Attempt of Alexios (I) in favour of Konstantios Doukas failed through his reluctance & unpopularity

Summary:
Alexios (I) Komnenos tried to place on the throne the brother of Michael VII, Konstantios Doukas. He first had to deal with the man's timidity and lack of ambition. When he had persuaded him to act by showing him the document signed by Michael VII, he took him through the streets wearing the imperial purple shoes, but met with considerable hostility from the public. They reached the palace, but instead of sitting on the throne, Konstantios begged Alexios to abandon the plan. One result of the episode was to make Alexios suspect to Botaneiates' men 
Dates:
1078* 
Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (Alexios 1)
  • Seeing the injustice done by the accession of Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates to the throne which ignored the rights of Isaakios 1 Komnenos' descendants, he was frustrated and could not accept it (:) ἤσχαλλεν, ἐδυσφόρει, παρεζήλου τὸ δίκαιον ὁρῶν ἀθετούμενον καὶ οὐκέτι φέρειν εἶχε τὸ συμπεσόν Bryennios 57.1-15
  • Asked the emperor (Michael 7) to put into writing what he had said (about abdicating in favour of his brother Konstantios 61) and went to Konstantios 61 with the letter begging him to follow him to the palace in order to assume power (:) τὸ γράμμα λαβὼν ἀπῄει πρὸς τὸν Κωνστάντιον καὶ ἕπεσθαί οἱ παρεκάλει πρὸς τὰ βασίλεια τὴν βασιλείαν παραληψόμενον Bryennios 249.2-6
  • Went to Konstantios 61 Doukas, had him put the purple shoes on and took him to the palace in order to place him on the throne (:) τοῦτον ... ἐγκαθιδρῦσαι τῷ τῆς βασιλείας θρόνῳ ἐσπούδαζε, θεὶς αὐτῷ τοῖς ποσὶ καὶ τὰ φοινικοβαφῆ πέδιλα καὶ ἀπάγων τοῦτον εἰς τὰ βασίλεια Bryennios 57.16-24
  • Went to Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates (staying at the palace of Rouphinianai) together with Konstantios 61 knowing beforehand what was going to happen, and, addressing him as emperor, requested his goodwill towards Konstantios 61 (:) τῆς σῆς βασιλείας τυχὼν εὐμενοῦς καὶ πατρικῶς αὐτοῦ κηδομένης Bryennios 249.17-251.10
  • Having met the hostility of the populace in the streets, he was implored by Konstantios 61 to abandon his plans to place him on the throne (:) κατεδυσώπει δὲ καὶ τὸν Κομνηνὸν αὐτῆς ἀπόσχεσθαι καὶ μὴ ἐπὶ πλέον τοῦτον παραβιάζεσθαι Bryennios 57.23-24
  • The only result his proposed plan had was to render Nikephoros 3 (III Botaneiates) and his entourage, especially his slaves Boril 61 and Germanos 101, suspicious of him (:) ὕποπτος λογισθῆναι τῷ Βοτανειάτῃ καὶ τοῖς περὶ αὐτὸν καὶ ἄλλοις μέν Bryennios 59.13-16
Konstantios Doukas, brother of Michael VII (Konstantios 61)
  • Asked by Alexios 1 Komnenos to follow him to the palace in order to assume power he refused, carried away by childish thoughts and thinking that all would be fine if Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3) assumed power, and asked to cross the straits to join him (:) οἰόμενος ὡς ἐσεῖται τούτῳ καλῶς πάντα εἰ τῶν σκήπτρων ἐγκρατὴς ὁ Βοτανειάτης γένοιτο, καὶ ἠξίου τὸν πρὸ τοῦ Πόντου πορθμὸν διαπεράσαντα πρὸς τὸν Βοτανειάτην φοιτῆσαι Bryennios 249.5-10
  • Went to Nikephoros 3 Botaneiates (staying at the palace of Rouphinianai) together with Alexios 1 Komnenos, knowing nothing of what was going to befall him (:) Ἀφικέσθην δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν ἄμφω, ὅ τε πορφυρογέννητος Κωνστάντιος καὶ ὁ Κομνηνὸς Ἀλέξιος, ὁ μὲν πρὸ τῆς πείρας ἀγνοήσας τὰ τούτῳ ἑπόμενα Bryennios 249.17-251.1
  • Was made to put on the purple shoes by Alexios 1 Komnenos, who then took him to the palace in order to be placed on the throne, but having met the populace's disapproval in the streets, he was terrified and renounced this plan (:) θεὶς αὐτῷ τοῖς ποσὶ καὶ τὰ φοινικοβαφῆ πέδιλα ... καὶ τὸ ῥηθὲν παιδίον πρὸς τὸν θροῦν ἰλιγγιᾶσαν καὶ τοῖς τοῦ δήμου λόγοις ἐκδειματωθὲν τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπείχετο τῆς τοιαύτης προθέσεως Bryennios 57.16-24
Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates (Nikephoros 3)
  • Was presented with a plan by Alexios 1 Komnenos that would allow him to remain on the throne as long as he lived and to be succeeded by Konstantios 61 Doukas (:) τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἰθύνειν σκῆπτρα ἕως ἂν τοῖς ζῶσι συντάττοιτο Bryennios 59.4-13