1043 summary: his death was concealed because his wife Zoe 1 had no time for grief in her determination to do her duty, and did not wish to allow others to choose an emperor of whom he had not approved
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 260-273
Michael 61 is unable to say accurately whether the attendants who went into the bath with him committed some crime against him
At first he swam pleasurably in the water and floated lightly, spurting water with great pleasure and refreshing himself; later some of his attendants went in to support him and give him a rest, as he had prescribed
At his death, the succession of power came to Michael 4
τούτου τὴν ζωὴν τελευτήσαντος. Psellos: Chronographia VII 54.1-2
Before day he set out to use the baths there in the palace, without an escort and not close to death: in a perfectly normal way he went up to anoint himself and bathe and purify his body
Date: on April 11 of the 12th indiction in the year 6542 ἀπριλλίῳ ια ´, ἰνδικτιῶνος ιβ ´, ἔτους ,ςφμβ ´πνιγεὶς ἐν τῷ λουτρῷ. Kleinchroniken 159.8, 165.10
Entered his golden bathtub (pool?) which was full of warm water but was seized by the hair by his servants (rumoured to have included Michael 4) who held him under water until he died, and this was done with the consent of the empress (Zoe 1)
սպասաւորքն բուռն հարեալ զգիսոյ գլխոյ նորա ծածկեցին ընդ ջրովն մինչև վճարեցաւ ի կենաց. Aristakes 46.2-3 (32); 46.18 (33)
He died in Constantinople, to be succeeded by Michael 4
Date: April 11 11. die intrante mensis Aprilis . Lupus protospatharius 58.4-5
He distributed gold, then went to the baths and died, losing his imperial symbols; a man went from the bath to Zoe 1, and told her, grieving, of his death; his funeral was splendid, and he was buried in the Peribleptos church, then forgotten
Christophoros of Mitylene 8.1-32
He entered the bath, first thoroughly cleansed his head, then showered his body too; since he was breathing strongly, he consigned himself to the swimming pool which had been deepened in the middle
He groaned heavy and deep and looked around hither and thither, unable to speak but showing what he wanted by signs and nods; as no one understood him, he closed his eyes and began to breathe heavily again
In this state (of health) he completed the preliminary rites of our common resurrection and at the same time was preparing himself to go forth to the public festival next day
One man took pity on him and his condition, put his hands under him, embraced him and drew him out; carrying him as he was he set him down on a couch in a wretched state
Suffered from tuberculosis, died suddenly in his bath and was buried at the monastery he had founded in the tomb he had prepared
Date: on Maundy Thursday, 11 nisan of the year 1345 (10 April 1034) يوم الخميس الكبير وهو حادى عشر نيسان سنة 1345 للإسكندر توفّى ... بعلّة السلّ ... ودخل الحمّام واستحمّ ومات فيه بغتة ... ودفن فى جرن أعدّه لنفسه فى ديره. Yahya al-Antaki 536
Survived for a short time unable to speak, and then bringing up some black matter through his mouth he gave up his spirit after reigning for five and a half years
They say that certain people pressed his head in the water for long enough, and so he was drawn out from there almost without breath and laid on the couch
Those who have linked other events with this say that when he plunged his head into the water, as he was in the habit of doing, (his attendants) pressed on his neck and held on for a long time, then released him and left
Was buried in the monastery of the Peribleptos which he had founded
Date: on Holy Friday (of the second indiction of the year 6542) κατ ᾿ αὐτὴν τὴν ἁγίαν μεγάλην παρασκευήν Skylitzes 392.10-12
Was drowned in the swimming pool of the Great Palace bath by Michael 4's men
Date: on April 11 of the second indiction of the year 6542 (1034), on Holy Thursday τῆς ἐνδεκάτης τοῦ Ἀπριλλίου μηνός, τῆς δευτέρας ἰνδικτιῶνος, τοῦ ,ςφμβ ´ ἔτους...κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς ἁγίας μεγάλης πέμπτηςοἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται ὑπὸ τῶν περὶ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ἐν τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ τοῦ λοετροῦ. Skylitzes 390.93-94
When an outcry arose (as he was lifted from the bath), Zoe 1 herself was among others who came along, without a bodyguard, apparently in terrible grief; after seeing him, she left again, having assured herself by looking that he would die
When he had recovered breath a little, he realised what a dreadful plight he was in, and stretching out a hand begged for someone to take hold of him and set him on his feet