Matter for the encomium came from his spiritual son, skilfully organised by Psellos. Romans were once protected by borders, natural or built, where barbarians would stop: but now the Euphrates and Danube were no longer barriers. Without borders, all lived together in confusion, where, through Roman ignorance, barbarians prevailed; but his spiritual son had organised resistance, and by co-ordinated attacks the Roman world was again defended. That was how to write an encomium