Michael 61, who had seen him both at moments of tension and relaxation, found him a dual character who, it seemed, would not concentrate again after relaxation nor relax after concentration and descend from lofty thought
He was unusually sparing with words, not suddenly unleashing his tongue nor indicating his ideas inadequately and able to rein in his eloquence as was fit; he prepared the ground in what he said, promoting understanding of what was not said
He ruled in a blunt and direct way, exhibiting magnificence to all, near, far and in power; he abominated cheap flattery and so seemed to most people too oppressive and haughtier than he should be
Most armies are bolder than they are wise, but he did not lift his sword against anyone or move directly against offenders; one look struck them dumb and his troubled brow sufficed in place of any blow
Used to say that emperors should be terrifying to outsiders but approachable to their people, that they should set rebels free, and when accused of revolting against Michael 6 he said he was reluctant to be a slave of a fellow-slave without reward
Used to say jokingly that his wife (Aikaterine 101) had been a slave whom he had now (after his abdication) set free, and that relatives are a thorn to most people's side but an asset for rebels
καὶ γὰρ ἦν ἀγχίνους εἰ καί τις ἄλλος. Psellos: Chronographia VII 41.1
A man of action in all things
ἀνὴρ ἐν πᾶσι δραστήριος. Psellos: Chronographia VII 44.1-2
To anyone who saw him only intermittently, when he was seated on the throne to deal with government, give audience to ambassadors or make threats to barbarians, he appeared abrupt and hard, unable to change to a softer character
(In relaxation) he was so charming and affable, (in business) even his face was transformed, his eyes flashed and his brow lay like a cloud over the clear light of his soul
He did not want to be defeated by anyone in eloquence nor, now that he was emperor and in charge of all things, to foster any inopportune ambition for himself in this
He wanted to change everything, hurrying to cut out the dead wood long burgeoning in the state, which was like a monstrous body with many heads, necks, hands and feet, inwardly festering and swollen, elsewhere wasting with disease
He loved the philosophic life and turned away from all disease and corruption; but he found everything diseased and the imperial horses out of control; he should have awaited the right moment for surgery and disciplined the horses gently
His predecessors squandered money on pleasures and neglected the army; as a former commander he understood why the barbarian attacks could not be checked and when he became emperor he at once rooted out the cause of the ills
He (enacted his church policy) like a man taking a grain of sand from the shore, applied his hand and all was done without commotion; Michael 61 never saw anyone use such application of reasoning or so quietly enact such ideas
His actions initially alarmed the people, but then most grew resigned: public interest was sufficient defence for his deeds; his acts would have been praiseworthy had he paused for breath, but he continually embarked on more ambitious plans
Had he chosen the right time for action and proceeded gradually he would have changed the disordered world to order; but he thought it unbearable not to do everything that day and was checked by none of the things that usually curb ambition
If some bridle had restrained him he would have overrun the world, been crowned with every victory and rivalled by none of his predecessors; but lack of restraint and refusal to accept the guidance of reason destroyed his noble spirit
Like one who wielded the thuunderbolt (to the Pechenegs)
οἷα δὴ κεραυνοφὀρον. Psellos: Chronographia VII 70.7-8
(After defeating the Pechenegs) something was added to his natural character and he became more haughty and scornful of everyone; Michael 61 knew him well and was well aware of this
He was passionate about hunting; he loved its difficulties and was a skilled hunter, riding lightly his cries gave the dogs wings and checked the running hare; he often caught his quarry in his hand and did not miss with the spear
He especially liked crane-hunting, not despairing that they flew high up he brought them down, wondering at their great size, their feet like lances, hiding behind the clouds yet caught by a smaller thing, and enjoying their dance of death
He operated by a nod or gesture, leaving speeches to inferiors like Michael 61; he concealed his ignorance of the law by leaving the initiative to the judges, than taking the majority view, but always adding a point of his own
Psellos: Chronographia VII 49.1-11
He was worthy of great fame for his excellent deeds, having hands good for warlike acts and fingers cleverly trained for battle
He had skill as a general and the power to steer the sacred boat of imperial salvation; he was shrewd, skilful in deeds and battles and lacking in nothing in comparison to former emperors
Proved his bravery and great deeds not only to his subjects, but to the barbarians too, for he prevailed over the emperor (Michael 6) by his sword and was invested with power
ὡς μάχῃ κεκρατηκὼς τοῦ κρατοῦντος. Attaleiates: History 59.22-60.3 / 46.6-9
Was represented on coins with his sword unsheathed
Respected the patriarch (Michael 11) more than anyone else, and honoured him like his father
ἴσα καὶ πατέρα ἐτίμα. Attaleiates: History 60.8-9 / 46.14-15
A brave man who had been successful in many military undertakings ... who glorified his native area and village by his previous generalship and by his later actions as emperor
He was in many ways one of the greatest emperors, particularly in determination to carry through his policies; but that greatness was mixed (as in all men) with some dross
Psellos Keroularios 366-367
Was depicted on his imperial coins holding a sword
He had a constant character, a lenient soul, a sharp mind, an energetic hand, was reasonable, most able in military matters, terrible to his enemies but well disposed to those close to him and approachable
Led together with Kamenas (Katakalon 101) the commanders who refused to march against the Persians (Turks), as requested by Michael 6 and crossed the straits to muster an army and rise in rebellion
անցին ընդ ծովն, և ժողովեցան զօրք բազումք, որոց ոչ գոյր թիւ։ Որոց առաջնորդք էին Կոմիանոսն [...] և Կամենասն. Aristakes 103.20-22 (95)
Nothing diverted him from his undertakings, not word nor fear, nor hate nor blame: so exalted was his will and he possessed so swollen a spirit
He usually proceeded gently, steering power for the better; had he done the same for ailing politics, reducing the gross evil and so applying a cure, he would have been entirely crowned with encomium and the state would not have tottered
He attempted wholesale surgery, pruning excesses, introducing equality, excision and augmentation, an inward cure, instilling new life; he was unequal to the task and consequently seemed to himself inadequate
Wanting to see immediate results, he used cautery and surgery (in ruling) and reined in the disordered horses, without noticing that he had been corrupted before he had put things in order
As all his predecessors since Basilios 1 abused state and public affairs, partly in personal pleasures and building lavish monasteries, partly in random or whimsical gifts, the imperial treasuries were emptied and public funds wanting money
A pair of men were first among the army, both of them magistri, both of illustrious families, and both no less conspicuous in strategic intelligence, physical might and intellectual courage