Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes' talents were used by Michael V in his brief reign Certainty: 2
1043
Certainty: 1 Rise of Konstantinos Leichoudes to become the mesazon of Konstantinos IX Certainty: 1
1047
Certainty: 3 Dedication of monastery & hospital at Mangana by Konstantinos IX Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Siege of Constantinople by Leon Tornikios, who won several skirmishes
Leon Tornikios reached the city, hoping to take it at once, and camped opposite Blachernai near the monastery of Hagioi Anargyroi. He began with promises to the citizens, but failed, so he turned to action. The emperor had installed machines on the walls and brought in ammunition. He gathered and paid troops to man the walls. He had stationed outside the Blachernai gate fewer than 1000 soldiers, armed by the senate on his orders, protected by a ditch. Tornikios attacked and forced them to retreat so that the gates were thrown open for them. Had his men got inside, he would have been victorious, but luck failed him: the defenders re-occupied the gates. Some onlookers began to flee, but the emperor was steadfast, furious at the defeatism of his sister Helena (Euprepeia had been exiled before). Konstantinos Leichoudes supported the plan to fight Tornikios outside the walls (at Blachernai), opposing Argyros, who implored the emperor not to pit small forces against the experienced army of the rebel. To be seen alive by friend and foe, the emperor watched from the wall, clad in imperial robes, on a balcony of the palace with Theodora and Zoe. He endured fierce mockery from the Macedonians outside. He was grazed by an arrow which lodged in the conical helmet of a servant, terrifying bystanders, including Psellos. It was rumoured Konstantinos was dead, Theodora had taken over and chosen Tornikios as emperor. At the end of the day Konstantinos prophecied to Psellos that Tornikios' fortunes would decline from then on, though when he saw Tornikios stopping the killing he worried about the loss of divine favour
1050
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX dismissed Konstantinos Leichoudes in favour of Ioannes logothetes Certainty: 2
Certainty: 0 Konstantinos Leichoudes swore to rebuild the Church where his father would be buried Certainty: 0
1052
Certainty: 1 Konstantinos IX after dismissing Konstantinos Leichoudes, completed his reign in sickness & failure Certainty: 1
1054
Certainty: 2 Esaïas left the capital, but was given protection (to Psellos' joy) by Konstantinos Leichoudes Certainty: 2
1057
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 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
Psellos, Leichoudes and Alopos returned to the elderly Michael VI with the letters of Isaakios (I) and also communicating orally what he said to them in secret. Michael listened, read the letters and agreed to everything, swearing an oath that Isaakios should have a crown and imperial tent and share his power. He not only undertook to leave the empire to Isaakios, but even secretly promised soon to make Isaakios a partner in power, but not at once, as he feared the people and senate and would delay to avoid trouble. They must convey this message at once to Isaakios with equal secrecy
Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios (I) came close to agreement on settlement Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos convinced many rebels of dangers of settlement, & (secretly) the imperial ambassadors Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Ambassadors assured Isaakios (I) he was popular in Constantinople, which would revolt at his approach Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios Komnenos interrupted by news of revolt in Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Isaakios Komnenos entered city in triumph; he was crowned & proclaimed emperor by patriarch Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was given a major administrative role by Isaakios I Certainty: 2
1058
Certainty: 2 Psellos was seriously ill, interrupting his visits to the emperor & the business he was doing for suppliants
Four letters mention what maybe was the same serious illness. Two were to close friends, one perhaps Ioannes Mauropous. In that, he said the sickness began with sudden cold at the heart, then spread everywhere, especially the head, making him think of death, which he and his friend had not yet studied. Now pain had stopped, but fever and exhaustion continued, to the alarm of observers; he still ate only under compulsion, but was now on the side of the living. In the other, he said that God had saved him after a long fever, and that the symptoms (heart pain, headache, breathing problems, a stitch in his side and fever), had all disappeared, so he expected complete recovery. In both letters he thought of his tomb at Horaia Pege, and in the second his correspondent seems to be near there. The other two letters give headaches which kept him away from court as a reason for delay in executing business. The krites of Paphlagonia was told to have faith in his friend Michael, although he had hardly yet begun work. The krites of Charsianon was told that winter had improved Psellos' health, and that he would approach the emperor via Leichoudes, the only effective route; the krites too should write humbly to Leichoudes
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was the only approach to Isaakios I: Psellos wrote to him for the krites of Charsianon & a poor suppliant
