Eudokia took power into her own hands while training Michael (VII) for rule

Summary:
The dying Konstantinos X appointed his wife Eudokia to succeed him, with their sons Michael VII and Konstantios, as both their nurse and their guardian. She shaped Michael's character and quietly led him into all the activities befitting an emperor. She often entrusted him to Psellos and urged him to advise him and instruct him in his duties. She would sit in public between her sons Michael and Konstantios, and they were almost rooted to the spot in fear and reverence for her. In this formation they would sit for election of magistrates, investigations of civil lawsuits, and audiences of ambassadors. Like this they went out in the regular processions. Psellos often saw Michael, when he could have spoken in her presence, yet remain silent as if unable to speak. Although he was a capable young man, he held back from imperial affairs. Eudokia behaved modestly, without excess in dress or public appearances. She familiarised herself with everything and as far as possible took part in all kinds of imperial business. Psellos once saw her in church behaving devoutly, and was moved to pray she might enjoy power for ever. She reproached him, that his prayer was a curse and said: "May I not enjoy the empire for so long that I die empress". After that he respected her as a superior being 
Dates:
1067 
Andronikos Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Andronikos 62)
  • Ruling over her sons (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7), Eudokia 1 undertook the care of public affairs and sat with them on the tribunal, herself in the middle and seating them on either side: in association with Konstantios 61, Michael 7 (:) Zonaras 18.10.1-2
  • So they would sit at elections of magistrates, so at investigations of civil lawsuits, so they would give audience to ambassadors, so they went forth in the customary processions: in association with Eudokia 1, Konstantios 61, Michael 7 (:) ... οὕτως ἐν ἀρχαιρεσίαις, οὕτως ἐν ζητήσεσι πολιτικῶν ὑποθέσεων ... Zonaras 18.10.2
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • Took power with her sons (Konstantios 61, Michael 7) after the death of her husband (Konstantinos 10 Doukas) and confirmed to the archpriests and the senate that she would not marry a second time (:) προκατησφαλίσθη γὰρ ἡ Αὐγούστα μὴ δευτέροις γάμοις προσομιλῆσαι Attaleiates: History 92.11-14 / 70.1-3
  • Fearful of the senate, the patriarch (Ioannes 18) and those who had signed and taken the oath (before the dying Konstantinos 10 pledging not to ever allow her to marry again) she did not dare re-marry and proclaim emperor one of the officials (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 123.1-3
  • Konstantinos 10 left her behind as both nurse and guardian, to speak briefly, to Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61 and Michael 7 (:) Zonaras 18.9.21
  • So they would sit at elections of magistrates, so at investigations of civil lawsuits, so they would give audience to ambassadors, so they went forth in the customary processions: in association with Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7 (:) ... οὕτως ἐν ἀρχαιρεσίαις, οὕτως ἐν ζητήσεσι πολιτικῶν ὑποθέσεων ... Zonaras 18.10.2
  • Ruling over her sons (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7), she undertook the care of public affairs and sat with them on the tribunal, herself in the middle and seating them on either side (:) Zonaras 18.10.1-2
  • At first she behaved modestly, without excess in dress or public appearances; she familiarised herself with everything and as far as practicable took part in all business, elections, civil affairs, revenues; she made imperial pronouncements (:) ἐν πᾶσι δὲ ἐξεταζομένη καὶ πᾶσιν ἁρμόζουσα πράγμασιν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 1.6-10
  • Michael 61 was once with her in a church: seeing her fixed on God and virtually hanging upon the Lord he was moved and prayed zealously that she might enjoy power indefinitely (:) προσηλωμένην εἶδον τῷ Θεῷ καὶ οἷον ἐξηρτημένην τοῦ Κρείττονος Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.15-19
  • Michael 61 has often seen Michael 7, when he could have spoken in her presence, yet remain silent as if unable to speak, and although capable of anything, he held back from imperial affairs (:) λέγειν μὲν δυνάμενον ἐπὶ τῆς μητρός Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.10-13
