Certainty: 2 Severe illness of Theodora; choice by courtiers of Michael (VI) Bringas (stratiotikos) as successor Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Accession of Michael VI Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Death of Theodora Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Michael VI gave very generous promotions to civil aristocracy & promises to people Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Katakalon Kekaumenos replaced as doux of Antioch by Michael Ouranos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI granted (or confirmed) a solemnion of 80 nomismata for Vatopedi Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Delegation of Athonite monks to Constantinople for the proclamation of Michael VI Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Michael VI, being old, revived many customs which had fallen out of use & seemed ridiculous Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Turkish general Amertikes joined Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Failed attempt of Theodosios Monomachos to seize throne Certainty: 2
1057
Certainty: 3 Chrysobull of Michael VI granting an annual donation to Lavra Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Michael VI refused to grant dignities to eastern generals, who turned against him Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2 Bryennios recalled from exile & sent once more against Turks Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Samouch was left by sultan with small force of Turks to plunder Armenia Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Collusion of Herve Phrangopoulos with Turks of Samouch collapsed: Franks killed or captured at Chliat
Herve Phrangopoulos, furious at his treatment by Michael VI, corrupted 300 Franks wintering in Armeniakon and led them to Media, making an alliance with the Turkish raider Samouch against the Romans. But Herve became suspicious of his new allies, though Samouch seemed thonest. Herve secretly ordered his troops not to sleep unarmed, expecting an assault from Samouch. The latter found out, attacked at breakfast time, but was defeated. Herve returned from pursuit of the Turks towards Chliat, ordering his Franks to stay in camp. But his troops demanded to enter Chliat whose governor, Aponasar, had been their ally, to rest after the battle with Samouch. He vainly tried to persuade them not to trust a heathen's oaths, but was forced to follow them. Samouch planned with Aponasar to order the city's inn-keepers to arrest or murder their Frankish guests on a given signal. They were successful: the Franks were attacked while asleep after drinking, Herve was captured and many of his men killed. Samouch sent goodwill embassies to Michael VI, claiming to have destroyed those plotting against him and captured their leader Herve Phrangopoulos
Certainty: 2 Failure of second attempt by eastern generals to gain promotion, via Strabospondylos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Isaakios Komnenos made a plot with angry eastern generals to remove Michael VI from throne Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios joined rebel generals against Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Bryennios arrested & blinded by loyal generals in squabble over soldiers' pay Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 The rebel generals, seeing fate of Bryennios, gathered at Kastamon, home of Isaakios Komnenos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos joined the other rebels, & Isaakios (I) led them towards Nicaea Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI took advice on the rebellion, especially from Michael Psellos Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI made no attempt to use Keroularios as a bridge to the rebels of Isaakios (I), till it was too late Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI prepared western armies & any loyal eastern troops, under experienced leaders Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 With Isaakios (I) near Nicaea, many opposing troops went home, while their generals rallied to Michael VI
Isaakios (I) intended to use Nicaea as a base of operations, and so he advanced slowly in order to allow troops and generals still loyal to Michael VI to leave. Among the latter were Lykanthes, Theophylaktos Maniakes and Pnyemios the Iberian, who withdrew from Nicaea when told of his arrival and went to Michael VI to announce the news. When Isaakios heard that the domestikos Theodoros and his men had encamped on Mount Sophon, he sent out spies everywhere, marched quickly, took Nicaea and installed an adequate garrison there while himself pitching camp twelve stades away. There were many desertions from Michael to Isaakios
Certainty: 2 Two rival armies camped close together, testing each other's will, then drawn up in battle formation
Theodoros, domestikos of the scholai and Aaron, brother of Alousianos were put in command against Isaakios (I): they crossed to Chrysopolis and Nikomedeia, sent troops to capture the Sangarios bridge, camped on Mount Sophon and prepared for war. According to Skylitzes, Isaakios' men in many skirmishes tried to convince the army of Michael VI to defect, but failed. He ordered them to limit their forays and remain in camp - a decision interpreted as weakness. Psellos reported more mass desertions from Michael to Isaakios. The armies faced each other at no great distance, but there was no action. Michael VI's men were more numerous, but Isaakios had superior force and order, especially his men's cohesion and firm loyalty to him. When the army of Michael VI moved their camp closer, Isaakios drew up his army in battle order, placing Katakalon Kekaumenos at the head of the left wing, Romanos Skleros on the right, Isaakios himself leading the centre. In the other army Aaron led the left wing, having under his command Lykanthes, Pnyemios the Iberian and Radulf the Frank. Basileios Tarchaneiotes, stratelates of the West, led the right wing. Theodoros, the domestikos of the scholai, was in overall command. The battle took place at a spot locally called Hades
Certainty: 2 Victory of rebel Isaakios Komnenos over imperial army at battle of Polemon/Hades Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Michael VI wanted to abdicate, but was urged to fight on by those who had promoted him Certainty: 2
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 On the embassy, Psellos' speech persuaded Isaakios (I) to accept rank of kaisar 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 Michael VI bribed populace, & compelled senators to sign an oath refusing recognition to Isaakios (I) Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Keroularios wrote encouraging Isaakios (I) to hurry & Michael VI to abdicate Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Second embassy to Isaakios Komnenos interrupted by news of revolt in Constantinople Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Kekaumenos reached the city: abdication & tonsure of Michael VI Certainty: 2
Certainty: 3 Isaakios Komnenos entered city in triumph; he was crowned & proclaimed emperor by patriarch Certainty: 3
Certainty: 3 Abdication of Michael VI
[The date is almost certainly wrong: Michael probably abdicated earlier, around the time when Isaakios I entered the city.] HThe decision was made under some pressure from Keroularios and the mob collected in Hagia Sophia. To his credit, he did not exploit the possibilities for resistance which still remained, at the danger of another bloodbath, but gave up immediately the symbols of power. He was welcomed by Keroularios after tonsure and became an anchorite in a patriarchal monastery, perhaps on an island
Certainty: 2 Decisions of Isaakios I to increase revenues & cut expenditure Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos Leichoudes was given a major administrative role by Isaakios I Certainty: 2
Certainty: 0 Chrysobull of Michael VI (?) confirming earlier chrysobulls of Nea Mone (Chios) Certainty: 0