Psellos' Lenten devotions were interrupted by the complaints of a poor man at his gate, demanding a brief letter from him to Konstantinos Leichoudes, which he reluctantly wrote. He begged Leichoudes' pardon, but it might be better if the man spread praises in the city, not complaints. The krites of Charsianon was not easy to help. Psellos had received another letter from him with no information from the hospice, no details on what he had written to Isaakios I, nor an oral message, since Psellos had not even seen the letter-carrier. He told the krites to write humbly to Leichoudes, the only way to approach Isaakios I
1059
Certainty: 2 Appointment of Konstantinos Leichoudes as patriarch Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Leichoudes fell seriously ill as soon as he became patriarch - a worrying sign of possible divine disfavour Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Leichoudes sent Psellos a fish, which the latter hoped meant that the friend who had rejected him was reconciled Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Abdication of Isaakios Komnenos Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Beginning of rule of Konstantinos X
[Psellos gives himself a very large role in the transition from Isaakios I to Konstantinos X, and there is no way of checking his account.] Konstantinos, summoned as Isaakios was apparently dying, stood blushing with his usual modesty. He was more saddened by Isaakios' illness than pleased at his own accession. Only Psellos dared array him in the imperial insignia, with the permission of the senate. He seated him on the imperial throne, put on the purple sandals, and other ceremonies for a new ruler followed. When Konstantinos saw Psellos leading the homage, he at once rose from the throne and embraced him. Later he asked him to make an appropriate speech. Konstantinos maintained this close relationship with Psellos
1060
Certainty: 2 Leichoudes honoured Keroularios at his tomb before Konstantinos X & Eudokia a year after his death Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos as a monk was told to deal with the emperor himself over non-payment of his salary Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1 Katakalon Kekaumenos was told that his man worked hard on emperor, patriarch & Psellos before admitting defeat Certainty: 1
1061
Certainty: 1 Provisional settlement of dispute between Vatopedi & Hagios Hypatios on Athos
Konstantinos X granted to Iakobos, hegoumenos of Hagios Hypatios, a sigillion obtained through fraudulent means, which the hegoumenos used to appropriate properties belonging to Vatopedi. Theodosios, hegoumenos of Vatopedi, complained to Konstantinos X about the properties of the monastery appropriated by Iakobos with his fraudulent sigillion. Konstantinos X passed the problem to the patriarch Konstantinos Leichoudes, and he in turn to Niketas, kouboukleisios and protosynkellos, chartophylax of the patriarchate, who decided the issue in favour of Vatopedi. But Iakobos of Hagios Hypatios ignored Niketas' decision, went to the civil courts and had the disputed property returned to his monastery. Theodosios of Vatopedi complained again to Konstantinos X and Konstantinos the patriarch, who asked Hilarion, protos of Athos, to settle the affair. He implemented the decision of Niketas the chartophylax, having himself examined the relevant historical documents, and returned the properties to Vatopedi
Certainty: 1 Trial of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, for a capital offence
Konstantinos, nephew of Michael Keroularios, was on trial for a capital offence. Psellos wrote to him during the trial, afraid of losing a well-tested friend, weeping and consoling him. He had seen Konstantinos in court showing a clear conscience to the just chief judge and his colleagues. Psellos had wept to see Konstantinos' mother there, his wife and their children, who should soon get him back. The announcements and narrative of the kensor had greatly irritated him. Psellos also reported on the reactions of others: Konstantinos X was merciful and impartial, the empress Eudokia showed her pure goodness, the patriarch Leichoudes was very favourable, Ioannes Doukas the emperor's brother was too inflamed to weep (?), Nikephoros (the defendant's brother) was disturbing the nest of a viper, and Psellos himself was about to intervene in all possible ways. He sent best wishes to all Konstantinos' household, even his pastrycook and furnaceman. [The date must be after the death of Keroularios, in the reign of Konstantinos X, before the death of the patriarch Leichoudes; perhaps there is a connection with the Mangana conspiracy of 1060/1061)?]
Certainty: 1 The patriarch Konstantinos Leichoudes made the rules of the convent he had founded more & more strict Certainty: 1
1062
Certainty: 1 When Psellos tried to help a krites, he made progress at first in persuading Konstantinos X; but now slander had stopped him Certainty: 1
1063
Certainty: 3 Death of Konstantinos Leichoudes caused an outpouring of grief throughout the capital; then an interregnum Certainty: 3
Certainty: 1 Psellos sent festal gifts to the families of Konstantinos X, Ioannes kaisar & the patriarch; letters often explore symbolism
Psellos sent festal gifts (undatable) to Konstantinos X, Eudokia, Michael (VII) and Ioannes kaisar. The gifts are natural products: fruit, bread, wine, and fish and nuts of several kinds. There is often an apology for the simplicity of the gift (appropriate to a philosopher). The letters add a wide variety of symbolic meanings