Needs of empire or oaths sworn to Konstantinos X? Xiphilinos wondered whether to let Eudokia remarry

Summary:
The patriarch Ioannes Xiphilinos considered, together with the empress Eudokia and her officials, what action to take against the advance of the sultan Alp Arslan. They debated whether to put the empire's interest above the dead emperor Konstantinos X's wishes for Eudokia not to remarry. Eudokia herself wanted to marry Romanos. Xiphilinos was pessimistic about the future, if Byzantium continued to be ruled by a woman and children. He attacked the oaths imposed by Konstantinos X, as based not on the common benefit but on jealousy. Psellos only heard of the plan late and indirectly, and refused to support it 
Dates:
1067 
adviser to Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Anonymus 7037)
  • He urged Michael 61 to speak freely to Eudokia 1 advising that she put a noble emperor in charge of affairs; Psellos answered only that he would never say this, nor speak in persuasion nor profit from his eloquence (:) προὔτρεπεν εἰπεῖν αὐτῇ καὶ παρρησιάσασθαι, ὥστε βασιλέα γενναῖον ἐπιστῆσαι τοῖς πράγμασιν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 5.11-16
Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa (Eudokia 1)
  • Anonymus 7037 urged Michael 61 to speak freely to her advising that she put a noble emperor in charge of affairs; he answered only that he would never say this, nor speak in persuasion nor profit from his eloquence (:) προὔτρεπεν εἰπεῖν αὐτῇ καὶ παρρησιάσασθαι, ὥστε βασιλέα γενναῖον ἐπιστῆσαι τοῖς πράγμασιν Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 5.11-16
  • Though many knew (of her plan to marry) she did not communicate her thinking at all to Michael 61, but kept quiet in shame to prevent hostile words being woven against the man; nevertheless she wished to make Psellos party to her plan (:) αἰδοῖ πάντως τὴν γλῶσσαν ἐπέχουσα Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 5.6-11
Ioannes VIII Xiphilinos, patriarch of Constantinople (Ioannes 18)
  • Said "If these things continue to be administered by a woman alone (Eudokia 1) and children, assuredly before long it will be all up for the Roman hegemony, not only affairs far away neighbouring on the enemy, but those on the doorstep too" (:) Zonaras 18.10.24
  • Considered together with the empress (Eudokia 1) and her officials what action to take against the sultan's advance (Alp Arslan 51) and decided to put the empire's interest above the dead emperor (Konstantinos 10)'s wishes (for Eudokia not to remarry) (:) συνέδοξε τὴν ὑπὲρ τῶν ὅλων κρατῆσαι πρόνοιαν Attaleiates: History 100.13-19 / 75.24-76.3
Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas (Konstantinos 10)
  • Ioannes 18 made a great attack on the oaths and the document and abused him after his death, on the grounds that he did not make provision for the common benefit, but demanded unlawful oaths and illegal documents out of jealousy (:) Zonaras 18.10.25
Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054) (Michael 61)
  • Though many knew (of her plan to marry) Eudokia 1 did not communicate her thinking to him at all, but kept quiet in shame to prevent hostile words being woven against Romanos 4; nevertheless she wished to make Psellos party to her plan (:) ἐβούλετο δ’ ὅμως κἀμὲ τοῦ σκέμματος μετασχεῖν Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 5.6-11
  • Anonymus 7037 urged him to speak freely to Eudokia 1 advising that she put a noble emperor in charge of affairs; he answered only that he would never say this, nor speak in persuasion nor profit from his eloquence (:) οὐκ ἂν εἰποιμι τοῦτο, οὔτε πείσαιμι εἰρηκώς, οὔτε εἰς καλὸν τῆς γλώττης ὀναίμην Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 5.11-16
Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes (Romanos 4)
  • Proposed for the throne by one of the officials considering the situation with the empress (Eudokia 1) and the patriarch (Ioannes 18), he had already been selected by the augousta, being unmarried and present at Constantinople (:) καὶ γυναικὸς ἀμοιροῦντα Attaleiates: History 101.3-6 / 76.9-11
  • Eudokia 1 not only snatched him from manifest danger, when he was condemned and already saw the executioner standing over him, but also dignified him with such great rule (:) Zonaras 18.11.2