Emperor Romanos III Argyros M X / E XI
κῦρ Ῥωμανὸν τὸν Ἀργυρόν رومانوس الملك (Cheynet: Argyroi 16) (Romanos 3)
(Unspecified)
(null)
Narrative
(218)
Before 1025
Unassigned Activities
Authorship
(1)
Wrote a letter to Hassan (
Pinzarach 101
) explaining his hasty departure from Syria
كتب فى الحال كتابًا الى حسّان بن الجرّاح. Yahya al-Antaki 510
Death
(33)
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
εἴ τι μὲν εἰσελθόντες περὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα παρηνόμησαν. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.23-5
Konstantinos 101
Diogenes, arrested on charges of usurpation in his reign, hurled himself from a cliff and perished
ἐπὶ τυραννικαῖς αἰτίαις ἁλοὺς. Psellos: Chronographia 10.3-5
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
ἡδέως τῷ ὕδατι ἐπενήχετο καὶ ἐλαφρῶς ἐπέπλει, ἀναφυσῶν ὡς ἥδιστα καὶ ἀναψυχόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.19-23
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
οὔτε χειραγωγούμενος ἔτι, οὔθ’ ὑπόγυος πρὸς τὸν θάνατον ὤν· διαπρεπῶς γοῦν ἀνῄει ἀλειψόμενος καὶ λουσόμενος καὶ καθαρσίοις περὶ τὸ σῶμα χρησόμενος. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.12-16
Died and was succeeded by
Michael 4
Paphlagon
τελευτήσαντος. Kekaumenos 236.14
Died having drowned in his bath
Date: on April 11 of the 12th indiction in the year 6542 ???????? ?? ?, ??????????? ?? ?, ????? ,???? ?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 died, and was succeeded by
Michael 4
. Anonymus Barensis 149
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
ἐπειδὴ ἐρρωμένως εἶχε τοῦ πνεύματος, τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ ἑαυτὸν ἐπιδίδωσιν, ἥτις μέσον ὀρώρυκται. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.16-19
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
βαρύ τι στενάξας καὶ βύθιον, τῇδε κἀκεῖσε περιβλέπτετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.38-42
His breath lightened him and made him appear on the water almost breathless, floating at random like a cork
τὸν δὲ τὸ πνεῦμα κουφίσαν ἄπνουν σχεδὸν ἐπεδείκνυ τοῖς ὕδασιν, ὥσπερ φελλὸν ἀλόγως ἐπισαλεύοντα. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.28-30
His death prevented him from fulfilling his wish to rebuild the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem
ἀλλὰ φθάσαν τὸ χρεὼν ἐνεπόδισε. Skylitzes 388.17-18
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
τὰ προτέλεια τῆς κοινῆς ἡμῶν ἀναστάσεως ἐτελεῖτο τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὁμοῦ τε ὡς ἐς αὔριον εἰς τὴν πάνδημον πανήγυριν προελευσόμενος ηὐτρεπιζετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.9-12
It was said that he died as a result of treachery
γοητείαις, ὡς ἔφασκον, κατεργασθέντι. Skylitzes 417.92
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
διαβαστάσας ὡς εἶχεν ἐπὶ τῆς στρωμνῆς ἀθλίως κετέθετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.32-5
So he died, after being master of the empire for five and a half years
ἐς πεντάδα χρόνων καὶ ἥμισυ τὴν βασιλείαν κατεσχηκώς. Psellos: Chronographia IV 1.1-2
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) ??? ?????? ?????? ??? ???? ??? ????? ??? 1345 ???????? 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
ὁ δὲ βραχύ τι ἐπιβιοὺς ἄναυδος, εἶτα καὶ μελάντερόν τι ἀναγαγὼν διὰ τοῦ στόματος ἀφῆκε τὸ πνεῦμα. Zonaras 17.13.28
Then suddenly there flowed out from his gaping mouth blackish coagulated matter; at this he gasped two or three times and departed life
ἀθρόον ἀναρραγέντος ὑπεκχεῖται διὰ τοῦ στόματος μελάντερόν τι τὴν χρόαν καὶ πεπηγὸς. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.42-5
They fell in a murderous manner upon the emperor, who was taking care of his body and relaxing in the bath, and strangled him
τὴν σάρκα ψυχαγωγοῦντι τοῖς λουτροῖς καὶ παραμυθουμένῳ, ἄνδρες τινὲς χαιρομυσεῖς φονίως ἐμπεσόντες ἀπάγχουσιν. Manasses, Chronicle 5992-5995
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
συμπιέσαι γάρ τινας αὐτῷ τὴν κεφαλήν φασιν ἐπὶ τὸ ὕδωρ ἐφ᾿ ἱκανόν, καὶ οὕτως ἐκεῖθεν ἄπνουν ἀνιμηθῆναι σχεδὸν καὶ ἀνακλιθῆναι πρὸς τὴν στρωμνήν. Zonaras 17.13.26
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
φασὶ γοῦν οἱ καὶ τἄλλα πρὸς τοῦτο συνείροντες. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.25-8
Was brutally drowned by the men of
Michael 4
in his bath tub in the Great Palace and was buried in his newly founded church of the Peribleptos
Date: Maundy Thursday (1034) ??? ??????? ???????οἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται. Glykas 585.7-20
Was buried in the monastery of the Peribleptos which he had founded
Date: on Holy Friday (of the second indiction of the year 6542) ??? ? ????? ??? ????? ??????? ?????????? 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 ??? ????????? ??? ????????? ?????, ??? ???????? ???????????, ??? ,???? ? ?????...???? ??? ?????? ??? ????? ??????? ???????οἰκτρῶς 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
ἄλλοι δέ τινες παρῆσαν καὶ ἡ βασιλὶς αὐτὴ ἀδορυφόρητος, ὡς ἐπὶ πένθει δεινῷ. Psellos: Chronographia III 26. 35-8
When he had cleansed his body, he entered the plunge there, where the totality of the deed is claimed to have occurred
ὡς δὲ τὸ σῶμα ἐκάθηρεν, εἰσέδυ τὴν ἐκεῖ κολυμβήθραν, ἔνθα δὴ τὸ πᾶν ᾄδεται γενέσθαι τοῦ δράματος. Zonaras 17.13.25
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
ὡς δὲ βραχύ τι ἀναπνεύσας ἔγνω ὅπη κακοῦ ἐτύγχανεν ὤν. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.30-32
While ill, went to one of the baths in the palace to wash, neither attended nor expecting that he would die forthwith
Zonaras 17.13.24
Description
(96)
Nikephoros 3
was called second founder of the Peribleptos monastery, after him
ἧς ἐκείνος μετὰ τὸν κατὰ τοὺς Ἀργυροὺς ῾Ρωμανὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν αὐτοκράτορα κτήτωρ δεύτερος ἐχρημάτισε. Zonaras 18.20.19
Envied the famous Solomon for building his well-known Temple and was also jealous of the Emperor Justinian for his great precinct named after the divine and ineffable Wisdom
τῷ Σολομῶντι ἐκείνῳ τῷ πάνυ τῆς τοῦ πολυθρυλλήτου ναοῦ βασκαίνων οἰκοδομῆς, ζηλοτυπῶν δὲ καὶ τὸν αὐτοκράτορα ᾽Ιουστινιανὸν ἐπὶ τῷ μεγάλῳ τεμένει καὶ ἐπωνύμῳ τῆς θείας καὶ ἀρρήτου Σοφίας .... Psellos: Chronographia III 14.2-5
He provoked
Zoe 1
to hatred, both because the imperial line, in her person, was being disdained, but especially because of her desire for intercourse, which was not due to her age, but to the soft life in the palace
