Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX persuaded Zoe to recall Maria Skleraina, at first to modest housing. Konstantinos IX, when he was raised to the peak of empire, did not forget Maria Skleraina in his good fortune, but was generous with money and honours. Against the advice of all, including his sister Euprepeia, he spoke to Zoe about her and requested that she be recalled to enjoy some prosperity. He spoke of her not as a wife or a prospective mistress, but as one who had experienced many misfortunes from the imperial family, and many on his account. Zoe did not refuse the request, since she was growing old for jealousy and had experienced misfortune herself. Letters were sent to Maria, one from Konstantinos and one from Zoe herself, promising to be kind to her and encouraging her return. She had been in despair, but now came quickly to the capital. A modest residence was thought fit for her and a not especially brilliant escort
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX began Mangana monastery near Skleraina's house. Konstantinos IX was said to have begun building the Mangana monastery because of his beloved Skleraina, so that he might visit her continually on the pretext of the construction of the sanctuary, since she was then residing in the nearby house of the Kynegion. At first his visits were furtive, but later he became shameless. Even Zoe's supporters, when they realised what was happening, helped in the charade. He pulled down the previous structure on the Mangana site and built on the ruins, at first modestly, but later on an excessive scale
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX persuaded Zoe to let Skleraina move into palace. Konstantinos IX wanted to put aside the concealment and live with Maria Skleraina as his wife, and so he asked Zoe to let her move to the palace. He even made a contract of friendship and organised an imperial pavilion for it, where uneasy senators came as witnesses. Konstantinos sent continual gifts to Maria, and provided her with the means to make gifts to others. She knew of Zoe's passion for money and Theodora's passion for her darics. When the people saw her for the first time walking together with Zoe and Theodora, a great flatterer quietly quoted the Homeric phrase 'No cause for anger', without completing the line (a reference to the first appearance of Helen in Troy). Maria noted the comment, asked its significance, and rewarded the speaker. Psellos was captivated by Maria, who asked him mythological questions, and took an intelligent interest in his answers
Certainty: 2 Maria Skleraina was given the title "sebaste" by Zoe, at Konstantinos' suggestion. Since Konstantinos IX wished it, Zoe and Theodora honoured Maria Skleraina with the new dignity of 'sebaste', which before had had an exclusively imperial reference
Certainty: 3 Riot against Skleraina during a procession was stopped by appearance of Zoe & Theodora. On the feast day of the 40 martyrs Konstantinos IX was almost overpowered by the crowd when he came out of the palace with a large retinue, and proceeded on foot to the church of the Saviour at Chalke, intending to ride to the martyrs' shrine. He was forced to turn round when angry crowds started protesting against his mistress Skleraina. He gave up his plan to venerate the 40 martyrs in the confusion that followed, which subsided only when Zoe and Theodora appeared to the crowds
Certainty: 2 Wide unpopularity of Skleraina: Niketas Stethatos failed to break her hold over Konstantinos . Niketas Stethatos, an ascetic who went 40 days without taking any food whatever, tried without success to relieve the frustration caused to the people, the senate, and the empresses (Zoe and Theodora) by the affair of the emperor Konstantinos IX with the daughter of Skleros
Certainty: 1 Illness & death of Skleraina. Maria Skleraina, who had risen to such a height was suddenly brought low by disease, which was resistant to all treatment. She had chest pains and terrible difficulty in breathing and finally died, causing inexpressible grief for the emperor Konstantinos IX. His emotion is shown in the tomb he had made for her. Konstantinos was perhaps planning to make Maria empress, though it is was not easy for Psellos to see how. Psellos recommended Zoe and Theodora as consolation for the emperor