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 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
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
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
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
Michael Attaleiates happened to be at Raidestos visiting his estates when the rebellion of Nikephoros and Ioannes Bryennios broke out at Adrianople. However for several days he did not believe the rumours which circulated. He thought that Raidestos was safe, being the same distance from Adrianople as the latter from Constantinople, so that Michael VII would have heard and taken appropriate action. He had confidence in the loyalty of the people of Raidestos, but was proved wrong when a woman, Batatzina, related through her husband to Bryennios, won them over with gifts, so that they were preparing to acclaim the rebel. When Attaleiates was secretly informed of her plans by one of her supporters he had helped in the past, he was disgusted, spoke of treachery, and dimissed his informant. He decided to avoid the plot and leave Raidestos secretly at once with all his mules, horses, attendants and baggage, but found the city gates barred, guarded by armed men sent by Batatzina. After sending her threatening messages, he was allowed to leave at daybreak, finding the road to Constantinople quiet and imperial troops unaware of danger. He rushed to Constantinople, and before going home visited Nikephoritzes at the palace to report events at Raidestos. He advised Nikephoritzes to act quckly with a chrysobull and the army in support of Michael VII, but he smiled and delayed. Because he fled and opted out of the rebellion, Attaleiates' house in the kastron of Raidestos and his rural properties were pillaged in the subsequent troubles. His nunnery of Hagios Prokopios outside the western sea gate had to be rebuilt
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