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 Certainty: 1
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
Ioannes the kaisar, realising that his nephew Michael VII had no adequate grasp of the empire's affairs, took charge, with the help of Ioannes of Side. Ioannes encouraged Michael to recall Nikephoritzes from Peloponnesos and Hellas where he was serving in a kind of exile, and appointed him logothetes of the dromos, unaware that he was arming his own enemy. Ioannes of Side was elbowed out of the management of public affairs by Nikephoritzes, who invented allegations against him involving other people. The emperor was devoted to childish games and rendered ineffective and incompetent by his teacher Psellos. Nikephoritzes now turned to Michael's family, accusing them of being his worst enemies, in contrast to his own absolute devotion to the emperor. Michael's mother Eudokia and his brothers Andronikos and Konstantios were charged with aiming at the throne. Eventually even Ioannes the kaisar found himself despised and suspected, then pushed aside and ignored. Nikephoritzes established complete domination over Michael
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
Following the Turkish attacks on the eastern provinces of the empire Michael VII and Nikephoritzes resolved to create a new army. They summoned troops from Asia, armed them and placed them under the command of Konstantinos Kappadox who was charged with their training. This was made very rigorous, with real though blunted weapons, combined with psychological pressure. The bravest among them were then selected to form the new tagma of the Athanatoi (Immortals)
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
Roussel refused attempts at appeasement by Michael VII, but released the kaisar Ioannes Doukas from his bonds and, despite his reluctance, proclaimed him emperor with acclamations and imperial insignia. Once the proclamation was made, Ioannes bacame more positive about the idea and contacted his friends in the capital. Michael VII and Nikephoritzes, despairing of using their own forces, persuaded the Seljuk general Artuk with large bribes to march against them. Artuk came from the east with huge forces to Metabole, then crossed passes to Mt. Maroxos and found his quarry camped near Trisea
Certainty: 2 Roussel, after ransom, returned to his old base in Armeniakon Certainty: 2
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 Certainty: 1
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
Michael VII was very worried about events in the Balkans, and wanted to associate with himself a good and experienced military man, offering the position of kaisar (formally vacated by the tonsured Ioannes Doukas). He and Nikephoritzes agreed to make Nikephoros Bryennios kaisar and doux of all Bulgaria, with the task of subduing the whole people of the Slavs. Bryennios was summoned from Thrace to Constantinople, despite the disagreement of Konstantinos (nephew of Keroularios) with this decision: Konstantinos was said to covet the position for himself
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 Certainty: 1
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
Nikephoritzes requested the grant of the monastery of Hebdomon, then endowed it with many estates and abundant income, exploiting the gullibility of Michael VII. It was to be the centre of his many properties. He claimed that it would in the end become a sumptious imperial residence for Michael and his successors
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 Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Arrest, imprisonment & death of Nikephoritzes Certainty: 2