τὴν δὲ ἀνηρέθιζε μὲν πρὸς μῖσος καὶ τὸ βασίλειον γένος τοσοῦτον ἐπ’ ἐκείνῃ καταφρονούμενον, μάλιστα δὲ ἡ περὶ τὴν μῖξιν ἐπιθυμία, ἣν εἰ καὶ μὴ διὰ τὴν ἡλικίαν εἶχεν, ἀλλὰ διά γε τὴν ἐν βασιλείοις τρυφήν. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.8-11
Although (the affair of
Zoe 1
and
Michael 4
) escaped no one's notice, it did not come to his knowledge, so great was the cloud that lay over his eyes
τὸ μηδένα τῶν πάντων λαθὸν εἰς γνῶσιν οὐκ ἐληλύθει τῷ βασιλεῖ· τοσοῦτον αὐτῷ νέφος ὀφθαλμίας ἐπέκειτο. Psellos: Chronographia III 21.1-3
He trusted no one at all and himself seemed to others untrustworthy: each side suspected and was suspected
οὔτε τινὶ τῶν πάντων ἐπίστευεν, οὔτε αὐτὸς ἐδόκει τοῖς ἄλλοις, ἀλλ’ ἑκάτεροι ὑπώπτευόν τε καὶ ὑπωπτεύοντο. Psellos: Chronographia III 24.12-14
(When seen at his funeral) his face was distorted, not wasted, but swollen, and its colour altogether changed, not like a corpse but like those bloated and wan from drinking poison, so that there seemed to be no blood under the cheeks
διέφθαρτο μὲν γὰρ αὐτῷ τὸ πρόσωπον, οὐχ ὡς ἐκτετηκός, ἀλλ’ ὡς ἐξῳδηκός, καὶ τὸ χρῶμα πάντη ἠλλοίωτο οὐχ ὡς νεκρῶδες, ἀλλ’ ἐῴκει τοῖς ἐκ φαρμακοποσίας ἀνοιδήσασι καὶ ὠχριακόσιν, ὥστε μηδὲ δοκεῖν αἵματος αὐτοῖς . Psellos: Chronographia IV 4.6-10
At the death of
Konstantinos 8
he inherited the realm; considering himself ruler, as the Porphyrogennetoi were now dead, he thought he would establish fine foundations for a similar family
... ὁ ἐκείνου κηδεστὴς ’Ρωμανὸς τὴν ἀρχὴν διεδέξατο, ἄρξαι νομίσας οὗτος, τῆς ἐν πορφύρᾳ γέννας ἤδη ἀποτελευτησάσης, θεμελίους ὥσπερ καλοὺς τῆς τοιαύτης γενέσεως ᾤετο καταβάλεσθαι. Psellos: Chronographia VII 53.5-8
His appearance was truly imperial, he had virtues of many different kinds, including Christian meekness; he was by no means uneducated, but with a strong tendency to letters, showing imperial characteristics even before he became emperor
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 197-202
Michael 4
bewailed until his last breath what he had dared to do to him
τὸ πρὸς τὸν βασιλέα ῾Ρωμανὸν αὐτῷ τολμηθὲν ἀπολοφυρόμενος. Zonaras 17.17.43
By another account, he was tolerant of (
Zoe 1
's) erotic notion or possession, but his sister Pulcheria (101) and all who at that time happened to be party to her secrets were enraged
ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς εὔκολος πρὸς τὴν ἐρωτικὴν ὑπόληψιν ἢ κατάληψιν ἦν, ἐμεμήνει δὲ ἣ τε ἀδελφὴ Πουλχερία καὶ ὅσοι τηνικαῦτα κοινωνοὶ τῶν ἀπορρήτων ἐκείνῃ ὄντες ἐτύγχανον. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.11-15
Was both by nature slothful in intercourse and somewhat enervated and time was already dulling his activity
ἦν γὰρ καὶ φύσει νωθὴς πρὸς μίξιν καὶ μαλθακώτερος, ἤδη δὲ καὶ ὁ χρόνος αὐτῷ τὴν κίνησιν ἤμβλυνεν. Zonaras 17.13.5
One of the officials and of noble blood
τινα τῶν ἐν τέλει ἄνδρα εὐγενέτην τε τὰ ἐξ αἵματος. Zonaras 17.10.19
Blessed (had died by the time Kekaumenos (
Anonymus 274
) was writing his Strategikon)
μακαρίτην. Kekaumenos 236.9
Ioannes 68
was his servant, among others, even before his reign
ὑπηρέτουν τῷ βασιλεῖ τούτῳ πρὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἄλλοι τέ τινες καί τις ἀνὴρ ἐκτομίας. Psellos: Chronographia III 18.4-5
Michael 4
was still a boy before the time of his reign
τὸν μὲν πρὸ τῆς βασιλείας χρόνον ἔτι μειράκιον. Psellos: Chronographia III 18.10-11
He was not a particularly jealous man
οὐ πάνυ ζηλότυπος ὢν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 13.7
His ancestors were related to
Konstantinos 8
with whom he shared a common lineage and for this reason he was more worthy to succeed him on the throne than anybody else
للقرابة الواصلة بينه وبين أسلافه والنسب الجامع لهما. Yahya al-Antaki 484-86
Led a virtuous life
βίον ὑπερχόμενον σώφρονα. Glykas 584.19
Even before he became emperor had a eunuch servant (
Ioannes 68
)
Zonaras 17.13.8
Dead (at time of compilation ?)
μακαρίτης. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 49.4, 58.4
A member of the senate
ἕνα μὲν ὄντα τῶν τῆς συγκλήτου. Glykas 580.8
No longer showing his former disposition of spirit, but changed in a transformation for the worse (after defeat by the Arabs)
οὐκέτι τὴν πρόσθεν τῆς ψυχῆς δεικνύων διάθεσιν, ἀλλ᾿ ἀλλοιωθεὶς τὴν ἐπὶ τὸ χεῖρον ἀλλοίωσιν. Zonaras 17.12.1
When he had recently won the kingdom,
Romanos 3
would measure out for himself long years of life and rule, even though he was sixty when he gained the sceptre
ἄρτι τῆς βασιλείας ἐπιτυχὼν χρόνους ἑαυτῷ καὶ τῆς ζωῆς καὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἐπέμετρει μακρούς, καὶ ταῦτα ἑξηκοντούτης ὢν ὅτε τῶν σκήπτρων ἐπείληπτο. Zonaras 17.13.2
Poulcheria 101
was a considerable profit to him
καί τι λυσιτελοῦσα τῷ ἀδελφῷ. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.17-18
Divided the populace in two, the more reasonable who lived honestly heedless of public affairs, for whom he cared not a jot, and those ready for all daring, profiting by others' losses, who added their own wickedness as fuel to his pyre
... οἵ μὲν ἐπιεικέστεροι ... καὶ ἐν καρὸς μοίρᾳ παρὰ τῷ κρατοῦντι ἐλογίζοντο, οἳ δέ γε πάντα ῥᾳδίως τολμῶντες ..., ὕλην πλείονα τὴν ἑαυτῶν κακίαν τῇ τοῦ κρατοῦντος ὑπετίθουν πυρκαϊᾷ. Psellos: Chronographia III 12.10-16
Behaved unsuitably in other respects and by living with a woman (
Anonyma 7002
)
ἀνεπιτηδείως εἶχεν οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς τά τε ἄλλα καὶ πρὸς συμβίωσιν γυναικός. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.2-4
Whether he wished initially to remain chaste or turned to other amours, as most people say, he despised the empress
Zoe 1
, refrained from intercourse with her and was altogether averse to associating with her
εἴτε γὰρ σωφρονεῖν βουλόμενος τὸ κατ’ ἀρχάς, εἴτε πρὸς ἑτέρους, ὡς ὁ τῶν πολλῶν λόγος, στραφεὶς ἔρωτας, καταπεφρονήκει μὲν τῆς βασιλίδος Ζωῆς, ἀπείχετό τε τῆς πρὸς αὐτὴν μίξεως καὶ πάντη ἀποστρόφως πρὸς τὴν κοινωνίαν. Psellos: Chronographia III 17.4-8
According to
Anonymus 7002
, he wished to be persuaded that
Zoe 1
was not erotically attached to
Michael 4
ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐβούλετο μὲν ὡσανεὶ πεπεῖσθαι μὴ ἔχειν τὴν βασιλίδα ἐρωτικῶς πρὸς τὸν Μιχαήλ. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.6-7
(According to
Anonymus 7002
) he knew how passionate ...
