Sudden arrest & banishment of patriarch Michael Keroularios by Isaakios I Komnenos

Summary:
Isaakios I decided to act against Keroularios for his ambitious threats. To avoid the turmoil of detaining him in the city, he seized the chance offered by the patriarch's visit to his own monastery (of the Archangels), outside the city walls to the west, and sent Varangian troops to arrest him and his nephews Konstantinos and Nikephoros. A cleric was sent beforehand to allay suspicions. The prisoners were taken to the shore at Blachernai, put on a boat and banished to Proikonnesos. It was said that the patriarch was abused and physically manhandled, in ways inappropriate to his office and dignity, but he remained calm and unafraid. Though Psellos worked closely with Isaakios at the time and knew some of his secrets, the arrest came as a surprise. The city populace was enraged at the treatment of the patriarch, so Isaakios decided to legitimise with a trial the exile which had already been decided 
Dates:
1058 November 
cleric sent by Isaakios I to Michael I Keroularios before his banishment (Anonymus 5056)
  • Was sent by the emperor (Isaakios 1 Komnenos) ostensibly to discuss with the patriarch (Michael 11) some secret matter, so that the patriarch would not suspect the plot being carried out against him (:) συνομιλήσαντα τῷ ἀρχιερεῖ περὶ τινῶν τυχὸν ἀπορρήτων Attaleiates: History 63.8-13 / 48.20-24
Emperor Isaakios I Komnenos (Isaakios 1)
  • Issued an order to arrest the patriarch (Michael 11) and banish him as an alleged supporter of criminals, together with his family (:) καὶ προστάγματος καταπτάντος βασιλικοῦ ἑνὶ τῶν λέμβων σπουδαίως ἐντίθεται Attaleiates: History 63.15-19 / 48.26-49.3
  • Regretted his treatment of the patriarch (Michael 11) when he learnt of the latter's dignified behaviour, but would not blame himself for what had happened and accused him instead of being unworthy (of the patriarchal throne) (:) καὶ τὴν ἐπανόρθωσιν ἐδίψα μέν Attaleiates: History 64.15-20 / 49.18-22
  • Although he had shown boundless goodwill to the patriarch (Michael 11), he was being threatened and when he heard rumours that the latter intended to put on the purple shoes, he hurried to take action before being outmanoeuvred (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 104.21-105.6
  • Determined to take action against the patriarch (Michael 11) and in order to avoid any turmoil, he seized the opportunity offered by the patriarch's departure to his monastery and sent Varangian troops to arrest him and his nephews (Nikephoros 111 and Konstantinos 120) (on the feastday of the Archangels (November 8):) Skylitzes Continuatus 105.9-14
  • When the patriarch (Michael 11) departed to his own monastery - it was already the feast of the heavenly powers who are honoured there - so as to celebrate more splendidly, he sent there a detachment of soldiers (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • Made it his business to subject Michael 11 to deposition, using some of the bishops (Anonymi 102) as accomplices in this: in association with Anonymi 102 (:) Zonaras 18.5.5
  • Banished both the patriarch (Michael 11) and his nephews (Nikephoros 111 and Konstantinos 120) who lived with him (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • Did not wish to arrest Michael 11 in Hagia Sophia, lest there be an uproar from the clergy and people (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • Michael 11 once spoke out boldy to him; checking his anger at the time, he devised a secret plan against him, his anger bursting out unexpectedly, he expelled him from the City to a place of detention, where he died (:) εἶτα δὴ ἀπόρρητον τῇ ψυχῇ κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ περιελίξας ἐνθύμημα ἀπροσδοκήτως τε ἀναρρήγνυσι Psellos: Chronographia VII 65.1-7
  • He unexpectedly arrested Michael 11, giving no sign even to Michael 61; the city populace was enraged at the disrespect shown to the patriarch, so he decided to legitimise with a trial the exile which had already been decided (:) Psellos Keroularios 369
  • While the patriarch (Michael 11) was outside the city he plotted against him, revealed his anger to his officials, and sent to the patriarch one of his courtiers (Anonymus 5056) allegedly to discuss some secret matter, in order to keep him busy (:) καὶ τὸν καιρὸν τῆς κατ ᾿ αὐτὸν σκέψεως καὶ τῆς φήμης τούτῳ ἀποτειχίσοντα Attaleiates: History 63.6-11 / 48.19-23
Konstantinos, nephew of patriarch Michael I Keroularios (Konstantinos 120)
