A fellow commander of the kaisar Ioannes 62 in the campaign against the Turks
συστράτηγος. Skylitzes Continuatus 158.13
Known for his virtues, his magnanimity, courage and glory earned in battle, he was entrusted with the empire and was deemed worthy of it by the King of Heaven
An aristocrat from the East, he was the first in the theme of Anatolikon in wealth, nobility, splendour of deeds old and recent, a pious and God-loving man
One of the nobles, he descended from the Phokas clan but, according to an old belief, he ultimately hailed from the famous Flavii of the glorious elder Rome
He was terrible but also pleasant to look at because of his astonishing stature, his obvious might, and his joyful and shimmering appearance, and his shining face was a pure red colour
His eyes were full of grace, pure black outside and shining with beauty from inside, his eyebrows hanging high like arches were of the same colour, his forehead gleamed like a flashing, and the rest of his face was equally beautiful like a second sun
καὶ δεύτερον η῞λιον χειροτονοῦσαν ἐπίγειον. Attaleiates: History 216.2-8 / 158.5-11
His speech was so pleasant, joyful and clever that it resembled that of a Siren, attracting everybody to listen and forgetting their everyday worries, and whoever met him felt affection for him, not only the Romans but even warlike barbarians
His family descended from the Phokas clan, themselves descendants of Constantine the Great and the Fabii, and this is proved by his resemblance to Nikephoros Phokas, depicted in a chapel near Chandax on Crete
Possessed the same virtues as his father Michael, who had fought with the emperor Basileios 2 against the Bulgarians and Abasgians, and was considered worthy of the throne, so much so that everybody prayed for his accession
A kindly and pleasant person, he was beyond arrogance and pride, and, more importantly, he was beyond reproach, for he had never been accused of injustice by anyone
He sat wearing golden ornaments and vestments that flashed rays of fiery gold; he tended his prosperous old age with baths, drinks and luxuries, rather like a statuesque swan with wings of gold, which was about to die and lie hidden in the tomb, but began to take pleasure and come to life, an ancient voluptuary
His courage and leadership (while fighting against the Pechenegs) amazed his troops and filled them with strength, and his extraordinarily noble bravery, decisiveness, audacity and faith gave them hope
Never failed to perform great deeds in all wars, never missed a battle, honoured great offices with his wisdom, courage and benevolence, and was loved by the city (of Constantinople) for his clemency, leniency, and his invincible and generous hand
καὶ ἡ πόλις αὐτὸν ἠγάπα. Attaleiates: History 255.14-20 / 184.10-15
One of the magnates whose residence was at Anatolikon
Was considered most worthy for the imperial throne (when a candidate was being sought following the death of Konstantinos 10) but Romanos 4 was selected
Despite the difficult situation, he ruled wisely like God and proved more benevolent, generous and God-loving than his predecessors, surpassing those who had ruled in much better times
His treatment of Konstantios 61 demonstrated his superiority, for his soul was brighter than the sun, he had no malice in him and never suspected evil, and he surely had divine grace in him to deal so magnanimously with a declared enemy
Continued after the revolt of Konstantios 61 to take care of the state affairs day and night, attended trials when he had the time, granted gifts and dignities to his subjects and studied books during the night, learning about divine and human matters
His honest government was eagerly awaited by the people, for they knew of his family's prominence, their reputation in battle and their integrity, but also of his own disposition, courage, and honest spirit, similar to his family's
By returning confiscated properties to their owners he became an assistant and protector to all, not a mere emperor but a caring father too, taking special care to uncover and eliminate every injustice and transgression of the law
Was better than anyone else at redressing the fortunes and providing consolation to those fallen on hard times, assisting them to regain a position befitting their status
Carried out his plan (to remove Michael 7 from power) without any bloodshed, not even a bleeding nose, a clear sign of his faith to God and his selection by Him
Even before his accession he showed clemency to all, was gentle, had risen above all vanity, and was considered most desirable and worthy of the imperial office
Possessed something greater than his imperial insignia, for one could see the sign of the cross naturally formed in a sunken part between the lateral parts of his forehead above the eyebrows
When he ascended the throne the empire was threatened by many rebels in both East and West and despite the expense required he did not allow himself to give into stinginess
Being very pious he set up festivals and illuminations on major feastdays and ceremonies commemorating martyrs, got up early to attend them remaining standing to the end, unlike his predecessors who would leave in order to remove their heavy garments
A fellow-general of the kaisar (Ioannes 62), he came from an exalted lineage, had military courage running in his family, was superior to all in both might and mind, and was most distinguished in the entire East for the splendour and wealth of his kin
A man of an illustrious and superior origin, who was very old and long-lived like another Nestor, king of Pylos, experienced in war and stricken by many arrows because he had contended in many battles since he was an infant
He would sit on high, silver-studded thrones wearing golden robes and linen cloaks interwoven with gold and adorned with pearls, shining with purple and gold dye; he changed vestments one after the other
Leader of the Bulgarian and Roman troops trying to prevent the advance of the Uzes who had crossed the Istros (Danube)
τοὺς ἡγεμόνας αὐτῶν. Skylitzes Continuatus 114.7
Unlike Bryennios (Nikephoros 62), he treated foreigners or anyone he came across well, offered them gifts, great offices, and much more supplies than they needed
At the time of his accession to the throne he was approaching the threshold of old age, or rather he had already gone past it, and had been married twice before