Theodoros Prodromos began to write poems of pure begging

Summary:
Theodoros Prodromos' poetry depended on imperial and aristocratic commissions, which naturally dried up when the emperor and the aristocracy were away for a long military campaign. In the period 1137-1142 there were two of these campaigns, one after the other, first to Cilicia and Syria then to Pontos, with only a brief (but very welcome) interlude between them of hippodrome races and weddings, with fun, food and drink. Several of his compositions of this period make extreme claims of poverty and desperation. This contributed to his plans in 1140 to leave Constantinople, and merged into his complaints of severe illness in that and following years. At the least, these poems seem to suggest that his expectations of the patronage system were severely disappointed. It is hard to judge how close to starvation he really was 
Dates:
1139 (Uncertain) 
Anna Komnene, daughter of Alexios I and historian (Anna 62)
  • She received from Theodoros 25001 a begging letter, asking for financial help; he had followed Anonymus 25010's advice to get a good education, and it had got him nowhere: he was poor and sick, and she was his only hope of survival (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XXXVIII
Emperor Ioannes II Komnenos (Ioannes 2)
  • He was said to be very pleased with the poems of Theodoros 25001, whose friends told him to expect a better life; but Ioannes had not significantly rewarded his poet; Theodoros asked why, but continued enthusiastic praise (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XXIV
  • During his imperial absence, Theodoros 25001 claimed, as the number of paymasters for his poetry was limited, his income was very low and he had fallen into serious poverty; Ioannes was asked, via Theodoros 186, to alleviate this (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXXI.89-99
Stephanos Meles, logothetes of the dromos (Stephanos 25001)
  • He received a letter from Theodoros 25001, which began with exaggerated praise for his eloquence, then continued to use him as an intermediary with Ioannes 2; Theodoros was in severe need and required immediate help (:) Τῷ λογοθέτῃ κυρῷ Στεφάνῳ τῷ Μέλητι Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXIX
Theodoros Prodromos, man of letters (Theodoros 25001)
  • Many friends congratulated him on gaining the favour of Ioannes 2 with his poems, and told him to expect a better life, but these expectations had not so far been fulfilled; he asked Ioannes for reasons, but continued enthusiastic praise (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XXIV
  • He began a letter to Stephanos 25001 with praise of Stephanos' eloquence in exaggerated encomiastic terms; he then asked Stephanos to use his influence with Ioannes 2 to help Theodoros, who was in a state of utterly desperate need (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXIX
  • After asking Theodoros 186 for more information on which to write encomia, he explained that when Ioannes 2 was absent for a long time his income was so low that he was in desperate want (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXXI.89-99
  • He complained in two poems that Ioannes 2 defeated the Turks, but not Theodoros' enemy, his poverty; together with God and the Theotokos, Ioannes will have Prodromos' words to fight the enemy, but from the city, not from the wilderness (the cosmic sun was irresistible in midsummer: προσβάλλει θερινὸς ὅλος πυρσὸς φλογώδης) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XV.71-90, XVI.214-228
  • He complained that he, like all the city's poor, had seen Ioannes 2 briefly since his three-year absence, and enjoyed hippodrome races and weddings, with fun, food and drink; but now he was losing him again on campaign (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte XVI.127-162
  • He wrote to Anonymus 25021 apologising for inability to visit him and seeking help at a moment of acute need: he prayed for the end of his illness (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXXXII
  • He planned to leave Constantinople with Stephanos 25002, and so said goodbye in hexameters to the city, Hagia Sophia and the palace; his obvious affection for them is mixed with bitterness that they give preference to the ignorant over the learned (:) Prodromos, Historische Gedichte LXXIX