Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa M / L XI
Εὐδοκίας (BBÖ I.23, Hunger p. 24.1, cf. Polemis 12) (Eudokia 1)
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Narrative (163) Authorship (1) Description (30) Reigned with her sons (Andronikos 62 , Konstantios 61 , Michael 7 ) for a little bit more than 7 months Ἐκράτησε δὲ ἡ βασιλὶς σὺν τοῖς υἱέσι μῆνας ἑπτὰ καὶ μικρόν τι πρός. Skylitzes Continuatus 124.8-9 Michael 61 is not surprised that Konstantios 61 respected her, as Konstantios was a child and not yet able to understand affairs; Michael 61 will not bring himself to praise this respect τὸ μὲν οὖν Κωνσταντῖνον αἰδεῖσθαι ταύτην, παῖδά τε ὄντα καὶ οὔπω τῶν πραγμάτων ξυνιέναι δυνάμενον, οὔτε θαυμάσομαι, οὔτε ἐπαινέσαι τοῦτον τῆς αἰδοῦς προαχθήσομαι. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 2.1-4 That Michael 7 should submit to her and desist from government, although he was grown up, fully intelligent and had tested his intelligence in many things, this is not easy for Michael 61 to find comparison for or to praise adequately τὸ δὲ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ὑπείκειν αὐτῇ καὶ τῶν ὅλων πραγμάτων παραχωρεῖν, ... τοῦτο οὔτε συγκρίνεσθαι πρὸς ἔτερον τοιοῦτον ῥᾴδιον, οὔτε ἀρκούντως τινὰ τῶν πάντων δυνατὸν εὐφημεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 2.4-10 During her son (Michael 7 )'s reign she suffered and grieved τὴν δυστυχοῦσαν ἐπὶ τοῦ βασιλεύσαντος παιδὸς καὶ θρηνοῦσαν. Attaleiates: History 304.18-19 / 217.26-27 Michael 61 does not say that later her wisdom changed, but she relaxed her precision and did not keep to the end the same way of thinking; in her defence, even if she changed she did not succumb to pleasures and carnal desires οὐχ ὅτι ... τὴν σωφροσύνην ἠλλάξατο, ἀλλ’ ὅτι τῆς ἀκριβείας ὑφῆκε καὶ μὴ τὴν αὐτὴν ἰδέαν μέχρι παντὸς τῆς γνώμης ἐτήρησεν· ... οὐδὲ εἴ τι παρηλλοίωτο, ἡδονῶν ἥττηται καὶ σαρκὸς ἐπιθυμίας ἠλάττωται. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 4.4-9 She did not enjoy the imperial life ἐκείνῃ γὰρ οὐδ’ ὁ βασιλικὸς βίος καθ’ ἡδονὴν ἦν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 4.11-12 Reigned for 7 months with her son Michael 7 and then with Romanos 4 Diogenes for 3 years and 8 months Εὐδοκία σὺν τῷ Μιχαὴλ υἱῷ αὐτῆς μῆνας ζ´, καὶ μετὰ Ῥωμανοῦ τοῦ Διογένους ἡ Εὐδοκία ἔτη γ´ μῆνας η´. Glykas 459, 607.6-7 Considered by her husband (Konstantinos 10 ) to be most wise, capable of raising their children, and most competent in administrative matters σωφρονεστάτῃ τε νομιζομένῃ τἀνδρὶ καὶ παιδοτροφῆσαι ἀκριβεστάτῃ καὶ πρὸς τὸ τὰ κοινὰ διοικεῖν ἱκανωτάτῃ. Skylitzes Continuatus 118.15-17 Reigned briefly after the death of Konstantinos 10 Doukas and before Diogenes (Romanos 4 ) ascended the throne πρὸς βραχὺ τῆς βασιλείας ἀντισχούσης. Skylitzes Continuatus 169.22-24 Realising that her hopes had been turned upside down, she was upset and had a swelling heart, not tolerating the criticisms ἡ δὲ πρὸς τοὐναντίον αὐτῇ τὰς ἐλπίδας τραπείσας κατανοοῦσα ἐδυσχέραινε καὶ τὴν καρδίαν εἶχεν οἰδαίνουσαν, τὰς ἐπιπλήξεις μὴ στέγουσα. Zonaras 18.11.30 Romanos 4 was more arrogant because of his further achievements, not only to others but also towards her ἀλαζονικώτερον διακείμενος, ὡς τάχα κατωρθωκὼς πλείω, οὐ μόνον πρὸς τοὺς ἄλλους, ἀλλὰ καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν βασίλισσαν. Zonaras 18.11.29 Thought that she would keep Romanos 4 subservient in all respects and that she would rule the emperor ᾤετο ἐν πᾶσιν ἔχειν τοῦτον ὑπείκοτα καὶ αὐτὴ κατάρχειν τοῦ βασιλεύοντος. Zonaras 18.11.2 Ruled with her sons (Andronikos 62 , Konstantios 61 , Michael 7 ) for seven months and some days τῆς βασιλίδος Εὐδοκίας μετὰ τῶν υἱέων ἀρξάσης ἐπὶ μῆνας ἑπτὰ καὶ ἡμέρας τινάς. Zonaras 18.10.28 In accordance with