Certainty: 2 Severe illness of Theodora; choice by courtiers of Michael (VI) Bringas (stratiotikos) as successor Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Accession of Michael VI Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Death of Theodora
After a reign of two years, having reached old age, she fell ill, despite assurances from flattering monks that she would be immortal. A few days before her death, at the behest of her eunuch government, she summoned Michael VI, whom she proclaimed emperor
Certainty: 2 Michael VI gave very generous promotions to civil aristocracy & promises to people Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos replaced as doux of Antioch by Michael Ouranos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI granted (or confirmed) a solemnion of 80 nomismata for Vatopedi Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Delegation of Athonite monks to Constantinople for the proclamation of Michael VI
Joseph Gematos, hegoumenos of Hagios Nikon, while visiting Constantinople shortly after the accession of Michael VI as part of a delegation of Athonite monks, complained to the emperor about the usurpation of a property of his monastery by the monks of Hagios Panteleemon Thessalonikeos. The emperor ordered the protomystikos Ioannnes Xeros to investigate
Certainty: 2 Michael VI, being old, revived many customs which had fallen out of use & seemed ridiculous Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Turkish general Amertikes joined Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Failed attempt of Theodosios Monomachos to seize throne Certainty: 2
1057
Certainty: 3 Chrysobull of Michael VI granting an annual donation to Lavra
Michael VI issued and signed a chrysobull granting to Lavra an annual donation of three pounds (of gold) to be paid by the sekreton tou phylakos which also paid the monastery the annual donations of earlier emperors amounting to eight pounds and twenty nomismata. He made a common annual grant of ten pounds (of gold) to the monasteries of the holy mountain of Athos
Certainty: 3 Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him
Michael VI was very generous to the civil aristocracy at the beginning of his reign, with gifts and promotions. But when it was time for the award of dignities to the military aristocracy of Asia Minor, at Easter, he praised them grudgingly and refused their requests with contempt and severe criticism. Psellos was with him. The generals were sent away and began to turn against him. Their leaders were Isaakios Komnenos, Katakalon Kekaumenos, Michael Bourtzes, Konstantinos Doukas and Ioannes Doukas. Komnenos and Kekaumenos, who both sought the dignity of proedros, were singled out for insults as lazy and incompetent, as were the colleagues who defended them. Later Bryennios the ethnarches begged Michael VI to return the money which Theodora had confiscated from him, but Michael refused and sent him away saying that he would have to achieve something before being rewarded. Later, Hervé Phrangopoulos too asked Michael VI to be made magistros: not only was this turned down, but he was derided, mocked, and sent away. He ignored the plotting of the Roman generals and asked to return home, bid the emperor farewell, crossed to the East, and went to his house at Dagarabe. Michael should have been wiser
Certainty: 2 Bryennios recalled from exile & sent once more against Turks Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Samouch was left by sultan with small force of Turks to plunder Armenia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Collusion of Herve Phrangopoulos with Turks of Samouch collapsed: Franks killed or captured at Chliat Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Failure of second attempt by eastern generals to gain promotion, via Strabospondylos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Isaakios Komnenos made a plot with angry eastern generals to remove Michael VI from throne Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios joined rebel generals against Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios arrested & blinded by loyal generals in squabble over soldiers' pay Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The rebel generals, seeing fate of Bryennios, gathered at Kastamon, home of Isaakios Komnenos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos joined the other rebels, & Isaakios (I) led them towards Nicaea Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI took advice on the rebellion, especially from Michael Psellos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI made no attempt to use Keroularios as a bridge to the rebels of Isaakios (I), till it was too late Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI prepared western armies & any loyal eastern troops, under experienced leaders Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 With Isaakios (I) near Nicaea, many opposing troops went home, while their generals rallied to Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Two rival armies camped close together, testing each other's will, then drawn up in battle formation Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Victory of rebel Isaakios Komnenos over imperial army at battle of Polemon/Hades
The course of the battle was quite different on the two wings. Aaron defeated the right wing of the army of Isaakios, pursued the troops to their camp, captured Romanos Skleros, and would have won a clear victory had he not hesitated, for Isaakios was planning to flee to Nicaea. The left wing of Isaakios' army, led by Katakalon Kekaumenos, routed the imperial right, reached and entered their camp, destroyed the tents and killed the generals Maurokatakalos and Katzamountes, thus encouraging their own side while scaring the successful men of Aaron. In this ambiguous situation, Isaakios in the centre was able to stand firm, and encouraged his men to advance. He had a narrow escape when attacked by four Pechenegs. Nikephoros Botaneiates distinguished himself in single combat with Radulf the Frank, who was captured. Finally Isaakios' troops won a great victory, with considerable bloodshed. Theodoros and Aaron returned defeated to Michael VI. Isaakios advanced towards the city
Certainty: 2 Michael VI wanted to abdicate, but was urged to fight on by those who had promoted him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Psellos with 2 colleagues sent as ambassadors to Isaakios Komnenos at Nikomedia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI's envoys splendidly received Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 On the embassy, Psellos' speech persuaded Isaakios (I) to accept rank of kaisar Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Secret response of Isaakios (I) to the ambassadors of Michael VI
When the assembly broke up, Isaakios received Psellos, Leichoudes and Alopos in private. He asked for, and was given, sworn assurances that a private message would be conveyed secretly to Michael VI. He said he was content for now to be kaisar, but asked for a promise that Michael VI would leave the empire to him, confirm promotions already made, and allow him to give other posts. He asked, for his men, that Leon Paraspondylos be removed from government, as formerly hostile and now suspected. He asked the envoys to dine with him, and they admired his manners which were not tyrannical, but very friendly. He said he asked concessions for his men, not himself. If they were granted he would go at once to Michael VI and honour him as emperor and father, coming without suspicions, arriving on the third day with a small bodyguard, not seeking a lavish reception. But as his men did not want agreement, he would write two letters, one for his men to read, one secret for Michael VI. At dawn they received his second letter secretly and sailed for Byzantium, reaching the palace harbour at daybreak
Certainty: 2 The first embassy of Psellos & his colleagues, they say, was ignored Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Outcome of embassy to Isaakios (I) reported to Michael VI; reply to secret response Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios (I) came close to agreement on settlement Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI bribed populace, & compelled senators to sign an oath refusing recognition to Isaakios (I) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Keroularios wrote encouraging Isaakios (I) to hurry & Michael VI to abdicate Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios Komnenos interrupted by news of revolt in Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos reached the city: abdication & tonsure of Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Isaakios Komnenos entered city in triumph; he was crowned & proclaimed emperor by patriarch Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Abdication of Michael VI Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Decisions of Isaakios I to increase revenues & cut expenditure Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was given a major administrative role by Isaakios I Certainty: 2
Certainty: 0 Chrysobull of Michael VI (?) confirming earlier chrysobulls of Nea Mone (Chios) Certainty: 0