Emperor Michael VI Stratiotikos E / M XI
Μιχαήλ (Michael 6) Permalink: http://db.pbw.kcl.ac.uk/pbw2011/entity/person/107816
Narrative (151) Death (3) After completing a year in power he descended therefrom; after living for a short time in the guise of a private individual, he departed this life τινα βραχὺν ἐπιβιώσας ἐν ἰδιώτου σχήματι χρόνον μετήλλαξε τὴν ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 43.1-4 After living briefly in a commoner's status he payed off necessity Zonaras 18.4.1 He died (?), and Isaakios 1 Komnenos became emperor in his place Date: 1059 1059 . Lupus protospatharius 59.29 Description (33) He ought to have held on and not let go of the bit, but he was like one who had taken off the insignia of power and returned to his former life δέον γὰρ ἀντέχειν καὶ μὴ πάνυ τι ἀφεῖναι τὸν χαλινόν, ὁ δ᾿ ὥσπερ ἀποζωννυμένῳ ἐῴκει τὸ κράτος καὶ εἰς τὴν προτέραν παλινδρομοῦντι ζωήν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 56.7-9 He was a fearful old man ... was already an aged man on the edge of the grave and had had decayed
... ὁ τρομερὸς ὁ γέρων ... ὡς ἤδη τυμβογέροντα καὶ κατασεσηπότα. Manasses, Chronicle 6278-6279 He reigned for one year ἐνιαυτοῦ περίμετρον ἑνὸς σκηπτροκρατήσας. Manasses, Chronicle 6292b One of the leaders of the city (Constantinople), he had held office in the palace under Theodora 1 's parents, and was elderly and very wealthy ի գլխաւորաց քաղաքին...որ իւր հարանցն ժամանակաւ լեալ էր ի պաշտօնեից պալատանն, այր հասակաւ խոնարհեալ յալիս, և ընչաւէտ յոյժ. Aristakes 103.6-8 (94) Lacked the ability to flatter and win over with words people who had been insulted and vexed ἦν γὰρ ἀφυέστατος εἰς τὸ θωπεῦσαι καὶ καταδημαγωγῆσαι ἀνθρώπους περιυβρισθέντας καὶ λανθάνοντα κότον ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ περιφέροντας. Skylitzes 484.32-34 An unloved man, he hailed from Byzantium, was knowledgable only about military matters, and lacked the ability to win over the people ἀφιλῆ ἄνδρα ὄντα ... ἐκ Βυζαντίου μὲν ὥρμητο, στρατιωτικὰ δὲ μόνα μεταχειριζόμενος ἀφυὴς ἦν παντάπασι καταθωπεύειν λαόν. Glykas 599.21-600.5 Old τὸν γηραιὸν αὐτοκράτορα. Zonaras 18.3.12 He held power for one year ὁ τοιοῦτος ἐκράτησεν ἔτος α´. Psellos: Chronographia VII title When Theodora 1 's act was done, the reins of power were put in his hands, an old man unable to bear the motion of the imperial chariot; the horses at once carried him off, he increased the disorder, and retired from the race overwhelmed οὐκ ἐνεγκὼν οὗτος τὴν ξυγκίνησιν τοῦ βασιλικοῦ ἅρματος, τῶν ἵππων εὐθὺς τοῦτον ὑφαρπασάντων, τό τε θέατρον διέθηκεν ἀτακτότερον, καὶ αὐτὸς ὑπερεκπλαγεὶς τὸν θόρυβον, τῆς ἱππικῆς ἀποβεβηκὼς τάξεως .... Psellos: Chronographia VII 56.1-7 As soon as he became emperor Isaakios 1 revoked his policies, taking away his donations and benefactions and rescinding most of his acts τὴν ... τοῦ πρεσβύτου Μιχαὴλ πρᾶξιν ἠθέτηκεν, ἀφείλετό τε ἅπερ ἐκεῖνος δεδώρητο, καὶ καθεῖλεν εἴ τι φιλότιμον κατεπράξατο ... πολλὰ μὲν αὐτῷ κἀνταῦθα συντρίβει καὶ καθαιρεῖ, οὐκ ὀλίγα δὲ παντάπασιν ἀναιρεῖ. Psellos: