Trial of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, for a capital offence

Summary:
Konstantinos, nephew of Michael Keroularios, was on trial for a capital offence. Psellos wrote to him during the trial, afraid of losing a well-tested friend, weeping and consoling him. He had seen Konstantinos in court showing a clear conscience to the just chief judge and his colleagues. Psellos had wept to see Konstantinos' mother there, his wife and their children, who should soon get him back. The announcements and narrative of the kensor had greatly irritated him. Psellos also reported on the reactions of others: Konstantinos X was merciful and impartial, the empress Eudokia showed her pure goodness, the patriarch Leichoudes was very favourable, Ioannes Doukas the emperor's brother was too inflamed to weep (?), Nikephoros (the defendant's brother) was disturbing the nest of a viper, and Psellos himself was about to intervene in all possible ways. He sent best wishes to all Konstantinos' household, even his pastrycook and furnaceman. [The date must be after the death of Keroularios, in the reign of Konstantinos X, before the death of the patriarch Leichoudes; perhaps there is a connection with the Mangana conspiracy of 1060/1061)?] 
Dates:
1061 (Uncertain) 
wife of brother of Michael Keroularios (Anonyma 2103)
  • She was present at the trial of her son, Konstantinos 120; Michael 61 wept, but hoped that she would soon recover Konstantinos and sent her his best wishes (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 32, 48.23, 49.20
wife of Konstantinos, nephew of Michael Keroularios (Anonyma 2139)
  • She was present at the trial of her husband, Konstantinos 120; Michael 61 wept, but hoped that she would soon recover Konstantinos and sent her his best wishes (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 32, 48.23, 49.20
children of Konstantinos, nephew of Michael Keroularios (Anonymi 2114)
  • They were seen at the trial of their father, Konstantinos 120; Michael 61 wept, but hoped that they would soon recover Konstantinos and sent them his best wishes (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 32, 48.24, 49.20-21
kensor at trial of Konstantinos (nephew of Michael Keroularios) (Anonymus 2350)
  • His announcements and narrative irritated Michael 61 during the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 48.31-32
furnaceman of Konstantinos (nephew of Michael Keroularios) (Anonymus 2351)
pastrycook of Konstantinos (nephew of Michael Keroularios) (Anonymus 2352)
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • She was described as showing pure goodness at the time of the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 49.9-10
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • He was described as too inflamed to weep (?), at the time of the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 49.12-13
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • He was described as merciful and impartial at the time of the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 49.7-8, 13-14
Konstantinos III Leichoudes, patriarch of Constantinople (Konstantinos 13)
  • He was described as very favourable at the time of the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 49.11-12
Konstantinos, nephew of patriarch Michael I Keroularios (Konstantinos 120)
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
Nikephoros, nephew of patriarch Michael I Keroularios (Nikephoros 111)
  • It was said that he was disturbing the nest of a viper at the time of the trial of Konstantinos 120 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 31, 49.14-16