  • Turning to Michael 61 she reproached him, considering his prayer a curse and saying: "May I not enjoy the empire for so long that I die empress"; this so terrified Michael 61 that thereafter he paid attention to her as a superior being (:) μὴ οὕτως ὀναίμην τῆς βασιλείας, εἰποῦσα, ὥστε καὶ θανεῖν βασιλεύουσα Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.19-23
  • She did not at first despise Michael 7, but herself trained him; later she allowed him to appoint officials and encouraged him to act as judge; she often kissed him on meeting, praised him and urged him to profit from it (:) οὐ μὴν κατωλιγώρει τὰ πρῶτα τούτου ἡ μήτηρ Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.1-5
  • She was shaping Michael 7's character and quietly leading him to all the activities befitting an emperor; she often entrusted him to Michael 61 and urged him to instruct Michael in his duties and advise him (:) ἐρρύθμιζέ τε τούτῳ τὸ ἦθος Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.5-8
  • She would sit between her sons (Michael 7 and Konstantios 61) and they were virtually rooted to the spot in their absolute fear and reverence for her (:) ἐμέσευσε γοῦν τῶν υἱέων, οἱ δὲ μονονοὺκ ἐπεπήγεσαν ἐκείνην ἀκριβῶς δεδιότες καὶ σεβαζόμενοι Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 1.11-13
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • Appointed his wife Eudokia 1 to succeed him together with his sons Michael 7 and Konstantinos (Konstantios 61) (:) Kleinchroniken 143.72, 170.2
  • Set them (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7) over the realm, but left behind their mother the empress (Eudokia 1), to speak briefly, as both nurse and guardian (:) Zonaras 18.9.21
  • Seized by illness and being sick with it for a long time, suffering and already overpowered and recognising that the end was approaching for him inexorably, he left the realm to his three sons (Michael 7, Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61) (:) Zonaras 18.9.19
Konstantios Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Konstantios 61)
  • Took power with his mother (Eudokia 1) and brother (Michael 7) after the death of their father (Konstantinos 10 Doukas) (:) κατίσχον τὰ σκῆπτρα τῆς βασιλείας η῞ τε σύμβιος αὐτοῦ Εὐδοκία καὶ οἱ παῖδες Attaleiates: History 92.11-14 / 70.1-3
  • After his father (Konstantinos 10)'s death he succeeded him on the throne together with his mother Eudokia 1 and brother Michael 7 (:) διαδέχεται δὲ τὴν βασιλείαν ἡ τούτου σύνοικος Εὐδοκία σὺν Μιχαὴλ καὶ Κωνσταντίῳ τοῖς παισί Bryennios 85.12-13
  • Appointed by his father Konstantinos 10 Doukas to succeed him together with his mother Eudokia 1 Makrembolitissa and his brother Michael 7, he reigned with them for 7 months and 10 (or 8) days (on May 23 of the 5th indiction in the year 6975:μαί>ῳ κγ ´, ἰνδικτιῶνος ε ´, ἔτους ,ςφοε ´) Kleinchroniken 143.72-73, 160.17-161.18, 170.2-3
  • So they would sit at elections of magistrates, so at investigations of civil lawsuits, so they would give audience to ambassadors, so they went forth in the customary processions: in association with Eudokia 1, Andronikos 62, Michael 7 (:) ... οὕτως ἐν ἀρχαιρεσίαις, οὕτως ἐν ζητήσεσι πολιτικῶν ὑποθέσεων ... Zonaras 18.10.2
  • Ruling over her sons (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7), Eudokia 1 undertook the care of public affairs and sat with them on the tribunal, herself in the middle and seating them on either side: in association with Andronikos 62, Michael 7 (:) Zonaras 18.10.1-2
  • He would sit on the imperial throne with Michael 7; being exceptionally generous Michael would not do everything himself but often shared the imperial duties with him (:) τῷ ἀδελφῷ πολλάκις τῶν βασιλικῶν ἐκοινώνησε πράξεων Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.8-12
  • Eudokia 1 would sit between him and Michael 7 and they were virtually rooted to the spot in their absolute fear and reverence for her (:) ἐμέσευε γοῦν τῶν υἱέων, οἱ δὲ μονονοὺκ ἐπεπήγεσαν ἐκείνην ἀκριβῶς δεδιότες καὶ σεβαζόμενοι Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 1.11-13
Emperor Michael VII Doukas (Michael 7)