the dispositions of the dead emperor (Konstantinos 10 ) the empress Eudokia 101 and his sons (Andronikos 62 , Konstantios 61 , Michael 7 ) were heirs of the empire κατὰ γοῦν τὰς τοῦ τελευτήσαντος βασιλέως διαταγὰς η῞ τε βασιλὶς Εὐδοκία καὶ οἱ παῖδες ἐκείνου τῆς βασιλείας ἦσαν διάδοχοι. Zonaras 18.10.1 Seemed to Konstantinos 10 prudent, both skilled in the upbringing of children and born for the steering of affairs δοκούσῃ αὐτῷ σώφρονί τε καὶ πρὸς παίδων ἀναγωγὴν δεξιᾷ καὶ πεφυκυίᾳ πρὸς πραγμάτων διοίκησιν. Zonaras 18.9.21 Of well-born family and noble spirit and most beautiful εὐγενὴς δὲ καὶ αὕτη καὶ τό τε φρόνημα γενναία, καὶ τὸ εἶδος περικαλλής. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 6.22-3 Konstantinos 10 thought her the most prudent woman of her time and the sharpest at bringing up children σωφρονεστάτῃ τε τῶν καθ’ ἑαυτὴν νομιζομένῃ τἀνδρὶ καὶ παιδοτροφῆσαι ἀκριβεστάτῃ. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 27.4-5 Michael 61 does not know if any other woman was such an example of wisdom as she was in her way of life up to this time οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τις ἄλλη γυναικῶν σωφροσύνης ἐγεγόνει παράδειγμα, ὡς ἐκείνη τὸν μέχρι τούτου τῆς ζωῆς βίον ἐβίωσε. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 4.2-4 She reverenced Michael 61 above all others and treated him like a god με ὑπὲρ πάντας ἐθείαζέ τε καὶ ἐξεθείαζεν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 4.14-15 Although her character was steadfast and her spirit noble, the currents that flowed against her shook the tower of her wise counsels εἰ γὰρ καὶ τὸ ἦθος στάσιμος ἡ βασιλὶς αὕτη καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν γενναία, ἀλλ’ οἱ ἐπιρρέοντες ποταμοὶ κλονοῦσιν αὐτῇ τὸν πύργον τῶν σωφρονικῶν λογισμῶν. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 5.3-5 Family portrait seal for Eudokia (with Michael and Konstantios) Seal 104 She was quite young (when her husband Konstantinos 10 Doukas ascended the throne? when she married him?) καὶ τοῦ τῆς Αὐγούστης ἐν ἐαριζούσῃ τῇ ἡλικίᾳ ἄνθους. Attaleiates: History 78.4-5 / 59.12 Family portrait seal for Romanos IV and Eudokia (with Michael, Konstantios and Andronikos) Seal 435 She was Psellos benefactor, empress and (a bold word) neice εὐεργέτιν, βασιλίδα, εἴπω καὶ τὸ ἀπόρρητον, καὶ ἀνεψιάν. Psellos Letters (Sathas) 104.347 It is said that it was not on account of lust nor in capitulation to personal pleasure that she united with (Romanos 4 ) Diogenes οὐ γὰρ δι᾿ ἀκολασίαν αὐτήν φασιν οὐδ᾿ ἡττηθεῖσαν ἡδονῆς ἑαυτῇ προσαρμόσαι τὸν Διογένη. Zonaras 18.10.8 Konstantios 61 is a perfect creature to her, Michael 7 and Andronikos 62 πάγκαλον χρῆμα καὶ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 15.10-11 She had exceedingly great intelligence τοσοῦτον γὰρ αὐτῇ τὸ περιὸν τοῦ φρονήματος. Psellos: Chronographia VIIa 1.11 Although unhappy during her son's reign (Michael 7 ), she was filled with joy and happiness by a complete stranger (Nikephoros 3 ) and was celebrated more than ever before καὶ περίοπτον πλέον ἤπερ τὸ πρότερον ἔδειξεν. Attaleiates: History 304.17-21 / 217.25-28 As she was removed from power by Michael 7 and tonsured against her will, she moaned and wept ... he cut her locks that the graces grew and had once treated with sweet oils and made the empress change her robe of gold for a dark robe ... καὶ τὴν τεκοῦσαν στένουσαν πολλὰ καὶ γοωμένην τῶν περιβόλων τῆς ἀρχῆς ἄκουσαν ἀπελαύνει ... καὶ κείρει τοὺς πλοκάμους, οὓς χάριτες ἐμόσχευόν ποτε μυραλοιφίας, καὶ σκοτεινόπεπλον τὴν πρὶν χρυσόπεπλον δεικνύει. Manasses, Chronicle 6516-6520 Family portrait seal for Romanos IV and Eudokia (with Michael and Konstantios) Seal 2946 Dignity/Office (23) Second Name (1) Kinship (68) Location (22) Occupation/Vocation (3)