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 Certainty: 2
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
Some days after the battle of Polemon/Hades, Michael Psellos was asked by Michael VI to go on an embassy to Isaakios (I) Komnenos at Nikomedia. His first reaction was negative: Isaakios, after winning the battle, would be in no mood for compromise, and dicussions now might make things harder in the future. Michael VI assumed his refusal was due to cowardice or disloyalty. Psellos then said that to persuade him, Michael should add another prominent senator to the embassy, to make it less of a private affair, and suggested Theodoros (Leon) Alopos. Michael accepted the proposal, as did Theodoros. The two ambassadors chose a third, Konstantinos Leichoudes. They equipped themselves with letters from Michael to Isaakios, offering to adopt him as a son, give him the dignity of kaisar, and an amnesty to his supporters
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 Certainty: 2
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 Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was the only approach to Isaakios I: Psellos wrote to him for the krites of Charsianon & a poor suppliant Certainty: 2
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
As soon as Konstantinos Leichoudes became patriarch he fell seriously ill with a feverish disease. This did not grieve him in itself or by the threat of death, but as a possible divine sign of unworthiness. Later he recovered, as Psellos foresaw in a night-time vision, in which Leichoudes chanted the liturgy for the Resurrection. When clearer portents were sought of the patriarch's recovery, mysterious sounds were heard and icons exuded incense
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
Psellos had a disagreement with the emperor's chief doctor over the nature and likely duration of his patient's fever. However Isaakios decided to abdicate. Konstantinos Leichoudes came to see him (not before time), to counsel him on the better life and strengthen him with words of all kinds. A more violent fit seized the emperor and all now despaired of his life. All his family sat around him lamenting, and would have died with him if they could
Certainty: 3 Beginning of rule of Konstantinos X Certainty: 3
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 Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 Trial of Konstantinos, nephew of Keroularios, for a capital offence Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1 The patriarch Konstantinos Leichoudes made the rules of the convent he had founded more & more strict
Konstantinos Leichoudes made strict rules to govern the convent he had founded. As time went on he made the rules stricter still, reducing luxury and comfort and giving money to the poor
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
The death of Konstantinos Leichoudes affected the whole city. His funeral was the cause of an enormous outpouring of grief and admiration as people spoke of him in the most positive way and sought to benefit from proximity to his holy corpse. Psellos produced an encomium, blaming himself that he had not yet performed a similar duty for Ioannes Mauropous. There was a considerable interregnum till the search widened to include Olympos, then Ioannes Xiphilinos was appointed
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