Zoe 1
was and to prevent her being shared among many, did not resent her relationship with one man (
Michael 4
); while pretending not to see he satisfied her passion
ᾔδει δὲ μάλα ἐρῶσαν ..., καί, ἵνα μὴ πρὸς πολλοὺς διαχέοιτο, οὐ μάλα τὴν πρὸς ἕνα τῆς γυναικὸς ἐδυσχέραινεν ὁμιλίαν, ἀλλὰ σχηματιζόμενος παρορᾶν ἀπεπλήρου τὸ πάθος τῇ βασιλίδι. Psellos: Chronographia III 23.8-11
(After he fell ill) all diagreeable characteristics befell him together: harshness of character, peevish disposition, wrath, temper, shouting - things previously unknown
πάντα συνεπεπτώκει αὐτῷ τὰ δυσχερῆ, ἤθους τραχύτης, γνώμη δυσάρεστος, θυμὸς καὶ ὀργὴ καὶ κραυή, μὴ γνωριζόμενα πρότερον. Psellos: Chronographia III 24.7-9
Having from earliest youth been approachable, he then became unapproachable and inaccessible alike; laughter deserted him, and his gracious spirit and sweet character
εὐπρόσιτος γοῦν τὸν ἐκ πρώτης ἡλικίας βίον τυγχάνων, τότε δυσπρόσιτός τε ὁμοῦ καὶ δυσπρόσοδος ἐγεγόνει· ὅ τε γὰρ γέλως αὐτὸν ἀπέλιπε καὶ ἡ τῆς ψυχῆς χάρις καὶ τὸ γλυκὺ τοῦ ἤθους. Psellos: Chronographia III 24.9-12
Lack of generosity now increased in him: he made ungenerous distributions of money and was angered at every supplication, irritated at every pitiful voice
τὸ δέ γε ἀφιλότιμον τότε μᾶλλον αὐτῷ ἐπετάθη· ἀνελευθέρους γοῦν ἐποιεῖτο τὰς τῶν χρημάτων διανεμήσεις, καὶ πρὸς πᾶσαν μὲν ἱκεσίαν ἐχαλέπαινεν, πρὸς πᾶσαν δὲ φωνὴν ἐλεεινὴν ἐτραχύνετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 24.14-17
When
Michael 61
saw him in processions he differed little from a corpse: his whole face was swollen, his complexion no prettier than that of men three days dead; he breathed rapidly, advanced a little then stopped again
... βραχύ τι τῶν νεκρῶν διαφέροντα· ὅλον γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐξῳδήκει τὸ πρόσωπον, καὶ τὸ χρῶμα οὐδέν τι κάλλιον εἶχε τῶν τριταίων περὶ τὰς ταφάς· ἀπέπνει τε πυκνῶς, καὶ βραχύ τι προβαίνων αὖθις ἵστατο. Psellos: Chronographia III 25.3-6
(When
Michael 61
saw him), most of his hair had fallen out, like that of a corpse, but a few odd ones were in disarray about his brow, apparently stirred by his breathing
τῶν δὲ περὶ τὴν κεφαλὴν αὐτῷ τριχῶν αἱ μὲν πλείους ὥσπερ ἀπὸ νεκροῦ σώματος ἐπεπτώκεισαν, βραχεῖαι δέ τινες καὶ ψιλαὶ ἠτάκτουν περὶ τὸν μέτωπον, τῷ ἐκείνου, οἶμαι, συγκινούμεναι πνεύματι. Psellos: Chronographia III 25.6-9
He who had moved to another life ... the departed one
τῷ δὲ μεταλλαχότι τὴν ζωὴν ῾Ρωμανῷ ...τὸν ἀποδεδημηκότα. Psellos: Chronographia IV 3.12-13, 14-15
When he died after a short reign and the power fell to
Michael 4
, the Rus' armed their forces against
Michael 4
ἐπειδὴ κἀκεῖνος βραχύν τινα χρόνον ἐπιβίωσας τῇ βασιλείᾳ μετήλλακτο. Psellos: Chronographia VI 91.12-15
Was very fond of his wife (
Helena 102
)
كلّ واحد منهما كان مشغوفًا بالآخر. Yahya al-Antaki 486
A member of the senate
ἕνα τῶν τῆς συγκλήτου. Manasses, Chronicle 5965
Reigned for 5 ½ years
ἔτη δὲ πέντε ἥμισυ κρατήσαντα Ῥωμαίων
. Manasses, Chronicle 5998a
1043 summary: he was interested in literature and philosophy, especially after his accession; he spurned all imperial indulgences but clothes; in administration of justice he chose the stance of Cato, doing his duty, but hard for petitioners to persuade
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 202-216
Reigned for 5 years
κρατήσας ἔτη ε´. Glykas 580.19
Although it was whispered not only by those about the palace but also by those on street corners,
Romanos 3
alone was ignorant of the love of
Zoe 1
for
Michael 4
Zonaras 17.13.14
A Roman general
մի ի զօրացն սպայից Հոռոմոց. Aristakes 42.12-13 (28)
Knew how to be a philosopher in his enquiries and understood eristic syllogisms, but had not the least idea how to demonstrate philosophy in his works
ἀλλ’ ἐκεῖνος φιλοσοφεῖν μὲν ᾔδει ἐν τοῖς ζητήμασιν, καὶ συλλογισμοὺς σωρείτας καὶ οὔτιδας, ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν ἔργων τὸ φιλόσοφον ἐπιδείκνυσθαι οὐ πάνυ ἠπίστατο. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.23-5
Some who say that
Romanos 3
was not unaware of the love, but
that the empress
Zoe 1
was aroused and in a state of sexual madness, and that he tolerated her partiality for
Michael 4
, feigning ignorance lest she associate with more men
εἰσὶ δ᾿ οἳ λέγουσι μὴ ἀγνοῆσαι τὸν βασιλέα τὸν ἔρωτα, *** δ᾿ ὅτι σφριγᾷ ἡ βασίλισσα καὶ περὶ τὰ ἀφροδίσια μέμηνε, τῆς πρὸς τὸν Μιχαὴλ αὐτῆς ῥοπῆς ἠνείχετο, ὑποκρινόμενος ἄγνοιαν, ἵνα μὴ πλείοσιν ὁμιλοίη. Zonaras 17.13.22
The illustrious man was married to a wife
γυναικὶ γὰρ ὁ λαμπρὸς ἐκεῖνος συνεβίου ἀνήρ. Zonaras 17.10.20
Was destined not only to terminate the power with himself, but also after living only a short time and in bad health, to break off life suddenly
ὁ δὲ ἔμελλεν ἄρα οὐ μόνον ἑαυτῷ περιγράψειν τὸ κράτος, ἀλλὰ καὶ βραχύν τινα ἐπιβιώσας χρόνον, καὶ τοῦτο νοσερόν, ἀθρόον τὴν ψυχὴν ἀπορρήξασθαι. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.6-9
One might even say that he was mad about the work (the Peribleptos) and wanted to see it often and with many eyes
εἰ δεῖ οὖν καὶ τοῦτ’ εἰπεῖν, ἐμεμήνει περὶ τὸ ἔργον, καὶ πολλάκις τοῦτο καὶ πολλοῖς ἐβούλετο ὁρᾶν ὀφθαλμοῖς. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.31-3
He had not profited sufficiently from arithmetic and geometry so as to be able to reduce size or number, as geometers reduce complexity
οὐδὲ τοσοῦτον ἐξ ἀριθμητικῆς ἢ γεωμετρίας ὤνητο, ἵνα τι ἀφέλοι τοῦ μεγέθους ἢ τοῦ ἀριθμοῦ, ὥσπερ οἱ γεωμετροῦντες τὸ ποικίλον ἀφείλαντο. Psellos: Chronographia III 16.4-6
Successor to Basilios 002 and
Konstantinos 8
, his deeds are narrated in the Chronographia of
Michael 61
Χρονογραφία πονηθεῖσα τῷ ... Μιχαἠλ, ἱστοροῦσα τὰς πράξεις τῶν βασιλέων, ..., τοῦ τε μετ’ αὐτοὺς ῾Ρωμανοῦ. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 1-4
He did not measure his descent (from generosity to stringency) rationally, but suddenly dropped down from the highest summit
οὐ γὰρ ἐμέτρησε κατὰ λόγους τὴν ὕφεσιν, ἀλλ’ ἀθρόον ἐξ ὑψηλοτάτης καταβεβήκει περιωπῆς. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.7-9
Zoe 1
was furious with him and the advisers whom he used in restricting her spending; they knew this and kept watch on her the more, especially
Poulcheria 101
μεμήνει γοῦν αὐτῷ τε καὶ τοῖς ὅσοις συμβούλοις ἐχρῆτο περὶ τὸ πρᾶγμα· οἳ δὲ τοῦτο ἠπίσταντο καὶ πλέον αὐτὴν ἐφυλάττοντο, καὶ μᾶλλον ἡ ... Πουλχερία. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.14-16