  • Was arrested together with his brother Nikephoros 111 and their uncle the patriarch (Michael 11) at the monastery the latter had founded outside Constantinople, taken to the shore at Blachernai, put in a boat and banished to Proikonnesos (on the feastday of the Archangels (November 8):τῆς τῶν Ἀρχαγγέλων ἐφισταμένης ἑορτῆς) Skylitzes Continuatus 105.13-14
  • Isaakios 1 banished both the patriarch (Michael 11) and his nephews Konstantinos and Nikephoros 111 (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
Michael I Keroularios, patriarch of Constantinople (Michael 11)
  • Went to the monastery he had founded to the west of the city outside the walls in order to prepare for the feast of the Archangel (Michael) and received the emperor's envoy (Anonymus 5056), ostensibly sent to discuss some secret matter (near the feast of the Archangel in November:καὶ τῆς ἀρχαγγελικῆς ἑορτῆς ἀμφὶ μῆνα νοέμβριον ἐγγιζούσης) τῶν τῆς ἑορτῆς φιλοτίμως ἐφρόντιζε Attaleiates: History 63.1-11 / 48.15-23
  • While talking to the emperor's envoy (Anonymus 5056) he was seized by a multitude of armed soldiers, put on a mule, taken to the shore at Blachernai and, following an imperial order, he was placed quickly on a boat and banished together with his family (:) ἀνάρπαστον ἐκ τοῦ θρόνου τοῦτον ἀτίμως ἐπαίρουσι Attaleiates: History 63.11-19 / 48.23-49.3
  • Lost his authority, his place in society, his freedom of speech and his most distinguished office (the patriarchal throne) (:) καὶ αὐτῆς τῆς μεγίστης προεδρίας Attaleiates: History 64.2-4 / 49.8-10
  • Went to the monastery he had founded outside the city (Constantinople) in order to prepare the feast of the Archangels, but was seized from his throne by the Varangian troops sent by the emperor (Isaakios 1) to arrest him (on the feastday of the Archangels (November 8):τῆς τῶν Ἀρχαγγέλων ἐφισταμένης ἑορτῆς) Skylitzes Continuatus 105.6-12
  • Placed on a mule by the Varangians who arrested him at his monastery, he was taken to the shore at Blachernai together with his nephews (Nikephoros 111 and Konstantinos 120), put in a boat and banished to Proikonnesos (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 105.12-14
  • Was banished by the emperor (Isaakios 1) who heard of his intentions and was planning to depose him (:) Glykas 601.16-20
  • When he departed to his own monastery - it was already the feast of the heavenly powers who are honoured there - so as to celebrate more splendidly, the ruler (Isaakios 1) sent there a detachment of soldiers (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • Isaakios 1 did not wish to lead him down from the Wisdom of the Word of God, lest there be an uproar from the clergy and people (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • Isaakios 1 banished both him and his nephews (Nikephoros 111 and Konstantinos 120) who lived with him (:) Zonaras 18.5.4
  • He once spoke out boldy to Isaakios 1; checking his anger at the time, Isaakios devised a secret plan against him; his anger bursting out unexpectedly, he expelled him from the City to a circumscribed area, where he died (:) ἅπαξ πρὸς αὐτὸν παρρησιασάμενον καὶ θρασυτέρᾳ χρησάμενον τῇ φωνῇ Psellos: Chronographia VII 65.1-7
  • He was unexpectedly arrested, abused and physically manhandled, in ways inappropriate to his office and his personal virtue, but he remained calm and unafraid (:) Psellos Keroularios 368-369
  • In exile he raised his hands in supplication, and thus averted the disaster which might have occurred because of the fierce opposition of the city populace to Isaakios 1 and his treatment of his patriarch (:) Psellos Keroularios 369
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He will not explain here how it happened that Michael 11 was expelled from Constantinople, as it would be a long story; anyone wishing to arbitrate (on his quarrel with Isaakios 1) would blame one for the start and the other for the end ἀλλὰ τοῦτο μὲν ὅπως ἐπέπρακτο μακροῦ λόγου δεόμενον ἀναβάλλομαι νῦν· εἰ γάρ τις βούλοιτο ἀμφοῖν διαιτᾶν, τὸν μὲν τῆς ἀρχῆς καταιτιάσαιτο, τὸν δὲ τῆς τελευτῆς ἐπιμέμψαιτο ... Psellos: Chronographia VII 65.7-11
  • Though working closely with Isaakios 1 at the time and privy to some of his secrets, he had no idea that he was planning to arrest Michael 11; he was very distressed to see the patriarch abused and physically manhandled (:) Psellos Keroularios 368-369
Nikephoros, nephew of patriarch Michael I Keroularios (Nikephoros 111)
  • Was arrested together with his brother Konstantinos 120 and their uncle the patriarch (Michael 11) at the monastery the latter had founded outside Constantinople, taken to the shore at Blachernai, put in a boat and banished to Proikonnesos Skylitzes Continuatus 105.13-14
  • Isaakios 1 banished both the patriarch (Michael 11) and his nephews Konstantinos 120 and Nikephoros Zonaras 18.5.4