theme of the Anatolikon, he there arranged the distribution of the soldiers' pay; for the patrikios Ioannes 116 Opsaras was also with him, bearing gold (:) Zonaras 18.2.7
  • Ioannes 116 immediately cut out his eyes and dispatched him thus to the emperor (Michael 6), also sending Michael 6 a letter on the extent of his daring (:) Zonaras 17.2.12
  • After the distribution was already begun, he added the grain allowance for the soldiers and increased the quantity allocated to each man (:) Zonaras 18.2.8
  • As he was encamped in the vicinity, learning of the affair of (Ioannes 116) Opsaras and judging this the beginning of usurpation, at once advanced, together with the contingents under him, on his tent (:) Zonaras 18.2.11
Ioannes Opsaras (Ioannes 116)
  • Sent by the emperor (Michael 6) with gold to pay the troops, he accompanied Bryennios (Anonymus 195) to Anatolikon where the latter ordered him to increase the soldiers' salary, but he refused saying that he received no such orders from the emperor (:) Skylitzes 487.35-43
  • Told by Bryennios (Anonymus 195) to keep quiet and obey (his orders to increase the troops' salaries) he refused obstinately, and was hit by Bryennios who then took him by the beard, threw him to the ground, tied him up, and kept him in his tent (:) Skylitzes 488.43-48
  • Was released by Lykanthes 101 who heard of his treatment in the hands of Bryennios (Anonymus 195), was handed Bryennios, gouged out the latter's eyes at once, and sent him to the emperor (Michael 6) whom he informed of the captive's intended revolt (:) Skylitzes 488.51-60
  • Lykanthes 101, who was encamped in the vicinity, learning what had happened to him and judging this the beginning of usurpation, at once advanced, together with the contingents under him, on the tent of Anonymus 195 Bryennios (:) Zonaras 18.2.11
  • Said that this [increasing pay] had not been his command from the emperor (Michael 6) (:) Zonaras 18.2.9
  • Anonymus 195 Bryennios also departed along with the contingents under him, and when he arrived in the theme of the Anatolikon, he there arranged the distribution of the soldiers' pay; for the patrikios Ioannes 116 Opsaras was also with him, bearing gold (:) Zonaras 18.2.7
  • Lykanthes 101 enchained Anonymus 195 Bryennios, while loosing him from chains, and handed (Anonymus 195) Bryennios over to him (:) Zonaras 18.2.12
  • Anonymus 195 Bryennios recklessly bid him be silent and do what was being commanded (:) Zonaras 18.2.9
  • Immediately cut out the eyes of (Anonymus 195) Bryennios and dispatched the man thus to the emperor (Michael 6), also sending Michael 6 a letter on the extent of his daring (:) Zonaras 17.2.12
  • When he still did not obey, but contradicted Anonymus 195 Bryennios even more boldly, Anonymus 195, seized with rage, leapt up from his seat and, grasping this hair and beard, dashed him to the ground and threw chains on him (:) Zonaras 18.2.10
  • Sent by the emperor (Michael 6) to administer the military supplies (in Cappadocia?), he was arrested and imprisoned by Bryennios (Anonymus 195) but was then rescued by his soldiers, captured his captor and blinded him (:) καὶ τον δεδεσμηκότα κατεργασάμενος τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν ἀπεστέρησε Attaleiates: History 54.1-6 / 41.2-6
Lykanthes, military commander who captured Bryennios for blinding (Lykanthes 101)
  • Encamped near the camp of Bryennios (Anonymus 195, in Anatolikon) and unaware of the plot of the eastern generals (against Michael 6), he considered the treatment of Opsaras (Ioannes 116) by Bryennios, which he heard about, a sign of rebellion (:) Skylitzes 488.49-53
  • Attacked with the 2 tagmata of Anatolikon the tent of Bryennios (Anonymus 195 who held Ioannes 116 Opsaras) proclaiming Michael 6 emperor, captured Bryennios, released Opsaras, handed him Bryennios, and stayed behind to distribute the army salaries (:) Skylitzes 488.53-61
  • Enchained Anonymus 195 Bryennios, while loosing (Ioannes 116) Opsaras from chains, and handed (Anonymus 195) Bryennios over to Ioannes 116 (:) Zonaras 18.2.12
  • Being encamped in the vicinity, learning of the affair of (Ioannes 116) Opsaras and judging this the beginning of usurpation, he at once advanced, together with the contingents under him, on the tent of Anonymus 195 Bryennios (:) Zonaras 18.2.11
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Sent an envoy (to Cappadocia?) to administer the military supplies (Ioannes 116) who was arrested and imprisoned by Bryennios (Anonymus 58) and then rescued, blinding his captor and thus hastening the revolt against the emperor (:) τὸν ἐκ βασιλέως ἀποσταλέντα Attaleiates: History 54.1-6 / 41.2-6
  • Sent Ioannes 116 Opsaras with gold to pay the troops (:) Skylitzes 487.36-37
  • Was sent Bryennios (Anonymus 195, captured by Lykanthes 101 and blinded by Ioannes 116 Opsaras) and was informed of the captive's intended rebellion (:) Skylitzes 488.59-60
  • Ioannes 116 immediately cut out the eyes of (Anonymus 195) Bryennios and dispatched the man thus to him, also sending him a letter on the extent of Anonymus 195's daring (:) Zonaras 17.11.12
  • Ioannes 116 Opsaras said [to Anonymus 195 Bryennios] that this [increasing pay] had not been Ioannes 116's command from him (:) Zonaras 18.2.9