He thought the barbarians to the West nothing great, even if he easily vanquished them; but he thought if he turned against those to the East, he could thereby behave haughtily and conduct imperial affairs in a grandiose way
τοὺς μὲν πρὸς τὴν ἑσπέραν οὐδὲν ἐδόκει αὐτῷ μέγα, εἰ καὶ ῥᾳδίως καταγωνίσαιτο· ..., σεμνῶς τε ἕξειν ἐντεῦθεν ἐδόκει καὶ ὑπερόγκως τοῖς τῆς βασιλείας χρήσασθαι πράγμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 7.3-7
Was as if prepared for manoeuvres alone, battle-lines, ambushes, foraging, trench-making, river-diversion, fort-taking, things reported of men like Trajan and Hadrian, and earlier Augustus and Caesar, and before them Alexander son of Philip
ὥσπερ ἐπὶ τούτῳ μόνῳ παρασκευασάμενος, ἐφ’ ᾡ τάξεταί τε καὶ ἀντιπαρατάξεται, καὶ λοχήσει καὶ προνομεύσει, διώρυχάς τε ποιήσει καὶ ποταμοὺς μετοχετεύσει καὶ φρούρια ἐξελεῖται, καὶ ὁπόσα ἀκοῇ ἴσμεν .... Psellos: Chronographia III 8.15-22
He was eager to appear pious; he was in fact interested in religious mattaers, but the pretence was more to him than the truth and the appearance seemed greater than the reality
διεσπουδάζετο ... τὸ δοκεῖν εὐσεβεῖν· καὶ ἦν μὲν ὡς ἀληθῶς περὶ τὰ θεῖα σπουδάζων, ἀλλ’ ἡ γε προσποίησις αὐτῷ πλείων τῆς ἀληθείας οὖσα ἐτύγχανεν, καὶ τὸ δοκεῖν τοῦ εἶναι κρεῖττον ἐφαίνετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.1-4
When he was dead and
Michael 4
held the sceptre, after waiting a short time
Michael 4
grew forgetful of
Zoe 1
, as
Michael 61
's account made clear, and completely despised
Theodora 1
ἐπεὶ δὲ οὗτος μὲν ἐτεθνήκει, .... Psellos: Chronographia V 35.5-9
Forgot how his predecessors had protected the peoples under their rule, decided to introduce innovations in the Church of God, and consequently received his just punishments from God
զառաջին թագաւորսն չէաց մտաւ...այլ ինքնօրէն հրամանաւ կամէր նորաձևս առնել յեղեկեցիս Աստուծոյ...Վասն որոյ ի մօտայ հասանեն արժանահաս դատաստանքն Աստուծոյ ի վերայ նորա. Aristakes 43.16-22 (29)
Fell ill, and his face became swollen, his breathing rapid, his countenance like that of a corpse, and the greater part of his head bald, since his hair fell out.He is said to have been worked on by drugs
οἱ διῳδήκει τὸ πρόσωπον καὶ τὸ ἆσθμα ἦν συνεχὲς καὶ ἡ ὄψις αὐτῷ ἐῴκει νεκροῦ καὶ τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτοῦ τὸ πλέον ἐψίλωτο· αἱ γὰρ τρίχες αὐτῆς ἀπερρύησαν. λέγεται γοῦν φαρμάκοις περιεργασθῆναι ὁ ἄνθρωπος. Zonaras 17.13.22
A successor to
Konstantinos 8
both on the throne and in terms of piety whose ardent lover and guardian he was, he walked the path of truth, supported the Church of God and imitated His benevolence
καὶ τῆς ἐκείνου βασιλείας ἅμα καὶ εὐσεβείας διάδοχος. Alexios Stoudites 11.13-25
Was most munificent as regards the dignities of power and showed himself more illustrious than most emperors in imperial expenditure, through benefactions and dedications
φιλοτιμότατος δὲ περὶ τὰς ἀρχὰς τοῦ κράτους γενόμενος καὶ λαμπρότερος τῶν πλείστων αὐτοκρατόρων ἔν τε ταῖς βασιλικαῖς δαπάναις δειχθεἰς, ἔν τε εὐεργεσίαις καὶ ἀναθήμασιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.1-4
His reign seemed to the Rus' brilliant and distinguished and their preparations (for war against Byzantium) were still disordered
ἡ τοῦ ῾Ρωμανοῦ βασιλεία λαμπρά τις αὐτοῖς νενόμιστο καὶ περιφανής, ἀσύντακτοί τε ἔτι ταῖς παρασκευαῖς ἦσαν. Psellos: Chronographia VI 91.10-12
Reigned for 15 (and a half?) years
ἔτη ιε´. Glykas 459
Thought that if he increased the number of the army beyond its prescribed limit, or rather multiplied the Roman batallions, no one would be able to resist him when he attacked with such a great throng of his own and allied men
ᾤετο γὰρ, ὡς εἰ πλείω τοῦ ὡρισμένου τοῦ στρατοπέδου τὸν ἀριθμὸν ποιήσειε, μᾶλλον δὲ εἰ πολλαπλασιάσειε τὸ ῾Ρωμαϊκὸν σύνταγμα, μηδενὶ ἂν φορητὸς γενέσθαι, τοσούτῳ ἐπίων πλήθει ἰδίῳ τε καὶ συμμαχικῷ. Psellos: Chronographia III 7.14-18
Had his two bents (for learning and fighting) not been all conceit and pretension but a real comprehension, he would greatly have profited the state. But he merely made undertakings, or rather built up hopes, only to dash them by his deeds
ἡ ... περὶ ἄμφω ῥοπή, εἰ μὴ οἴησις καὶ προσποίησις ἦν, ἀλλ᾽ ἀληθεστάτη κατάληψις, μέγα τι ἐλυσιτέλησε ἂν τῷ παντί. ὅθεν οὐδὲν πλέον τῶν ἐγχειρήσεων ἔδρασε, ... ταῖς πράξεσιν, ..., ἀθρόον κατέβαλεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 4.5-10
As if some new event and sudden change had occurred, suddenly abandoned the spirit of giving, from blowing rapidly suddenly took breath, and seemed unlike himself and ill-suited to government
ὥσπερ τινὸς γεγονότος καινοῦ καὶ ἀθρόας μεταβολῆς, ταχὺ τοῦτον τὸ πνεῦμα τῶν τοιούτων ἐπέλιπεν ἐπιδόσεων, καὶ ἀθρόον πνεύσας ταχὺ διέπνευσε, καὶ ἀνόμοιος ἑαυτῷ καὶ τοῖς πράγμασιν ἀκατάλληλος ἔδοξεν . Psellos: Chronographia III 6.4-7
A wise, magnanimous, pious and giving person, he reigned for 5 years and 6 months
وكان حليمًا حسن العفو وثيق الدين كثير الصدقة. Yahya al-Antaki 536
He dwelt on his own and did not remember that he had been married to a woman and lived with a spouse
καθ’ ἑαυτὸν βιοῦντα καὶ μηδὲ μιμνησκόμενον ὡς δέδεται γυναίῳ καὶ συνοικοίη γαμετῇ
. Manasses, Chronicle 5979-5980
Clung the more strongly in his reasoning to what he wanted (children), despite the physical impossibility
ὅπερ ἐβούλετο καὶ πρὸς τὴν φυσικὴν ἀδυναμίαν ἐρρωμενέστερον εἶχε τοῖς λογισμοῖς. Psellos: Chronographia III 5.9-10
Reigned for 5 years and 6 months
βασιλεύσας ἐπ᾿ ἔτη πέντε καὶ μῆνας ἕξ. Skylitzes 390.94-95
After surviving long enough to see his marriage (to
Zoe 1
)
Konstantinos 8
quit life, leaving the power to him
τοσοῦτον ἐπιζήσας ὅσον αἰσθέσθαι τῆς συνοικήσεως, μεταλλάττει τὸν βίον, τῷ κηδεστῇ ῾Ρωμανῷ τὸ κράτος καταλιπών. Psellos: Chronographia II 10.24-6
(Under him) there were no great philosophers and theological questions were limited; the palace was seen to be clad in philosophical dress, but it was entirely a mask and pretence: there was no test or enquiry into truth
ἦν ὁρᾶν τὸ βασίλειον σχῆμα μὲν φιλόσοφον περικείμενον, ἦν δὲ προσωπεῖον τὸ πᾶν καὶ προσποίησις, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἀληθείας βάσανος καὶ ἐξέτασις. Psellos: Chronographia III 3.1-14
Planned to capture the whole barbarian world, both East and West; he did not want to enslave with words, but win mastery by arms
ἡ επιχείρησις ἅπαν ἑλεῖν τὸ βάρβαρον ὅσον τε ἑῷον καὶ ὅσον ἑσπέριον· ἐβούλετο δὲ τοῦτο οὐ λόγοις δουλοῦν, ἀλλ’ ὅπλοις τυραννεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia III 4.1-5