Chronographia VII 60.1-8 [The adjective surprisingly seems to imply youth; perhaps "inexperienced" or "more recent", i.e. after Michael IV and V?] nobicius. Anonymus Barensis 152 He was subservient to the palace officials (who chose him for the throne), in his stupidity and negligence he could not resist entrusting them with government, and was experienced in politics and military matters, but was an old man πλεῖον δὲ τῷ γήρει τρυχόμενον. Attaleiates: History 52.16-23 / 39.16-40.4 Those who had rebelled against him called him 'the old man', and this is how he is still called today κατηρείπωτο τὸ κράτος τοῦ γέροντος· οὕτω γὰρ αὐτὸν ἐκάλεσεν ἡ τῶν συμπνευσάντων κατ᾿ αὐτοῦ συμμορία, καὶ ὁ λόγος οὗτος ἄχρι καὶ τήμερον ἐπεκράτησε. Attaleiates: History 58.4-6 / 44.4-5 He was a good man (as were Anonymi 7011 who promoted him), but with no idea at all of how to govern, being driven rather than driving himself, living the life of a private citizen and leaving the government to others Psellos Keroularios 360 He did not (to put it generously) have a good grasp of the science of governance Psellos Kategoria 1314-1315 An old man and a former soldier τὸν γέροντα ... ὁ ἀπὸ στρατιωτῶν. Kleinchroniken 143.69-70, 160.13-14, 167.16 Originated from Byzantium, but was naturally unsuited to handle such great leadership in government both because of physical sloth and simplemindedness, and because of the length of time which had stretched out in his life ἀνὴρ ἐκ Βυζαντίου μὲν γεγονώς, πρὸς πραγμάτων δὲ καὶ τοσαύτης ἡγεμονίας μεταχείρισιν ἀποπεφυκὼς ἔκ τε φυσικῆς νωθείας καὶ ἀφελείας καὶ διὰ χρόνου μῆκος, ὃ τῇ ἐκείνου παρεξετάθη ζωῇ. Zonaras 17.29.7 He was fearful, and as old as the proverbial crows; on the other hand, he seemed to be of grave conduct and excellent character
... Μιχαήλ, ὃς κατὰ μὲν τὸν χρόνον ἀμετροβίοις ἤριζε κορώναις μακρογήρῳς, ὁποίους ἤδη φθάσαντας ἐπὶ δυσμὰς τοῦ βίου ἐκ τῆς λατρείας ἑαυτοῦ πόλεμος ἀπολύει, τὰ δ’ ἄλλα καὶ σεμνότροπος καὶ βέλτιστος ἐδόκει. Manasses, Chronicle 6236-6240 The old man, who succeeded Theodora 1 , his deeds are narrated in the Chronographia of Michael 61 Χρονογραφία πονηθεῖσα τῷ ... Μιχαήλ, ἱστοροῦσα τὰς πράξεις τῶν βασιλέων, ..., τοῦ μετ’ ἐκείνην Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Γέροντος. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 1-11 Hailed from Constantinople, a simple man who had only been involved with military matters and knew nothing else, having already entered old age, and whose disinterest in public affairs suited some people, as the poet Archilochos says ἄνθρωπον ἐκ Βυζαντίου μὲν ὁρμώμενον, ἀφελῆ δὲ καὶ ἀποίκιλον καὶ μόνοις τοῖς στρατιωτικοῖς ἐκ παίδων ἀπασχοληθέντα καὶ πλέον ἄλλο εἰδότα μηδέν, καὶ ἤδη παρηκμακότα καὶ τῆς πρεσβυτικῆς ἁψάμενον ἡλικίας. ᾗτινι συμφέρειν. Skylitzes 480.33-37 In the eyes of Anonymi 7011 , he was despised as a moistureless, leafless, ancient, decomposing cabbage καταφρονοῦντες Μιχαὴλ ἄντικρυς ὡς ἀνίκμου κράμβης, ἀφύλλου, γηραιᾶς ἤδη διερρυκυίας. Manasses, Chronicle 6245-6246 Became known for his lavish