  • Took power with his mother (Eudokia 1) and brother (Konstantios 61) after the death of their father (Konstantinos 10 Doukas) (:) κατίσχον τὰ σκῆπτρα τῆς βασιλείας η῞ τε σύμβιος αὐτοῦ Εὐδοκία καὶ οἱ παῖδες Attaleiates: History 92.11 / 70.1
  • After his father (Konstantinos 10)'s death he succeeded him on the throne together with his mother Eudokia 1 and brother Konstantios 61 (:) διαδέχεται δὲ τὴν βασιλείαν ἡ τούτου σύνοικος Εὐδοκία σὺν Μιχαὴλ καὶ Κωνσταντίῳ τοῖς παισί Bryennios 85.12-13
  • Appointed by his father Konstantinos 10 Doukas to succeed him together with his mother Eudokia 1 Makrembolitissa and his brother Konstantinos (Konstantios 61), he reigned with them for 7 months and 10 (or 8) days (on May 23 of the 5th indiction in the year 6975:μαί>ῳ κγ ´, ἰνδικτιῶνος ε ´, ἔτους ,ςφοε ´) Kleinchroniken 143.72-73, 160.17-161.18, 170.2-3
  • Konstantinos 10, seized by illness and being sick with it for a long time, suffering and already overpowered and recognising that the end was approaching for him inexorably, left the realm to his three sons (Michael 7, Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61): in association with Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61 (:) Zonaras 18.9.19
  • So they would sit at elections of magistrates, so at investigations of civil lawsuits, so they would give audience to ambassadors, so they went forth in the customary processions: in association with Eudokia 1, Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61 (:) ... οὕτως ἐν ἀρχαιρεσίαις, οὕτως ἐν ζητήσεσι πολιτικῶν ὑποθέσεων ... Zonaras 18.10.2
  • Ruling over her sons (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7), Eudokia 1 undertook the care of public affairs and sat with them on the tribunal, herself in the middle and seating them on either side: in association with Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, (:) Zonaras 18.10.1-2
  • Konstantinos 10 set them (Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61, Michael 7) over the realm, but left behind their mother the empress (Eudokia 1), to speak briefly, as both nurse and guardian: in association with Andronikos 62, Konstantios 61 (:) Zonaras 18.9.21
  • Eudokia 1 would sit between him and Konstantios 61 and they were virtually rooted to the spot in their absolute fear and reverence for her (:) ἐμέσευε γοῦν τῶν υἱέων, οἱ δὲ μονονοὺκ ἐπεπήγεσαν ἐκείνην ἀκριβῶς δεδιότες καὶ σεβαζόμενοι Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 1.11-13
  • Eudokia 1 did not at first despise him, but herself trained him; later she allowed him to appoint officials and encouraged him to act as judge; she often kissed him on meeting, praised him and urged him to profit from it (:) ἐγκωμίων ἠξίωσε καὶ ὄνασθαι τούτου κατηύξατο Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.1-5
  • Eudokia 1 was shaping his character and quietly leading him to all the activities befitting an emperor; she often entrusted him to Michael 61 and urged him to instruct the boy in his duties and advise him (:) ἐρρύθμιζέ τε τούτῳ τὸ ἦθος Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.5-8
  • Michael 61 often saw him, when he could have spoken in Eudokia 1's presence, yet remain silent as if unable to speak, and although he was able to do anything at all, he held back from imperial affairs (:) πράττειν μὲν πᾶν ὁτιοῦν ἐξισχύοντα, πράξεων δὲ βασιλικῶν ἀπεχόμενον Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.10-13
  • He would sit on the imperial throne with Konstantios 61; being exceptionally generous he would not do everything himself but often shared the imperial duties with him (:) χρηστότατος δὲ ὢν εἴπερ τις ἄλλος, οὐ πάντα ἐφ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἔπραττεν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.8-12
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • He often saw Michael 7, when he could have spoken in Eudokia 1's presence, yet remain silent as if unable to speak, and although Michael was able to do anything at all, he held back from imperial affairs (:) εἶδον τοῦτον ἐγὼ πολλάκις Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.10-13
  • Eudokia 1 was shaping Michael 7's character and quietly leading him to all the activities befitting an emperor; she often entrusted him to Psellos and urged him to instruct him in his duties and advise him (:) τὰ δέοντα νουθετεῖν τε καὶ συμβουλεύειν παρεκελεύσατο Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 3.5-8