As if he had made contracts about the imperial power with some better nature and had received from it a guarantee of unshakeable glory, he remained heedless of what was suspected
οὗτος ὥσπερ πρός τινα κρείττονα φύσιν γραφὰς περὶ τῆς βασιλείας πεποιηκώς, καὶ παρ’ ἐκείνης τὸ ἐχέγγυον τῆς ἀμετακινήτου δόξης ἀπειληφώς, ἀφροντίστως εἶχε τῶν ὑπονοουμένων. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.18-21
Greatly repenting his Syrian expedition and pained in spirit by his sufferings he changed completely: hoping to recover his losses by careful management of public affairs, he becamse a tax-collector rather than an emperor
... καθάπαξ ἠλλοίωτο καὶ πρὸς ἀσυνηθέστερον βίον μετέστραπτο. ᾽Ελπίσας τε ἀπὸ τῆς περὶ τὸν δημόσιον ἐπιμελείας τὰ ἀπολωλότα αὐτῷ ἐν ἴσῳ ἀνακτήσασθαι μέτρῳ, πράκτωρ μᾶλλον ἢ βασιλεὺς ἐγεγόνει. Psellos: Chronographia III 12.1-6
Had seen
Michael 4
in the grip of a fit and pitied him for his misfortune: he recognised his madness, but refused to recognise his amours and pleasures
ἑωρακὼς γοῦν τοῦτον ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ τούτῳ τῷ πάθει ἑαλωκότα, ᾤκτειρέ τε τοῦ πτώματος καὶ μανίαν μὲν κατεγνώκει, ἔρωτας δὲ ἀπεγνώκει καὶ χάριτας. Psellos: Chronographia III 22.10-12
(At his funeral) the hairs of his head and beard were so sparse that his ruined limbs resembled burnt-out crops, whose baldness appears from far off; if any wept for him, the tears flowed because of that
τῶν δὲ τριχῶν αἵ τε τῆς κεφαλῆς καὶ ὅσαι περὶ τὸν πώγωνα ἐψίλωντο τοσοῦτον, ἕως ἐοικέναι τὰ διεφθαρμένα μέλη τοῖς ἐξαφθεῖσι ληΐοις, ὧν πόρρωθεν ἡ ψίλωσις καταφαίνεται, .... Psellos: Chronographia IV 4.10-13
Still a private citizen but most distinguished among all because of his rank and (hopes of) a higher condition
εἰς τὸν ἰδιωτικὸν βίον ἔτι τελῶν, ἐπισημότατος δὲ παρὰ πᾶσιν ὢν ἀξιώματος ἕνεκα καὶ τῆς κρείττονος ὑπολήψεως. Psellos: Chronographia VI 15.11-13
Michael 4
ascended to the power after him
ὁ Μιχαήλ, ὃς δὴ μετὰ ῾Ρωμανὸν εἰς τὸ κράτος ἀναβεβήκει. Psellos: Chronographia VI 17.2-3
To ensure that both civilians and army received his family's succession readily, he anticipated by giving them great gifts, adding to the excess ... but he failed both in his family's succession and in leaving the state in good order
... προλαμβάνει τὰς εἰς αὐτοὺς μεγαλοδωρεάς, καὶ προστίθησι τῷ περιττεύσαντι σώματι, ... καὶ διαμαρτάνει δυοῖν, τῆς τε περὶ τὸ γένος ὑπολήψεως καὶ τοῦ τὴν πολιτείαν τεταγμένην ἀπολιπεῖν. Psellos: Chronographia VII 53.9-15
Was very attached to the Chalcedonian declaration and hated orthodox (Armenian) believers
յոյժ հաւանեալ էր քաղկեդոնական սահմանադրութեանն՝ ատելի գոլով ամենայն ուղղափառ հաւատոց. Aristakes 43.10-12 (29)
A wise man, pious, exercised in holy matters and taking a great pleasure in books and arguments lasting all night
ἀνὴρ σοφός, θεοσεβής, ἐμμελετῶν τοῖς θείοις καὶ βίβλοις χαίρων τὰ πολλὰ καὶ στάσεσι παννύχοις. Manasses, Chronicle 5972-5973
When he was thought worthy of the diadem, chosen above the rest, he deceived himself that he would be long-lived in empire, persuaded of this by the seers, and that he would leave behind a family sufficient for many generations of rule
ἐπειδὴ γὰρ ἠξιώθη τοῦ διαδήματος, παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους κριθείς, αὐτός τε πολυετὴς ἔσεσθαι ἠπατᾶτο τῇ βασιλείᾳ, τοῖς περὶ τοῦτο πειθόμενος μάντεσι, καὶ γένος καταλείψειν εἰς πολλὰς ἀρκέσον διαδοχάς. Psellos: Chronographia III 5.1-4
Seemed not to recognise that the daughter of
Konstantinos 8
(
Zoe 1
), whom he married at his proclamation to power, had passed beyond the time of pregnancy, her womb already dry for childbirth (for she was fifty when betrothed to him)
οὐδὲ τοσοῦτον διαβλέπειν ἐδόκει ὡς ἡ τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου θυγάτηρ, ᾗ συνῴκησεν εἰς τὸ κράτος ἀναρρηθείς, τὸν τοῦ κύειν ὑπεραναβεβήκει χρόνον (πεντηκοστὸν γὰρ ἔτος εἶχε ... ὁπηνίκα κατηγγυήθη τῷ Ῥωμανῷ). Psellos: Chronographia III 5.4-9
An emperor ought to care for his palace, adorn the acropolis, repair ruins, keep the imperial treasuries full intending this money for the army, but he neglected this and destroyed all else so that his church prove lovelier than others
... πλήρεις τε τοὺς βασιλείους ποιεῖν θησαυροὺς καὶ στρατιωτικὰ ταῦτα ἡγεῖσθαι τὰ χρήματα, ὁ δὲ τούτου μὲν ἠμέλει, ὅπως δὲ ὁ ναὸς αὐτῷ καλλίων παρὰ τοὺς ἄλλους δεικνύοιτο, τἄλλα κατελυμαίνετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.25-31
He had a graceful tongue and imposing utterance, he was heroic in stature and had absolutely the face of an emperor
ἁβρός τε τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ τὸ φθέγμα ὑπόσεμνος, ἥρως τε τὴν ἡλικίαν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ἀτεχνῶς ἔχων βασίλειον. Psellos: Chronographia III 2.3-5
Considering his rule as the beginning of a dynasty, since the imperial family which began with
Basileios 1
the Macedonian ended with his (
Romanos 3
's) father-in-law
Konstantinos 8
, he looked to a future line
... ὥσπερ ἀρχὴν περιόδου τὴν ἡγεμονίαν οἰηθείς, ἐπειδὴ ἐς τὸν πενθερὸν Κωνσταντῖνον τὸ βασίλειον γένος ἀπετελεύτησεν ἐκ Βασιλείου τοῦ Μακεδόνος ἠργμένον, εἰς μέλλουσαν ἀπέβλεπε γενεάν. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.2-6
His thinking (himself knowlegeable) and his stretching himself beyond the limits of his soul deceived him in very important matters
ἀλλὰ τὸ οἴεσθαι καὶ τὸ πλεῖον τοῦ τῆς ψυχῆς μέτρου συντείνειν ἑαυτόν, ἐν τοῖς μεγίστοις τοῦτον ἠπάτησεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 2.11-13
He was not at all a philosopher of earthly things, nor did he discuss them with philosophers, except those who violated that name from Aristotle's porch, but he examined deeper matters which could be apprehended by mind alone
οὐδὲ πάνυ τὰ κάτω φιλοσοφήσας, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ φιλοσόφοις περὶ τούτων διαλεγόμενος, εἰ μὴ ὅσον αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν τοῦ ᾽Αριστοτέλους προθύρων κατεβιάσθη τὸ ὄνομα, περὶ τῶν βαθυτέρων καὶ νῷ μόνῳ ληπτῶν ... διεσκέπτετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.9-13
If one were to except
Michael 4
's wrong to him, the charge of adultery and perhaps the things of which he was convicted in order to escape suspicion,
Michael 4
would be ranked among the pick of emperors
εἰ γάρ τις αὐτὸν ἐξέλοι τούτου μόνου τοῦ πρὸς τὸν ῾Ρωμανὸν ἀδικήματος καὶ τοῦ περὶ τὴν μοιχείαν ἐγκλήματος, καὶ ὧν ἴσως διὰ τὴν τῆς ὑποψίας ἑαλώκει φυγήν, ἐν τοῖς ἐξειλεγμένοις βασιλεῦσιν οὗτος τετάξεται. Psellos: Chronographia IV 7.2-6
