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
Eudokia, who had been slandered by Nikephoritzes, on her accession sent a decree to Antioch ordering his imprisonment. Later, on the accession of Roamonos IV, Nikephoritzes was banished to an island
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
Nikoulitzas Delphinas had been sent home to Larissa by Romanos IV, and had spent four years resting and thanking God and the emperor. But when Romanos was captured by the Turks, he returned to Constantinople. He was given advice by Nikephoritzes, an acquaintance who wished to help him. Nikephoritzes, as krites of Peloponnesos and Hellas, was passing through Larissa and advised him to go to Constantinople where the young and gentle Michael VII was reigning. He followed this advice, and went to pay his respects to the emperor. He was receivd by the emperor, but delayed by other business. Michael was inspired by God to help him, he appointed him commander and anagrapheus of the infantry and the navy
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
Action against Roussel had to be postponed because of a more pressing emergency. Isaakios Komnenos attacked the Turks outside Caesarea during the night. However the enemy were ready and resisted stoutly. When Isaakios' horse was hit he fell, was captured, and his army was defeated with considerable losses. His camp and all his baggage were seized, and his men dispersed. His brother Alexios (I) fought heroically and almost saved the day, but in the end found himself in grave danger
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
After the failed campaign of Isaakios Komnenos against the Turks and the rebellion of Roussel de Bailleul, the kaisar Ioannes Doukas was appointed strategos autokrator and sent by his nephew Michael VII at the instigation of the scheming Nikephoritzes to Asia Minor. The kaisar agreed rather reluctantly to head the campaign instead of his son Andronikos, camped at Dorylaion and reached the bridge of Zompos over the Sangarios
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 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 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 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 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
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
Nikephoros Botaneiates was still at home in Lampe in Armeniakon, though he had many contacts with the disaffected in the capital. In fact he was proclaimed emperor by the officials and clergy, including the patriarch of Antioch Aimilianos and the metropolitan of Ikonion, and probably the patriarch of Constantinople Kosmas. The opponents of Michael VII gathered in Hagia Sophia, opening the gaols, making plans to gather other supporters and discourage opponents. An attempt to involve the kaisar Ioannes in the revolt via Michael Barys alerted Michael VII, then at Blachernai. But he failed to take decisive action, despite a proposal from Alexios Komnenos to Michael and Nikephoritzes that the Varangians should be used to break up the meeting. Botaneiates set out for the capital, purging two of his commanders who were afraid and had deserted
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