gifts, his magnanimity and generosity τὸ προετικὸν ἐκείνου καὶ πρὸς τὰς εὐεργεσίας μεγαλοπρεπές τε καὶ ἐλευθέριον. Skylitzes 483.11-12 Was already not an old man, as he was called by the popular mob, but ancient ἤδη γὰρ οὐ γέρων ἦν, ὡς παρὰ τοῦ δημώδους πλήθυος ὠνόμαστο, ἀλλὰ πρεσβύτης. Zonaras 17.29.8 He was not the kind of man to rule but rather one to be ruled and led [unnamed]; he was approaching the high season of years verging on old age and his hair was completely grey τοιοῦτος ἐκεῖνος ἦν οὐχ οἷος ἄρχειν, ἀλλ᾿ ἄρχεσθαι μᾶλλον καὶ ἄγεσθαι· ἦν δὲ καὶ τοῦ θέρους ἐγγὺς καὶ τοῦ τετραμήνου ἐντός· αἱ γὰρ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τρίχες ὑπαργυρίζουσι ξύμπασαι. Psellos: Chronographia VIa 20.10-13 After his proclamation as emperor the ancient Michael 6 seemed to be most generous to the members of the senate and to the popular multitude, even beyond what was proper ὃν οὖν εἴρηται τρόπον ὁ πρεσβύτης Μιχαὴλ αὐτοκράτωρ ἀναρρηθεὶς τοῖς μὲν τῆς γερουσίας καὶ τῷ δημώδει πλήθει καὶ παρὰ τὸ προσῆκον ὦπτο φιλοτιμότατος. Zonaras 18.1.1 Held the reins of power and ruled modestly and without skill διετέλεσεν οὕτως ἀφελῶς καὶ ἀτέχνως ἰθύνων τὰ σκῆπτρα καὶ κυβερνῶν. Skylitzes 483.93-94 Aged τῷ γέροντι Μιχαὴλ. Zonaras 18.3.25 Anonymus 195 Bryennios had reasons for grievance against him λύπης τ᾿ αἰτίας κἀκεῖνον ἐσχηκότα κατὰ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος. Zonaras 18.2.4 An old man, he reigned for one year Μιχαὴλ γέρων ὁ στρατιωτικὸς ἔτος ἕν. Glykas 459, 599.21-600.1 The soldiers were plunged into despair when they saw that he was most generous to others, but to them he did not demonstrate goodwill even in words, but nevertheless they held back from any kind of rebellion, but planned to make a second attempt ταῦτα τοὺς στρατιώτας εἰς ἀθυμίαν ἐνέβαλε, τοῖς μὲν ἄλλοις φιλοτιμότατον ὁρῶντας τὸν Μιχαὴλ, αὐτοῖς δὲ μηδ᾿ ἐν λόγοις τὸ εὐμενὲς ἐνδεικνύμενον, ὅμως μέντοι ἐπέσχον μηδέν τι νεωτερίσαι .... Zonaras 18.1.8 Being very old he could remember many ancient practices ὢν δὲ κάρτα γέρων καὶ πολλῶν μεμνημένος ἀρχαίων. Skylitzes 482.81-82 His behaviour at meetings was unpleasant and unsocial οὕτως ἦν ἀφυὴς καὶ δυσπρόσοδος περὶ τὰς ἐντεύξεις. Skylitzes 484.46-47 Leon 62 was no less inept than he at handling aggrieved men and at diminishing the rage that their grievance caused them ὁ δὲ οὐδὲν ἧττον τοῦ βασιλέως ἀδέξιος ὢν μεταχειρίσασθαι λυπουμένους ἄνδρας καὶ καταστεῖλαι τὸ ἐκ τῆς λύπης αὐτοῖς γενόμενον οἴδημα. Zonaras 18.2.2 Dignity/Office (19) Autokrator (6 sources) Basileus (11 sources)Emperor imperator. Lupus protospatharius 59.27 imperator. Anonymus Barensis 152 Patrikios πατρίκιος. Skylitzes 480.32-33 Second Name (3) Bringas Βρίγγας. Kleinchroniken 160.14 Bringa. Lupus protospatharius 59.27 Stratiotikos Στρατιωιτκὸς. Zonaras 17.29.7 Kinship (3) father (adoptive) of Isaakios 1 πατέρα. Psellos: Chronographia VII 30.24 uncle of Michael 119 (ἀνεψιός). Skylitzes 483.5 (ἀνεψιὸν). Zonaras 18.1.5 Location (15) Occupation/Vocation (3) Possession (1) Alternative Name (3) Uncertain Ident (1)