He was particularly warm in his reverence for the icon of the Mother of God
καὶ γὰρ ἦν ἄλλως καὶ περὶ τὸ σέβας ταύτης θερμότατος. Psellos: Chronographia III 11.2-3
Received the name Argyropolos from his family
τὴν τοῦ ᾽Αργυροπώλου κλῆσιν ἐκ τοῦ γένους λαχών. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.2-6
The empress (
Zoe 1
) was irritated above all that he did not love her and that she was not able to spend unstintingly, since he closed the treasuries to her and sealed off their wealth and she lived on a fixed allowance of money
τό τε μὴ ἐρᾶν αὐτῆς τὸν κρατοῦντα καὶ τὸ μὴ ἔχειν ἀφθόνως χρῆσθαι· ἐπέκλεισε γὰρ αὐτῇ τὰ ταμεῖα καὶ τοὺς θήσαυροὺς ἐπεσφράγισε, καὶ πρὸς διαμεμετρημένην ἔζη χρημάτων ἐπίδοσιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.9-13
Had hoped to lay low the entire continent (of Asia)
ὁ πᾶσαν ἐλπίσας κατασεῖσαι τὴν ἤπειρον. Psellos: Chronographia III 9.29-30
The colour of his shoes marked him out (to Roman fugitives)
κατηγόρει γὰρ τοῦτον τὸ περὶ τῷ πεδίλῳ χρῶμα. Psellos: Chronographia III 10.19-20
He became excessive in his enquiries about divine matters, investigating causes and reasons which one could not find through knowledge without turning to Mind and receiving the explanation of hidden things directly from there
περιττότερος περὶ τὰ θειότερα τῶν ζητημάτων ἐγένετο, αἰτίας καὶ λόγους ἀνερευνώμενος οὓς οὐκ ἄν τις ἐξ ἐπιστήμης εὕροι, εἰ μὴ στραφείη πρὸς νοῦν κἀκεῖθεν ἀμέσως τὴν τῶν κεκρυμμένων δήλωσιν δέξαιτο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.5-8
Was in fact somewhat dulled in instinct and his bodily powers spent, since he was more than ten years older than the empress (
Zoe 1
)
ἦν γὰρ ὡς ἀληθῶς καὶ τὴν γνώμην ὑπονωθέστερος καὶ διερρυηκὼς τὴν ἕξιν τοῦ σώματος (πλέον γὰρ ἢ δέκα ἔτεσι τὴν τῆς βασιλίδος ἡλικίαν ὑπεραναβεβήκει). Psellos: Chronographia III 5.20-3
Dignity/Office
(36)
Autokrator
αὐτοκράτωρ. Glykas 580.19
αὐτοκράτωρ. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.1; 6.16; 9.25-6; etc.
αὐτοκράτωρ.
Seal 0
Basileus
διάδοχος. Alexios Stoudites 11.16
βασιλεῖς Κωνσταντινουπόλεως. Glykas 459
βασιλέα. Kekaumenos 236.9, 238.5
ἐκράτησεν τῆς βασιλείας. Kleinchroniken 159.8
τῶν σκήπτρων ἐπιλαμβάνεται. Zonaras 17.11.1
βασιλέων. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 1.3
τὸ κράτος καταλιπών. Psellos: Chronographia II 10.27-8
βασιλέως. Lavra 217.1
(دعى ... بالملك). Yahya al-Antaki 488
imperatoris Constantinopolitani. William of Tyre bk. 1, 6.5-6
μετὰ μικρὸν ἐβασίλευσε. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 49.4, 58.4
թագաւորին. Aristakes 43.5 (29)
τῷ βασιλεῖ. Manasses, Chronicle 5992
Basileus autokrator
αὐτοκράτωρ ἀναγορεύεται βασιλεύς. Skylitzes 374.40, 375.46
Droungarios of the vigla
قضى القضاة. Yahya al-Antaki 486
Emperor
imperator. Anonymus Barensis 149
Eparchos
ἐπάρχου. Zonaras 17.10.19
Eparchos of Constantinople
ايبرخس القسطنطنية. Yahya al-Antaki 486
Kaisar
قيصرًا. Yahya al-Antaki 488
Koiaistor
κοιαίστωρος. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 58.4
Krites of the hippodrome
(κριτὴς ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου).
Seal 0
Krites of the hippodrome and of Opsikion
κριτῇ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἱπποδρόμου καὶ τοῦ ᾿Οψικίου.
Seal 0
Megas chartoularios
(μέγας χαρτουλάριος).
Seal 0
Megas oikonomos of Hagia Sophia
τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου ἐπωνύμου Σοφίας μέγας οἰκονόμος. Zonaras 17.11.2
Oikonomos of Hagia Sophia
οἰκονόμος. Skylitzes 375.50
اقنوم الكنيسة العظمى اجيا صوفيا. Yahya al-Antaki 486
Patrikios
πατρίκιον. Skylitzes 374.23
البطريق. Yahya al-Antaki 484-86
πατρικίου.
Seal 0
Protospatharios
الابروطسبثارية. Yahya al-Antaki 486
πρωτοσπαθαρίου. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 58.4
(πρωτοσπαθάριος).
Seal 0
πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ.
Seal 0
Education
(6)
He thought that he knew much more than he did but, wishing to model his reign on the ancient Antonines, the great philosopher Marcus and Augustus, he clung to these two things, study of literature and attention to weapons
πολλαπλάσια δὲ ᾤετο εἰδέναι ὧνπερ ἐγίνωσκεν· ... , δυοῖν τούτων ἀντείχετο, τῆς τε περὶ τοὺς λόγους σπουδῆς καὶ τῆς περὶ τὰ ὅπλα φροντίδος. Psellos: Chronographia III 2.5-9
He was completely ignorant about weapons, but had a limited knowledge of literature, far from deep and superficial
ἦν δὲ θατέρου μὲν μέρους τέλεον ἀδαής, τῶν δὲ λόγων τοσοῦτον μετεῖχεν, ὅσον πόρρω τοῦ βάθους καὶ ἐπιπόλαιον. Psellos: Chronographia III 2.9-11
He was not at all a philosopher of earthly things, nor did he discuss them with philosophers, except those who violated that name from Aristotle's porch, but he examined deeper matters which could be apprehended by mind alone
οὐδὲ πάνυ τὰ κάτω φιλοσοφήσας, ἀλλ’ οὐδὲ φιλοσόφοις περὶ τούτων διαλεγόμενος, εἰ μὴ ὅσον αὐτοῖς ἐκ τῶν τοῦ ᾽Αριστοτέλους προθύρων κατεβιάσθη τὸ ὄνομα, περὶ τῶν βαθυτέρων καὶ νῷ μόνῳ ληπτῶν ... διεσκέπτετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.9-13
His main concern was the solution of problems in interpreting scripture, finding the hidden sense of cryptic passages; he would show more interest in talking to philosophers and rhetoricians on this than in the business of government
Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 216-221
Reared in letters, he had partaken of Hellenic education, and was not ignorant of the laws of the state, but he thought and boasted that he knew more than he really did know
λόγοις μὲν ἐντραφεὶς ἑλληνικῆς τε παιδείας μετεσχηκὼς καὶ τῶν τῆς πολιτείας νόμων οὐκ ἀδάης. Zonaras 17.13.29
Was both nurtured in Greek literature and partook of the culture which belongs to Italian (legal) literature
ἦν μὲν οὖν ὁ ἀνὴρ καὶ λόγοις ἐντεθραμμένος ἑλληνικοῖς καὶ παιδείας μετεσχηκὼς ὅση τοῖς ᾽Ιταλῶν λόγοις ἐξήρτυτο. Psellos: Chronographia III 2.1-3
Ethnic label
(null)
Second Name
(16)
Argyropolos, Argyropoulos, Argyros
τὸν Ἀργυρόν. Skylitzes 374.23-24
Ἀργυρόπουλος. Glykas 459, 580.8-9
Ἄργυρον. Kekaumenos 236.9
Ἀργυρόπουλος. Kleinchroniken 142.64, 165.10
ὁ κατὰ τοὺς Ἀργυροὺς Ῥωμανός. Zonaras 17.10.20, 18.10.10
Ἀργυρόπωλος. Zonaras 17.11.1
Ἀργυροπώλου. Psellos: Chronographia Introduction 4
Ἀργυροπώλου. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.2
κατὰ τοὺς Ἀργυρούς. Psellos: Chronographia VIIb 10.4
الارجوربلوس. Yahya al-Antaki 484
᾿Αργυρόπουλος. Eustathios Romaios Peira, 49.4
᾿Αργυροῦ. Psellos Keroularios 313
᾿Αγυρόπωλον. Christophoros of Mitylene 52.8
(᾿Αργυρός).
