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 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
The experienced Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai, and Aaron, brother of Aikaterine wife of Isaakios Komnenos, were appointed chief commanders of the army by Michael VI. He granted honours, gifts and money to both soldiers and generals. They had under their command most of the western army and some loyal units from the east, especially the armies of Anatolikon and Charsianon
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 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 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
Isaakios (I) appointed Katakalon Kekaumenos as kouropalates and sent him on a ship with enough force to take over the palace to prepare for his arrival. At the same moment Michael VI received a strong letter from Keroularios that he should abdicate and accept tonsure if he wished to survive. He agreed, rejecting the pleas of his supporters, to avoid a bloodbath in the city. He took off the purple vestments and shoes, put on a layman's garb, left the palace having provoked a war and witnessed many deaths, returned to his house near the acropolis and became a monk
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 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