Tragic death-scene of Eirene the kaisarissa involved her whole family & Psellos

Summary:
Eirene's husband, Ioannes, sat by her bed with their children, Andronikos and Konstantinos, totally distraught. He was of a tender disposition, with a compassionate tendency, and so was severely affected by his wife's mortal suffering. But he restained his tears for her sake. Konstantinos X was dumbstruck by the illness of his sister-in-law Eirene, but summoned the courage visit her on her deathbed; he clung to her, weeping copiously, till his brother finally persuaded him to stand back. Eudokia followed her husband in visiting her sister-in-law Eirene on her deathbed, distraught and unable to control herself; she clung to her, weeping, and was pictured delivering a brief formal lament in her beautiful voice. Eirene summoned the strength to commend her husband and children to Eudokia, who embraced her [why not to Konstantinos X?]. Psellos acted as doctor, taking the dying Eirene's pulse, and consoling the weeping Eudokia, eventually asking her to stand away. Eirene died, devoted to God, and reassuring her husband. As she died, he asked her how death was: she replied "Fine". After her death he broke into uncontrollable weeping, and delivered a long traditional lament. Psellos, though deeply affected, alone was able to rise to the occasion and think. Her death was followed by an outpouring of grief, first by her immediate family, then by the whole city, most of whom had never seen her, but had heard of her virtues 
Dates:
1064 (Uncertain) 
Andronikos Doukas, son of the kaisar Ioannes (Andronikos 61)
  • He (with his brother Konstantinos 61) was deeply disturbed by the mortal illness of his mother Eirene 20117; later he sat by her bed with his anguished father Ioannes 62 till she died; then he broke into uncontrollable weeping (:) Psellos Eirene 174-179
Eirene Pegonitissa, wife of Ioannes the kaisar (Eirene 20117)
  • Her death was followed by an outpouring of grief, first by her immediate family, then by the whole city, most of whom had never seen her, but had heard of her virtues (:) Psellos Eirene 179-180
  • She summoned the strength to commend her husband and children to Eudokia 1, who embraced her; Michael 61 acted as doctor, consoling Eudokia and eventually asking her to stand away; Eirene died, devoted to God, and reassuring her husband Psellos Eirene 176-177
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • She followed Konstantinos 10 in visiting her sister-in-law Eirene 20117 on her deathbed, distraught and unable to control herself; she clung to her, weeping, and was pictured delivering a brief formal lament in her beautiful voice (:) Psellos Eirene 174-175
  • She was asked by the dying Eirene 20117 to look after her family [why not ask Konstantinos 10 ?]; later she was consoled by Michael 61, who was taking the dying Eirene’s pulse, and persuaded her to stand back (:) Psellos Eirene 175-176
Ioannes Doukas, kaisar (Ioannes 62)
  • He was of a rather tender disposition, with a compassionate tendency, and so was severely affected by his wife’s mortal suffering Psellos Eirene 177
  • He was first to be shocked by Eirene 20117’s mortal illness; later as he and their children sat by her bed, he was totally distraught, but restained his tears for her sake; as she died, he asked her how death was: she replied “Fine” (:) Psellos Eirene 174-177
  • As soon as his wife Eirene 20117 died, he became disconsolate with grief, and is pictured delivering a long traditional lament (:) Psellos Eirene 177-179
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • He was dumbstruck by the illness of his sister-in-law Eirene 20117, but summoned the courage visit her on her deathbed; he clung to her, weeping copiously, till his brother eventually persuaded him to stand back (:) Psellos Eirene 174
Konstantinos Doukas, son of Kaisar Ioannes (Konstantinos 61)
  • He (with his brother Andronikos 61) was deeply disturbed by the mortal illness of his mother Eirene 20117; later he sat by her bed with his anguished father Ioannes 62 till she died; then he broke into uncontrollable weeping (:) Psellos Eirene 174-179
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • In the outpouring of grief after the death of Eirene 20117, he, though deeply affected, was the only one present able to rise to the occasion and think (:) Psellos Eirene 177-178
  • In the death-scene of Eirene 20117, he played the role of doctor, taking the dying woman’s pulse, trying to console the distraught Eudokia 1 and eventually persuading her to stand back from the body (:) Psellos Eirene 176