Seal 0
᾿Αργυροπούλῳ.
Seal 0
Ἀργυρόπουλον. Manasses, Chronicle 5966
Kinship
(61)
father of
Theophano 12101
θυγάτηρ.
Seal 0
brother of
Anonyma 109
(ἀδελφῇ). Skylitzes 377.15
brother of
Basileios 104
ἀδελφοῦ. Skylitzes 376.87
τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ. Zonaras 17.11.8
أخيه. Yahya al-Antaki 488
brother of
Poulcheria 101
(ἀδελφῇ). Skylitzes 376.73, 388.20
ἀδελφῷ. Psellos: Chronographia III 6.17-18
(ἀδελφὴ). Psellos: Chronographia III 21.12; 23.13; 23.17
(ἀδελφῆς). Psellos: Chronographia VI 15.16
(ἡ ἀδελφὴ). Zonaras 17.13.17
brother-in-law of
Basileios 103
(ὁ ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφῇ τοῦ βασιλέως γαμβρός). Skylitzes 388.20-21
brother-in-law of
Konstantinos 105
γαμβρόν. Skylitzes 377.16
brother-in-law of
Romanos 101
γαμβρόν. Skylitzes 376.73
grandson of
Romanos 110
(جدّ). Yahya al-Antaki 486
husband of
Helena 102
(τῆς νομίμου γυναικός). Skylitzes 374.27
(τῆς νομίμου γυναικός). Glykas 580.10
(γυναῖκα). Psellos: Chronographia II 10.14-18
γυναικὶ ... συνεβίου. Zonaras 17.10.20
(حرمته). Yahya al-Antaki 486
(τὴν ἄλοχον καὶ γαμετὴν τὴν πρὶν). Manasses, Chronicle 5967
husband of
Zoe 1
(ἱερολογεῖται). Skylitzes 374.39
(συζύγου). Skylitzes 375.65
(εἰς βασιλικὴν συμβίωσιν ἄγεται). Psellos: Chronographia II 10.25-6
συνοικήσεως. Psellos: Chronographia II 10.27-8
ᾗ συνῴκησεν. Psellos: Chronographia III 5.5-6
(κατηγγυήθη). Psellos: Chronographia III 5.9
(γυναικί). Psellos: Chronographia III 5.14; 22.12
(συζεύγνυται αὐτῷ πρὸς συμβίωσιν). Zonaras 17.10.22
συνήρμοστο τῇ Ζωῇ. Zonaras 17.10.24
(ἐπάγεται). Psellos Orationes panegyricae II, 194-195
(uxorem). Lupus protospatharius 57.41
(συζυγῆναι). Manasses, Chronicle 5968
husband (first) of
Zoe 1
(συνάπτεται). Glykas 580.18
տայ...ի կնութիւն. Aristakes 42.11-12 (28)
primum. Lupus protospatharius 59.10
kin of
Michael 106
καθ᾿ αἷμα τούτῳ ἐγγίζοντα. Skylitzes 375.61-62
kin of
Theodora 1
διὰ τὸ συγγενές. Skylitzes 374.35-36
kin of
Zoe 1
τῆς συγγενείας. Skylitzes 374.38
relative by marriage of
Konstantinos 8
κηδεστῇ. Psellos: Chronographia II 10.28
son of
Anonymus 562
(أبويهما). Yahya al-Antaki 484
son-in-law of
Konstantinos 8
(πενθεροῦ). Skylitzes 376.69
ὁ ἐπὶ θυγατρὶ τούτου γαμβρός. Alexios Stoudites 11.13-14
γαμβρός. Kleinchroniken 159.8
γαμβρός. Psellos: Chronographia III 1.1; 6.16; 9.25-6; etc.
(πενθερόν). Psellos: Chronographia III 1.4
κηδεστής. Psellos: Chronographia VII 53.5
(πενθεροῦ). Zonaras 17.11.4
(πενθεροῦ). Zonaras 17.11.4
gener. Anonymus Barensis 149
uncle of
Anonyma 108
ὁ ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφιδῇ δὲ τοῦ βασιλέως γαμβρὸς . Zonaras 17.11.6
(ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφόπαιδι τοῦ ... ῾Ρωμανοῦ). Zonaras 18.10.10
uncle of
Anonyma 110
(τὴν οἰκείαν ἀνεψιάν). Skylitzes 385.38
uncle of
Anonyma 6006
(ἀδελφόπαιδι). Zonaras 17.20.11
uncle of
Helena 104
(τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἀνεψιάν). Skylitzes 377.23
(τὴν παῖδα Βασιλείου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ αὐτοῦ). Zonaras 17.11.8
(τὴν οἰκείαν ἀνεψιὰν). Zonaras 17.14.29
θείου. Zonaras 17.14.29
uncle (by marriage) of
Konstantinos 9
(κηδεστὴν ... ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφόπαιδι). Zonaras 17.20.11
uncle (by marriage) of
Konstantinos 101
κηδεστής. Zonaras 18.10.10
uncle of wife of
Konstantinos 101
(γαμβρός). Skylitzes 376.87
(ὁ ἐπ᾿ ἀδελφιδῇ γαμβρός). Zonaras 17.11.6
Language Skill
(null)
Location
(85)
Abchasia
renewed treaty with and sent
Helena 103
to Abchasia Ἀβασγίαν. Zonaras 17.11.8
Aleppo/Beroia
decided to march against Aleppo حلب. Yahya al-Antaki 492
marched towards Aleppo حلب. Yahya al-Antaki 496
requested from
Nasr 101
and
Thimal 101
to deliver to him Aleppo حلب. Yahya al-Antaki 494
wished and made ready to campaign against Aleppo Βέρροια. Zonaras 17.11.9
campaigned against Berroia τῆς Βερροίας. Skylitzes 377.14
intended to attack, capture and destroy Berroia Հալպ. Aristakes 42.17 (28)
Anakouphia
was handed by
Alde 101
the very strong fort of Anakouphia τὴν Ἀνακουφίαν. Skylitzes 389.50
Antioch (on the Orontes)
arrived and pitched his camp at Antioch (on the Orontes) أنطاكية. Yahya al-Antaki 494
arrived at Antioch (on the Orontes) τὴν ᾽Αντιόχου. Psellos: Chronographia III 8.3
escaped safely to Antioch (on the Orontes) Ἀντιόχειαν. Zonaras 17.12.1
fled (from Azaz) to Antioch (on the Orontes) εἰς Ἀντιόχειαν. Skylitzes 381.35
left Antioch (on the Orontes) τὴν ᾽Αντιόχου. Psellos: Chronographia III 9.1
prepared for battle at Antioch (on the Orontes) أنطاكية. Yahya al-Antaki 494
retreated after his defeat by the Saracens to Antioch (on the Orontes) Ἀντιόχειαν. Glykas 583.6
sent two envoys (
Anonymi 170
) to Antioch (on the Orontes) أنطاكية. Yahya al-Antaki 522
marched with his army towards Antioch Անտիոքացւոց. Aristakes 42.16 (28)
Athos: Great Lavra
confirmed the island of Neoi to the monastery of Great Lavra τῶν Μελανῶν. Lavra 218.7
Azaz
encamped near Azaz اعزاز. Yahya al-Antaki 496
pitched camp at the fort of Azaz Ἀζάζιον. Skylitzes 380.91
Berkri (near lake Van)
was handed the fort of Berkri (near lake Van) Περκρίν. Skylitzes 388.34
Black Mountain (Syria)
arrived and enquired about the monks on the Black Mountain լերինն որ կոչի Սեաւ. Aristakes 42.17-18 (28)
Cappadocia
arrived and stayed in the Phokas house in Cappadocia ἐν Καππαδοκίᾳ. Skylitzes 382.56
Constantinople
after his defeat returned and never marched again out of Constantinople թագաւորանիստ քաղաքէն. Aristakes 44.10-11 (29)
fled to Constantinople τὴν Κωνσταντίνου. Zonaras 17.12.1
founded a large monastery with hospital and hostel within the walls of Constantinople القسطنطينية. Yahya al-Antaki 536
left Constantinople القسطنطينية. Yahya al-Antaki 492
repaired the aqueducts and cisterns of Constantinople τῇ πόλει. Skylitzes 389.65
returned (from his campaign in Syria) to Constantinople القسطنطينية. Yahya al-Antaki 500
returned to Constantinople Κωνσταντινούπολιν. Psellos: Chronographia III 11.19
set out from Constantinople Βυζαντίδος. Psellos: Chronographia III 8.2
took the road back from Mesanakta to Constantinople πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα. Skylitzes 386.68
was advised to return to Constantinople Βυζάντιον. Psellos: Chronographia III 11.16
was appointed by
Konstantinos 8
eparch of Constantinople القسطنطينية. Yahya al-Antaki 486
