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
Konstantinos IX had appointed Konstantinos Leichoudes as his mesazon, giving him supreme power. But he gradually came to envy and resent him. Leichoudes often refused to do what he wanted, especially if it was unjust or improper. Psellos warned Leichoudes of the signs of imperial jealousy, but Leichoudes refused to compromise. The emperor, equally uncompromising, turned a deaf ear to all opposition and removed him. Psellos, though a supporter of Konstantinos IX, could not approve of his dismissal of Leichoudes. Ioannes the logothetes was appointed paradynasteuon by the emperor to replace Leichoudes, and designated foremost of all those in the senate. Konstantinos behaved in a puerile way towards him, calling him his 'sweetest boy', and admiring everything he did as nearly divine
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
When the assembly broke up, Isaakios received Psellos, Leichoudes and Alopos in private. He asked for, and was given, sworn assurances that a private message would be conveyed secretly to Michael VI. He said he was content for now to be kaisar, but asked for a promise that Michael VI would leave the empire to him, confirm promotions already made, and allow him to give other posts. He asked, for his men, that Leon Paraspondylos be removed from government, as formerly hostile and now suspected. He asked the envoys to dine with him, and they admired his manners which were not tyrannical, but very friendly. He said he asked concessions for his men, not himself. If they were granted he would go at once to Michael VI and honour him as emperor and father, coming without suspicions, arriving on the third day with a small bodyguard, not seeking a lavish reception. But as his men did not want agreement, he would write two letters, one for his men to read, one secret for Michael VI. At dawn they received his second letter secretly and sailed for Byzantium, reaching the palace harbour at daybreak
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
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 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 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
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 Certainty: 1