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
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 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
Samouch, who had campaigned with the sultan Tughrul Beg, remained behind with 3,000 men, wandered in the plains of Great Armenia carrying out sudden attacks, and raided the empire. Michael VI was unable to defend against his aggression
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
Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai and Aaron, brother of Alousianos were put in command against Isaakios (I): they crossed to Chrysopolis and Nikomedeia, sent troops to capture the Sangarios bridge, camped on Mount Sophon and prepared for war. According to Skylitzes, Isaakios' men in many skirmishes tried to convince the army of Michael VI to defect, but failed. He ordered them to limit their forays and remain in camp - a decision interpreted as weakness. Psellos reported more mass desertions from Michael to Isaakios. The armies faced each other at no great distance, but there was no action. Michael VI's men were more numerous, but Isaakios had superior force and order, especially his men's cohesion and firm loyalty to him. When the army of Michael VI moved their camp closer, Isaakios drew up his army in battle order, placing Katakalon Kekaumenos at the head of the left wing, Romanos Skleros on the right, Isaakios himself leading the centre. In the other army Aaron led the left wing, having under his command Lykanthes, Pnyemios the Iberian and Radulf the Frank. Basileios Tarchaneiotes, stratelates of the West, led the right wing. Theodoros, the domestikos of the scholai, was in overall command. The battle took place at a spot locally called Hades
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 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