was banished by
Konstantinos 8
from Constantinople القسطنطينية. Yahya al-Antaki 486
Constantinople: Blachernai
found an old icon while restoring the sanctuary of the Virgin at Blachernai τῶν Βλαχερνῶν. Skylitzes 384.22
gilded with silver and gold the capitals of (the church at) Blachernai τῶν Βλαχερνῶν. Glykas 583.14
gilded with silver and gold the capitals of the Virgin of Blachernai τῆς ὑπεραγίας θεοτόκου τῶν Βλαχερνῶν. Skylitzes 384.20-21
ordered the renewal of the plaster in the church of the Virgin at Blachernai τῶν Βλαχερνῶν. Skylitzes 384.22
Constantinople: Great Palace
added Abgar's letter to Christ and the latter's response to the relics kept in the Great Palace فى بلاط الملك. Yahya al-Antaki 514
added the hair of John the Baptist sent by
Nasr 101
to the relics kept in the Great Palace بلاط الملك. Yahya al-Antaki 530
was drowned in the baths found in the Great Palace βαλανείοις χρησόμενος αὐτόθι που περὶ τὰ βασίλεια. Psellos: Chronographia III 26.11-12
was drowned in the swimming pool of the bath in the Great Palace τῷ μεγάλῳ παλατίῳ. Skylitzes 390.92-93
was drowned while taking a bath in the Great Palace ἐν τῷ μεγάλῳ παλατίῳ. Glykas 585.8
was introduced by
Symeon 101
to the palace ἐς τὰ βασίλεια. Skylitzes 374.26
was taken up to palace τὰ βασίλεια. Psellos: Chronographia II 10.23
Constantinople: Hagia Sophia
gilded with silver and gold the capitals of Hagia Sophia τῆς μεγάλης ἐκκλησίας. Skylitzes 384.20
gilded with silver and gold the capitals of Hagia Sophia τῆς μεγάλης ἐκκλησίας. Glykas 583.14
granted an annual endowment of 80 pounds of gold to Hagia Sophia τῇ γὰρ θεοῦ μεγάλῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ. Glykas 580.20-21
served as oikonomos of Hagia Sophia τῆς μεγάλης...ἐκκλησίας. Skylitzes 375.50
was appointed by
Konstantinos 8
oikonomos of Hagia Sophia الكنيسة العظمى اجيا صوفيا. Yahya al-Antaki 486
Constantinople: House of Triakontaphyllos
bought and turned into a monastery the House of Triakontaphyllos τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Τριακονταφύλλου. Glykas 583.10
bought and turned into a monastery the house of Triakontapyllos τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Τριακονταφύλλου. Skylitzes 384.16
Constantinople: Peribleptos
added a lodging for monks to Peribleptos ναός. Psellos: Chronographia III 16.2
dedicated immense lands to Peribleptos τῷ νεῴ. Psellos: Chronographia III 16.15
founded and was buried in the church of the Peribleptos τῆς περιβλέπτου. Glykas 585.19-20
founded the monastery of Peribleptos τῆς περιβλέπτου. Skylitzes 391.11
gave his church for the Mother of God the name Peribleptos Περίβλεπτος. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.40
He constructed a church to the Theotokos called Peribleptos Περίβλεπτος. Manasses, Chronicle 5974-5975
installed the trappings of court and spent much of the year at Peribleptos ὁ ναὸς. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.30
prepared his tomb and was buried in his monastery of the Peribleptos ديره. Yahya al-Antaki 536
undertook to build Peribleptos ναὸν τῇ Θεομήτορι. Psellos: Chronographia III 14.6
used taxes levied for other purposes in building Peribleptos τοῦ νεὼ. Psellos: Chronographia III 15.30
was buried in the Peribleptos Περιβλέπτου. Christophoros of Mitylene 8.30
was buried in the monastery of Peribleptos τῆς περιβλέπτου. Skylitzes 391.11
Egypt
sent
Tekneas 101
with a fleet to Egypt εἰς Αἴγυπτον. Skylitzes 388.30
Hellas
gathered a strong army from Macedonia and Hellas ἔκ τε Ἑλλάδος. Skylitzes 384.8
Italy
gathered a strong army from Hellas and Macedonia and sent it to Italy ἐν Ἰταλίᾳ. Skylitzes 384.9
Jerusalem: Holy Sepulchre
established conditions for rebuilding the Holy Sepulchre ecclesiam ... Ierosilimis. William of Tyre bk. 1, 6.4-9
requested from
al-Zahir 101
to be allowed to rebuild the Holy Sepulchre كنيسة القيامة ببيت المقدّس. Yahya al-Antaki 532
was eager to rebuild the Holy Sepulchre τὸν ναόν. Skylitzes 388.16-17
Kafarba
banished
Ioannes 273
to Kafarba كفربا. Yahya al-Antaki 490
Macedonia
gathered a strong army from Hellas and Macedonia Μακεδονίας. Skylitzes 384.8
Mesanakta (Phrygia)
on his way to Syria arrived and stayed at Mesanakta (Phrygia) εἰς τὰ Μεσάνακτα. Skylitzes 385.40-41
took the road back to Constantinople from Mesanakta (Phrygia) τῶν Μεσανάκτων. Skylitzes 386.68
Neoi (Aegean)
confirmed to Lavra the island of Neoi (Aegean) τῆ νήσω τῶν Νέων. Lavra 218.5
Opsikion
was krites of the hippodrome of Opsikion ᾿Οψικίου.
Seal 0
Philomelion (Asia Minor)
collected troops at Philomelion (Asia Minor) الفلميل. Yahya al-Antaki 492
marched against the Saracens and arrived at Philomelion (Asia Minor) Φιλομίλιον. Glykas 582.18
received an embassy from Berroia at Philomelion (Asia Minor) τὸ Φιλομίλιον. Skylitzes 379.78
Syria
assembled his whole army agains the Saracens who inhabited Coele Syria Κοίλῃ Συρίᾳ. Psellos: Chronographia III 7.9-10
departed for Syria Συρίᾳ. Zonaras 17.11.17
marched into Syria ἐν Συρίᾳ. Skylitzes 380.90
moved against Syria τὴν Σύρων ... γῆν. Psellos: Chronographia III 8.2-3
planned a second campaign to Syria κατὰ Συρίας. Skylitzes 385.40
Occupation/Vocation
(null)
Possession
(null)
Religion
(3)
Christian
He was particularly warm in his reverence for the icon of the Mother of God καὶ γὰρ ἦν ἄλλως καὶ περὶ τὸ σέβας ταύτης θερμότατος. Psellos: Chronographia III 11.2-3
He was eager to appear pious; he was in fact interested in religious mattaers, but the pretence was more to him than the truth and the appearance seemed greater than the reality διεσπουδάζετο ... τὸ δοκεῖν εὐσεβεῖν· καὶ ἦν μὲν ὡς ἀληθῶς περὶ τὰ θεῖα σπουδάζων, ἀλλ’ ἥ γε προσποίησις αὐτῷ πλείων τῆς ἀληθείας οὖσα ἐτύγχανεν, καὶ τὸ δοκεῖν τοῦ εἶναι κρεῖττον ἐφαίνετο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.1-4
He became excessive in his enquiries about divine matters, investigating causes and reasons which one could not find through knowledge without turning to Mind and receiving the explanation of hidden things directly from there περιττότερος περὶ τὰ θειότερα τῶν ζητημάτων ἐγένετο, αἰτίας καὶ λόγους ἀνερευνώμενος οὓς οὐκ ἄν τις ἐξ ἐπιστήμης εὕροι, εἰ μὴ στραφείη πρὸς νοῦν κἀκεῖθεν ἀμέσως τὴν τῶν κεκρυμμένων δήλωσιν δέξαιτο. Psellos: Chronographia III 13.5-8
Eunuchs
(null)
Alternative Name
(null)
Uncertain Ident
(1)