Accession of Nikephoros III Botaneiates instead of legitimate heir Konstantios Doukas

Summary:
Nikephoros Botaneiates ascended the throne, put on the imperial costume, and devoted himself at once to the management of public affairs. He made arrangements to win the loyalty of many public figures and to dispense with some tarnished figures from the last reign. He struck with terror the Turks who ravaged the East, while dealing politely with those who had supported him. He was crowned by the patriarch Kosmas I. The legitimate heir Konstantios Doukas was passed over 
Dates:
1078* 
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • Promised to Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates his unfaltering loyalty in the same way that he had remained loyal to his predecessor (Michael 7) until the very end, was praised by the emperor (Nikephoros 3), and left (:) ὡς γοῦν τὴν πρὸς ἐκεῖνον πίστιν ἄδολον διετήρησα, οὕτω καὶ τὴν πρὸς σὲ τηρήσω ἀκράδαντον Bryennios 251.11-17
droungarios appointed by the supporters of Nikephoros Botaneiates (Anonymus 128)
  • Was appointed droungarios by the supporters of Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3) after Michael 7 was deposed (:) δρουγγάριον ἐπιστήσαντες Attaleiates: History 271.2 / 194.9
  • Was appointed droungarios tou stolou by the supporters of Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3) after Michael 7 was deposed (:) δρουγγάριον τοῦ στόλου προβαλλόμενοι Skylitzes Continuatus 178.15
Ioannes, metropolitan of Side [1079, 1082, 1094] (Ioannes 102)
  • Not fully grasping the administration of affairs, Nikephoros 3 too [like Michael 7] took him on and put upon him the public provision (:) Zonaras 18.19.26
Isaakios Komnenos, elder brother of Alexios I (Isaakios 61)
  • Returned from Antioch and, aware of the emperor (Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates)'s vanity and penchant for Syrian textiles, he often made presents to him and attracted so much his goodwill that he was granted many properties and was soon made sebastos (:) συχνάκις τοιαῦτα διδοὺς τοσοῦτον τὴν βασιλέως ἐπεσπάσατο εὔνοιαν ὡς καὶ κτήσεων κατακυριεῦσαι πολλῶν Bryennios 299.1-5
Konstantios Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Konstantios 61)
  • When Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3) recalled him to the palace he was still very young, a declared enemy of the emperor prone to wicked passions and scheming against him, emitting venom and nurturing hatred against his benefactor ἰοβόλον εἶχε τὸν ἔνδον ἄνθρωπον, καὶ κότον ἔτρεφε κατὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώπως καὶ κηδεμονικῶς αὐτὸν περιποιουμένου Attaleiates: History 305.12-306.1 / 218.11-21
Kosmas I, patriarch of Constantinople (Kosmas 11)
  • Crowned with the imperial diadem Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3) (:) ταῖς τοῦ πατριάρχου χερσὶ τῷ βασιλικῷ ταινιοῦται διαδήματι Skylitzes Continuatus 179.4-6
  • Having succeeded Ioannes 18 Xiphilinos as patriarch, he crowned Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates (:) Glykas 616.6-7
  • When (Nikephoros 3) Botaneiates was in the palace Nikephoros 3 was crowned with the imperial fillet by him on Tuesday of Holy Week (Tuesday of Holy Week:κατὰ τὴν μεγάλην τρίτην) Zonaras 18.19.1
Michael, metropolitan of Neokaisareia [1072] (Michael 195)
  • His crimes absolved through the mediation of the emperor (Michael 7) with the prelates, he fled because of the evil he caused to the people, renounced his post and died when the Christ-loving emperor arrived (Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates) (:) φρίκη θανάτου καὶ διάλυσις τῆς ζωῆς αὐτῷ ἐπεγένετο Attaleiates: History 279.6-17 / 200.11-19
Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3)
  • Put on the purple silk robe, was proclaimed emperor by all, and devoted himself at once to the management of public affairs, striking all the Huns (Turks) who ravaged the East and filling them with terror (On July 2 of the first indiction (2.7.1078):δευτέραν ἄγοντος ἰουλίου μηνὸς τῆς α ´ ἰνδικτίωνος) περιβάλλεται μὲν χλαμύδα καὶ βύσσον καὶ ἁλουργίδα Attaleiates: History 215.6-17 / 157.18-27
  • Became emperor following the will of God and the request and agreement of all those who knew of his virtues (:) ψήφῳ θεοῦ καὶ ἱκεσίᾳ πάντων ὁμοῦ καὶ συνθήκῃ Attaleiates: History 3.10-4.2 / 2.9-12
  • Distributed gifts, properties and dignities to his supporters, treated courteously the Turks encamped at Chrysopolis, took charge of the empire's affairs and wrote off all debt to the state without exception (:) τὰς δημοσιακὰς ὀφειλὰς ῥιζόθεν ἀπέτεμεν Skylitzes Continuatus 179.6-11
  • Removed from power Michael 7 with the help of the latter's wife (Maria 61), ascended the throne, appointed Michael metropolitan of Ephesos, and reigned for 3 and a half years (or 10 years and 5 days) (on March 27 of the 3rd indiction in the year 6588:μαρτίῳ κζ´, τῆς γ´ ἰνδικτιῶνος, ἔτους ,ςφπη´) Kleinchroniken 145.76-77, 161.21, 162.22, 168.21
  • When he was in the palace he was crowned with the imperial fillet by the patriarch (Kosmas 11) on Tuesday of Holy Week (Tuesday of Holy Week:κατὰ τὴν μεγάλην τρίτην) Zonaras 18.19.1
  • Ignoring the pressing needs of the treasury, he returned the wooden piers sequestered by his predecessor (Michael 7) and the bishop of Neokaisareia (Michael 195) to their rightful owners and confirmed their inalienable rights by chrysobulls (:) καὶ χρυσοβούλλῳ γραφῇ τὸ ἀμετάθετον και ἀπερικτύπητον τούτων αὐτοῖς ἐμπεδοῖ Attaleiates: History 279.17-25 / 200.20-26
  • Appointed Ioannes 103 Aoinos to succeed the deceased archbishop of Bulgaria Ioannes 101 and Nikephoros 103 Mauros to succeed the patriarch of Antioch (Aimilianos 61), and married his niece Synadene (Anonyma 106) to the Hungarian kral (Anonymus 137) (:) Skylitzes Continuatus 185.15-25
  • Received Konstantios 61 and Alexios 1 Komnenos, but neither did he extend his right hand to Alexios 1, nor did he embrace him, but praised him when promised his unfaltering loyalty (:) μήτε δεξιὰν δόντος αὐτῷ τοῦ βασιλέως, μήτε ἀσπασαμένου Bryennios 249.17-251.17
  • Partly because of extreme old age and partly because of natural laxity, he did not fully grasp the administration of affairs, but he too [as well as Michael 7] took on the metropolitan of Side (Ioannes 102) and put upon him the public provision (:) Zonaras 18.19.26