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 Certainty: 3
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 Certainty: 3
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 Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him Certainty: 3
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
Bryennios the ethnarches was introduced into the conspiracy of the eastern generals by Katakalon Kekaumenos as accomplice in the plan, and acquiesced at once. He was an eminent man, commander of forces from Macedonia and invested with rule of Cappadocia, and also had a grievance against Michael VI, since he would not return to him the money confiscated by Theodora
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 Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI wanted to abdicate, but was urged to fight on by those who had promoted him
Following the defeat of his army near Nicaea by Isaakios Komnenos, some officials in Constantinople rose in rebellion against him. He received the domestikos Theodoros and Aaron, who had escaped, and was in despair, ready to abandon everything, but was prevented from doing so by his associates. It was not possible to revive the defeated army at once, nor to prepare fresh, newly-levied troops. Theodoros the domestikos, whose position during the battle was ambiguous, refused to fight again, not out of cowardice, but because he already had an agreement with Isaakios
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 Certainty: 2
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
[Psellos provides privileged access to the private beginnings of a day of public celebration, suspect like all his claims to be close to emperors]. Everyone was ordered to prepare to move to the City. Psellos spent an anxious night, expecting to be killed. Before sunrise Isaakios suddenly rode out on horseback. The three imperial ambassadors followed him, sat with him during the preparations, and in a way legitimised his taking of power. Psellos and Isaakios discussed the conduct of the embassy, the fickleness of fortune, the best way to rule, and then he revealed his plans to all the ambassadors. Psellos received promotion to proedros. As the sun reached its zenith, the imperial galley appeared. Isaakios, strewn with flowers and amidst loud applause, embarked and crossed with the fleet to Constantinople. He entered the city acclaimed with shouts, trumpets and other instruments, and was received at the palace late in the afternoon. The city population and many from outside the city, turned out in force, with extravagant celebrations. With a large escort he made a splendid procession to Hagia Sophia, received the crown from the hands of the patriarch Michael Keroularios and left the church wearing it. [Sources differ whether the coronation took place on the same day, or on the morrow.]
Certainty: 3 Abdication of Michael VI Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Decisions of Isaakios I to increase revenues & cut expenditure
Isaakios I began by cancelling many decisions of his predecessor, Michael VI, causing indignation in the army and the church by removing much of their wealth. But he also remitted the dues of the great church, and distanced the palace from these matters by giving the patriarch the emperor's right to appoint the megas oikonomos. But most of his measures involved raising money from rich monasteries and private landowners. To have money to pay the army, he exacted taxes in a disciplined way, drawing up rolls, installing honest tax-collectors and making individual entries, so as to develop accurate records of money exacted. He reduced salaries attached to offices. Worse still, he confiscated private estates to the fisc, ignoring their chrysobulls. He was specially severe on monasteries, often leaving the monks only enough for the bare necessities of life. Psellos realised there was something noble in Isaakios' attempt. But the new emperor chose the wrong time, and attempted to solve all problems at once. A more cautious approach might have succeeded
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