In the age of gold presided over by Ioannes Axouch and Ioannes II, all was movement and victory and the empire had returned to its greatness. Cilicia and Syria were witnessing a new chapter in the story. Michael Italikos was the encomiast of this successful period, yet MichaelÂ’'s own career in the church had been blocked by calumny he could not control. He asked Axouch to make sure that Ioannes II realised what was happening, by passing on a letter