Michael VI bribed populace, & compelled senators to sign an oath refusing recognition to Isaakios (I)

Summary:
Michael VI rejected the idea of fighting again against Isaakios (I) and counted on the support of the citizens of the capital, whom he bribed with generous gifts. He also issued a document binding the senators by oaths and curses not to name Isaakios emperor, nor accord him any imperial honour. He persuaded some to sign by bribes, others by distributing dignities and others by different means. Later, the cancellation of this document was a major demand that rebels in the city made of Keroularios 
Dates:
1057 
rebellious senators of Michael VI (Anonymi 6033)
  • Michael 11 affirmed that he would fulfil their request. But all was pretence (:) Zonaras 18.3.23
  • Demanded that Michael 11 be an emissary to Michael 6 so that the document might be returned to them which they had signed under constraint when Michael 6 had made terms with (Isaakios 1) Komnenos: in association with Anonymi 6034 (:) Zonaras 18.3.22
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • Acclaimed by his supporters who nevertheless pretended to the emperor (Michael 6) that they had renounced their support for the rebel (:) ὃν γὰρ ἐξομόσασθαι ἔλεγον Attaleiates: History 57.2-7 / 43.8-12
  • Before the agreement with (Isaakios 1) Komnenos, in procuring the political party's goodwill, as he thought, Michael 6 had composed a document binding each man by oaths and curses not to name Isaakios 1 emperor, nor accord him any imperial honour (:) Zonaras 18.3.16
  • Anonymi 6033 demanded that Michael 11 be an emissary to Michael 6 so that the document might be returned to them which they had signed under constraint when Michael 6 had made terms with him (:) Zonaras 18.3.22
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Rejected the idea of campaigning once more (against Isaakios 1) and counted on the support of the citizens to whom he granted generous gifts (:) Skylitzes 496.76-79
  • Attempted to win the people's goodwill with gifts, money, offices, and other means used to cultivate favour and loyalty, and in his wish to make these bonds even stronger he bound the senate by oaths never to proclaim Komnenos (Isaakios 1) emperor (:) Skylitzes 497.19-498.27
  • When the disgruntled leading men of the east took an oath to proclaim Komnenos (Isaakios 1) emperor he started granting gifts to citizens who agreed not to accept Komnenos but then followed the advice of the patriarch (Michael 11) and abdicated (:) ἐξίσταται τῆς βασιλείας Glykas 600.12-19
  • Anonymi 6033 demanded that Michael 11 be an emissary to him so that the document might be returned to them which they had signed under constraint when he had made terms with (Isaakios 1) Komnenos (:) Zonaras 18.3.22
  • Before his agreement with (Isaakios 1) Komnenos, in procuring the political party's goodwill, as he thought, had composed a document binding each man by oaths and curses not to name (Isaakios 1) Komnenos emperor, nor accord him any imperial honour (:) Zonaras 18.3.16
  • Persuaded the senators by bribes, others by the distribution of dignities and others by various charms to sign the document and ratify what was in it (:) Zonaras 18.3.16
Michael I Keroularios, patriarch of Constantinople (Michael 11)
  • Taken by the crowd, he was placed on a throne to the right of the sanctuary (at Hagia Sophia) and asked to act as envoy to the emperor (Michael 6) in order to request to be handed the document signed by them (never to proclaim Isaakios 1 emperor) (:) Skylitzes 498.49-499.53
  • Agreed to request from the emperor (Michael 6) the document signed by the senate (promising never to proclaim Isaakios 1 emperor), and sent messengers to Komnenos (Isaakios 1) urging him to hurry (to Constantinople) and requesting money (:) Skylitzes 499.57-71