Kekaumenos reached the city: abdication & tonsure of Michael VI

Summary:
Isaakios (I) appointed Katakalon Kekaumenos as kouropalates and sent him on a ship with enough force to take over the palace to prepare for his arrival. At the same moment Michael VI received a strong letter from Keroularios that he should abdicate and accept tonsure if he wished to survive. He agreed, rejecting the pleas of his supporters, to avoid a bloodbath in the city. He took off the purple vestments and shoes, put on a layman's garb, left the palace having provoked a war and witnessed many deaths, returned to his house near the acropolis and became a monk 
Dates:
1057 August 31 
envoys of Michael I Keroularios to Michael VI (Anonymi 122)
  • When they brought the patriarch (Michael 11)'s directions to the aged Michael 6, he said, "What will you offer me instead of the kingship?" And they replied, "The heavenly kingdom" (:) Zonaras 18.3.25
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • Made Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101) kouropalates and sent him on a dromon together with numerous important men to the palace (on Thursday morning (1.9.1057):τῇ πέμπτῃ πρωί>ας) Skylitzes 500.86-88
  • Honoured (Katakalon 101 Katakalon) Kekaumenos as kouropalates and sent him with a force to take over the palace (:) Zonaras 18.3.27
  • He succeeded to the throne as his predecessor Michael 6 became a monk (1058:1058) Anonymus Barensis 152
  • Either Isaakios 1 won the civil war in battle, or (alternative version) he was offered rule by the chief men of the empire because of his competence in war and administration (:) Manasses, Chronicle 6285a-6285h
Katakalon Kekaumenos (Katakalon 101)
  • Made kouropalates by Komnenos (Isaakios 1), he was sent on a dromon together with numerous important men to the palace which he occupied (on Thursday morning (1.9.1057):τῇ πέμπτῃ πρωΐας) Skylitzes 500.86-88
  • Isaakios 1 Komnenos honoured him as kouropalates and sent him with a force to take over the palace (:) Zonaras 18.3.27
Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos (Michael 6)
  • Was sent by the patriarch (Michael 11) a strongly worded message to acquiesce to the demands of the people and tonsure himself if he loved his life, and rejected his supporters' pleas to remain in power with their help, fearing a bloodbath in the city (:) μισανθρωπίας καὶ φιλαυτίας ὁμοῦ πρᾶγμα λέγων εἶναι τὸ δι᾿ αὐτὸν συγχωρῆσαι φόνοις καὶ σφαγαῖς Attaleiates: History 58.17-59.2 / 44.14-20
  • Took off the purple vestments and shoes, put on a layman's garb, left the palace having provoked a war and witnessed many deaths, and returned to his house near the acropolis (on Wednesday, August 31 of the 10th indiction:ἡμέρᾳ τετράδι, τριακοστὴν πρώτην ἄγοντος τοῦ Αὐγούστου μηνός, τῆς δεκάτης ἰνδικτιῶνος) Skylitzes 500.76-85
  • Was removed from the throne and became monk (on September 3 of the 10th indiction in the year 6:σεπτεμβρίῳ γ´, ἰνδικτιῶνος ι´, ἔτει ͵ςφξδ´) Kleinchroniken 160.14
  • He was soon bullied into tonsure and abdication by Michael 11 (:) Psellos Kategoria 1545-1565
  • He died (?), and Isaakios 1 Komnenos became emperor in his place Lupus protospatharius 59.29
  • He became a monk, as Isaakios 1 succeeded to imperial power (1058:1058) induerat monachicum Anonymus Barensis 152