Psellos after long efforts to persuade Konstantinos X, arranged the retirement of Nikolaos Skleros

Summary:
He first wrote to Nikolaos Skleros confessing failure to move Konstantinos X. Lightning strikes are unpredictable, affecting one person but not another. The words of Nikolaos and Psellos would draw tears from adamant, but the time was wrong and the emperor stood out alone against them. Nikolaos must be patient. In a second epistle he said that Nikolaos sent a most charming letter, but Konstantinos X, though often charmable, had a military crisis [the Uzes?], and was only charmed by arms dealers. Psellos thus kept the letter back, but charmed Ioannes the kaisar, preparing a double attack with him. A third letter announced preliminary success, but his promised sacrifices to help Nikolaos had not yet delivered full results. Psellos with Nikolaos' letter moved Konstantinos X, who gave him leave from his Aegean office to go to his estate of Mitza Kathara, sending a (preliminary) imperial letter. Psellos reassured Nikolaos that this would be confirmed, as the emperor gave his word and told him to inform Nikolaos. The latter should send a simple letter of thanks requesting confimation, and Psellos would continue his pressure. Finally he consoled Nikolaos that he was no longer krites of Aegean Sea. When Konstantinos read Nikolaos' letter to Psellos, he removed him from the office with deep sympathy. Further, Konstantinos often asked about his confiscated estate (details of his decision to follow). Nikolaos' grief needed more radical surgery which only God could provide; he should wait patiently in bed till God acted 
Dates:
1064 (Uncertain) 
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • He was shown the charming letter of Nikolaos 2104 by Michael 61, and wept; Konstantinos 10 was too busy with a military crisis to pay attention, so Psellos and the kaisar planned a double attack on him later (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • He had a military crisis with the barbarians (Uzes?) on his hands, and was only listening to arms dealers; thus Michael 61 did not show him the charming letter of Nikolaos 2104, but prepared a double offensive with Ioannes 62 (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21
  • He resisted the words of Nikolaos 2104 and Michael 61, which would draw tears from adamant: the time was wrong and he stood out alone against all attempts to change his mind; Nikolaos must be patient (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 44, 73.8-75.12
  • He told Nikolaos 2104 that when Konstantinos 10 read his letter to Psellos, he removed him with deep sympathy from the office of krites of Aegean Sea, with many questions about his confiscated estate (details of his decision to follow) (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.7-89.24
  • It was typical of him to show sympathy more in his face (with change of expression and colour) than in documents he sent Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.26-89.1
  • On hearing Psellos and the letter of Nikolaos 2104 he was convinced, freeing him from office to go to his estate of Mitza Kathara, sending a (preliminary) imperial letter, and promising Psellos (and Nikolaos) that this would be confirmed (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 96.1-97.20
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • Nikolaos sent a most charming letter, but Konstantinos 10, though often charmable, had a military crisis, and was only charmed by arms dealers; Psellos thus kept the letter back, but charmed Ioannes 62, preparing a double attack with him (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21
  • He wrote to Nikolaos 2104, discussing tactics for persuading Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21
  • A lightning strike is unpredictable, affecting one but not another; the words of Nikolaos 2104 and Michael 61 would draw tears from adamant, but the time was wrong and Konstantinos 10 stood out alone against them; Nikolaos must be patient (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 44, 73.8-75.12
  • He wrote to Nikolaos 2104 confessing failure to move Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 44, 73.8-75.12
  • He consoled Nikolaos 2104 by telling him he was no longer krites of Aegean Sea; when Konstantinos 10 read Nikolaos’ letter to Psellos, he removed him from the office with deep sympathy (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.7-89.1
  • He consoled Nikolaos 2104 by telling him of Konstantinos 10's reaction to his letter Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.7-89.22
  • He told Nikolaos 2104 that Konstantinos 10 often asked about his confiscated estate (details of his decision to follow); Nikolaos’ grief needed more radical surgery which only God could provide, so he should wait patiently in bed till God acted (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 89.1-24
  • He promised sacrifices to help Nikolaos 2104, but had not yet delivered; Psellos and Nikolaos’ letter moved Konstantinos 10, who freed him from his Aegean office to go to his estate of Mitza Kathara, sending a (preliminary) imperial letter (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 96.1-97.1
  • He reassured Nikolaos 2104 that all this would be confirmed, as he had the emperor’s word, and was told to inform Nikolaos; the latter should send a simple letter of thanks requesting confimation, and Psellos would continue his pressure (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 97.1-20
  • He wrote to Nikolaos 2104, announcing preliminary success in persuading Konstantinos 10 Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 96.1-97.20
Nikolaos Skleros (Nikolaos 2104)
  • He had sent a most charming letter, but Michael 61 did not deliver it; Konstantinos 10 had a military crisis, and was only charmed by arms dealers; Psellos thus charmed Ioannes 62, preparing a double attack with him on the emperor (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 37, 60.16-62.21
  • His words and those of Michael 61 would draw tears from adamant, but the time was wrong and Konstantinos 10 stood out alone against them; Nikolaos must be patient (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 44, 73.8-75.12
  • He was consoled by Michael 61, who said he had been relieved as krites of Aegean Sea by Konstantinos 10, with questions about his confiscated estate; his grief needed divine surgery, so he should wait patiently in bed till God acted (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 56, 88.7-89.24
  • His letter (and the words of Michael 61) moved Konstantinos 10, who freed him from his Aegean office to go to his estate of Mitza Kathara, sending a (preliminary) imperial letter (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 96.1-97.1
  • He was to send a simple letter of thanks and request for confirmation to Konstantinos 10, who had given Psellos his word and told him to inform Nikolaos; Psellos would continue his pressure (:) Psellos Letters (K - D) 63, 97.1-20