Tzetzes sent greetings to the imperial doctor Basileios Megistos, discrediting an embassy to Sicily

Summary:
Tzetzes sent a letter to Basileios Megistos, an imperial doctor. He began by praising Basileios to the skies for intellectual, professional and personal qualities. Then he asked him to judge Tzetzes himself more fairly than at present. The reason for hislow opinion may have been Theodoros's failure to speak of Tzetzes' virtues. Tzetzes imagined that Basileios probably used his letters as emetics for his patients. Tzetzes then asked Basileios to pass on greetings to his friends, especially the unfortunate praitoroploi (?). He also hoped in conclusion that Basileios and Manuel I himself would realise that the spring embassy sent to Sicily was a complete waste of time 
Dates:
1150: 
Basileios Megistos (Basileios 257)
  • He received a letter from Ioannes 459 which first praised him to the skies for intellectual, professional and personal qualities, then asked him to judge Tzetzes himself more fairly, despite Theodoros 252's failure to speak of his virtues; Basileios probably used Tzetzes' letters as emetics for his patients (:) Tzetzes, Letters 108.1-109.15
Ioannes Tzetzes, man of letters (Ioannes 459)
  • He wrote to Basileios 257, first praising him to the skies for intellectual, professional and personal qualities, then asking him to judge Tzetzes himself more fairly, despite Theodoros 252's failure to pass on his virtues; Basileios probably used Tzetzes' letters as emetics for his patients (:) Tzetzes, Letters 108.1-109.9
  • He asked Basileios 257 to pass on his greetings to his friends, especially the unfortunate praitoroploi (?); he also hoped that Basileios and Manuel 1 himself would realise that the spring embassy sent to Sicily was a complete waste of time (:) Tzetzes, Letters 109.8-15
Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (Manuel 1)
  • He sent an embassy to Sicily in the spring; Ioannes 459 in a letter to Basileios 257 hoped that Basileios and Manuel himself would reach the conclusion that this embassy was a complete waste of time (:) Tzetzes, Letters 109.11-15
Roger II, king of Sicily (Roger 17001)
  • He ("Sicily") had apparently received an embassy in the spring from Manuel 1: Ioannes 459 believed this was a complete waste of time (:) Tzetzes, Letters 109.11-14
Theodoros, friend of Tzetzes referred to as kyrios Theodoros (Theodoros 252)
  • He was (jokingly) blamed for Basileios 257's low opinion of Ioannes 459, as he was lazy in passing on information (:) Tzetzes, Letters 108.20-22