As a preface to his collected works, he wrote an intellectual autobiography, emphasising some of his disputes but omitting others, and giving an index of his surviving speeches and letters
He decided to write only useful compositions, encomia for emperors and prominent people, and educational works for others; he was a supporter of schedographia, with his own variant called basilakizein, unpopular with conventional teachers of grammar
τὸ βασιλακίζειν ἐν σχεδοπλόκοις. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 2.25-3.37
He probably wrote a fragment, part of the extant encomium for Ioannes 293 or of another encomium for him or someone else. [The recipient is probably Ioannes 293, but this would be unique evidence of naval initiative by Ioannes 2 against Roger 17001]
Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 116.1-119.14
He wrote a common letter to two friends Anonymi 25010, giving a bad report on his condition, speaking of plots, threats, fears and dangers; he mentioned the need to discipline Anonymus 25053 and Anonymus 25054; if only he were going home!
No title. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 111.1-112.25
He wrote a forensic speech, with fictional names, at least in part, on an old false charge against Kosmas (probably Kosmas 12) for smearing dung on holy icons; he attacked Anonymus 25048, one of the accusers, as in fact responsible for the plot
No title. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 92.1-110.12
He wrote an elaborate encomium of Alexios 20110, stressing his broad education, eloquence and skills in both legal and religious spheres; he was favoured by an emperor whose activities reached beyond the Tigris
He wrote an encomium of Adrianos 25001, a Komnenian prince who became a monk, joined Ioannes 2's Syrian expedition of 1137-1138, and went on from there to visit Jerusalem on pilgimage
He wrote an encomium of Ioannes 293 as an icon of the prototype Ioannes 2, whose leg wound in the destruction of the Pechenegs was used as an important symbol; he ended with discussion of the promised land, which might be a journey to Jerusalem
Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 84.1-91.19
He wrote an encomium to welcome Ioannes 2 back to the capital after his long expedition to Cilicia and Syria; it included many allusions to events of the campaign, culminating in an exhortation to the people to celebrate his triumph as he deserved
He wrote poems in a wide range of metres and four large and amusing satires, all of which were remembered by some; however he was convinced that Christian literature should be more solemn, so he destroyed the works or allowed tham to be lost
He wrote to his brother, Anonymus 25055, saying that he missed him and passionately wanted to get home; in Philippopolis he felt among a hostile population
No title. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 114.4-21
He wrote two letters to his students, saying he was unhappy, not following the profession of learning, wounded by barbarous neighbours and annoyed at the poor quality of food and wine; he confessed that his exile was in some way self-induced
No title. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 113.1-114.3, 114.22-115.13
His main teaching work in the church was eloquent and popular, though it roused the envy of Michael 20130, who inveighed against it; he regarded Michael's criticisms as absurd, and found a difficult but effective voice through schedographia
Though Anonymus 25047 encouraged him to prepare a letter-collection, he made few other attempts to promote himself or his work, which was scattered among his friends; his book, responding to many demands, thus contained only a few short items
βραχέα ἅττα. Basilakios, Orationes et epistulae 5.10-6.7