Certainty: 0 A young Nikephoros (Nikephoritzes) taken into the palace by Konstantinos IX Certainty: 0
1063
Certainty: 1 Nikephoritzes was made doux of Antioch for slandering empress Eudokia: he provoked barbarian attacks
Nikephoritzes served in the administration of Konstantinos X Doukas but was dismissed when he proved to be so malicious, slanderous and expert in evil deeds as to accuse the empress Eudokia to the emperor of adultery, out of hatred for Michael of Nikomedeia, the logothetes of the dromos. He was dismissed from the central administration as a result of this conduct, and appointed doux of Antioch, but there too he caused trouble by erecting forts and providing excuses for war, provoking the Saracens to retaliate and attack the borders. Unable to fight the Saracens he roused them to fight the Romans, and did not leave in peace even the Antiochenes, confiscating their properties or imposing unreasonable demands, until he was dismissed there too
1067
Certainty: 2 Nikephoritzes removed from government of Antioch & put in prison there Certainty: 2
1068
Certainty: 2 Nikephoritzes freed from prison at Antioch & sent as krites to Hellas & Peloponnesos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to Nikephoritzes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Psellos asked Nikephoritzes to see if Besaine was a rich see, as its bishop was likely to be taxed as a rich man Certainty: 2
1071
Certainty: 0 Nikoulitzas Delphinas, advised by Nikephoritzes, visited Michael VII in the capital Certainty: 0
1072
Certainty: 2 Nikephoritzes replaced Ioannes of Side as chief minister, & even supplanted the kaisar Ioannes Certainty: 2
1073
Certainty: 2 Defeat & capture of Isaakios Komnenos by Turks at Caesarea Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Creation of tagma of Athanatoi by Michael VII & Nikephoritzes Certainty: 1
1074
Certainty: 2 Fresh campaign against Turks (&/or Roussel) under kaisar Ioannes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VII began to feel responsible for Byzantine disasters, but still followed evil counsellors Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VII bribed Turks against Roussel, who released kaisar Ioannes, proclaiming him emperor Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Roussel, after ransom, returned to his old base in Armeniakon
When the wife of Roussel de Bailleul secured his release from captivity by paying the ransom demanded by the Turks, he left Metabole for Armeniakon together with his family and remaining troops. There he reoccupied his old strongholds, from where he launched attacks on the Turks, keeping them out of the theme
Certainty: 2 Raids of Roussel de Bailleul on cities of Pontos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Expulsion of patriarch Aimilianos from Antioch by doux Isaakios Komnenos
Isaakios Komnenos (brother of the future Alexios I) was appointed doux of Antioch with instructions from Michael VII and Nikephoritzes to expel from the city its patriarch Aimilianos, held responsible for the unrest that broke out there. Isaakios was received with much honour and initially pretended to be favourably disposed towards the patriarch in order to avoid trouble in the divided city. Later, pretending to be unwell, he was invited to the patriarch's country estate to hunt hare. But once there, he used the excuse of going hunting to return to the city, and sent the imperial order to the patriarch ordering him to leave at once. Aimilianos, though very angry, could only go to Laodikeia, spend a few days there until his luggage was brought from Antioch, and then sail to Constantinople
Certainty: 1 A case of forgery in the signature of a report on the bishop of Korone Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Dispute at court over proposed appointment of Nikephoros Bryennios as kaisar Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Granary built near Raidestos by Nikephoritzes to establish wheat monopoly & brutally enforce it Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 The Danubian cities (including Dristra/Dorostolon) were infiltrated by Pechenegs & revolted Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Nestor, trusted lieutenant of Michael VII, sent to restore order on Danube, joined the rebels
Michael VII appointed his man Nestor katepano of Dristra and sent him to restore order in the city, whose inhabitants had defected to the Pechenegs. Meanwhile Nikephoritzes, who was hostile to Nestor, continued working against him. Once there Nestor realised that the task was impossible under these conditions, and subsequently joined the rebels under Tatous. It was speculated that his decision was based on common Pecheneg nationality with the rebels, or charges of financial maladministration
Certainty: 1 Nestor's demand for surrender of Nikephoritzes rejected: he finally retreated because he feared a plot Certainty: 1
1075
Certainty: 1 Nikephoritzes collected his treasure at the monastery of Hebdomon, promising to make it an imperial palace Certainty: 1
1077
Certainty: 2 Rebellion of Ioannes Bryennios & Nikephoros Basilakes, joined reluctantly by Nikephoros Bryennios Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Rebellion of Nikephoros Bryennios, joined by Adrianople, Raidestos & other cities Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael Attaleiates had personal experience of the rebellion at Raidestos Certainty: 2
1078
Certainty: 3 The people in Hagia Sophia proclaimed Nikephoros Botaneiates (still at Lampe) emperor Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Synod of prelates decided to support rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Turks sent against Nikephoros Botaneiates by Michael VII were bribed by the rebel
Michael VII with embassies and numerous gifts bribed Kutulmush and his sons to hold the roads against Botaneiates' advance on the capital. Sulayman and Mansur ibn Kutulmush were camped at Chrysopolis and primed for war. However Botaneiates sent his ally Chrysoskoulos/Erisgen who won them over with larger bribes to his cause. The Turks received huge gifts daily from the imperial treasury, and so left the way to Nicaea open
Certainty: 2 Arrest, imprisonment & death of Nikephoritzes Certainty: 2