Zoe succeeded Michael IV & proclaimed Michael V, after solemn promises of obedience

Summary:
Ioannes the orphanotrophos and his brothers, desirous of putting Michael (V) Kalaphates on the throne, besieged the empress Zoe with words and captured her with reasons. She had pondered the idea of giving the reins of government into a man's hands and they persuaded her to have Kalaphates made emperor, though in name only and herself still holding power. She was amenable to the possibility anyway, and stood no chance in the face of their arguments 
Dates:
1041 December 13 
brothers of Ioannes Orphanotrophos (Anonymi 6008)
  • They and Ioannes 68 went to the empress Zoe 1 and prostrated Michael 5 at her feet (:) ὡς ἀργυρωνή´τῳ, εἰ βούλεται, κεχρῆσθαι αὐτῷ Zonaras 17.18.6
  • When they and Ioannes 68 had by these means bewitched Zoe 1 (she was in any case amenable) and entranced her with blandishments they took advantage of her and made her an instrument of their own will (:) συλῶσι και τοῦ ἑαυτῶν ποιοῦσι θελήματος Zonaras 17.18.7
  • They and Ioannes 68 put the adoption before Zoe 1, giving assurances and swearing dread oaths that Michael 5 would participate in the empire in name only, while the power would be hers and she would use him if she wished as one does a slave bought with silver (:) Zonaras 17.18.6
  • They and Ioannes 68 stood together and with the weaponry of argument besieged the easily-won soul of Zoe 1: they recalled her adoption (of Michael 5), put the boy under his mother and sovereign and threw him at her feet (:) συμπαραταξάμενοι ταῖς μηχαναῖς τῶν ἐνθυμημάτων Psellos: Chronographia V 4.1-4
  • They enumerated a whole litany of names (fit) for the occasion and persuaded (Zoe 1) that Michael 5 would have only the name of emperor, while she, in addition to the name, would have as well her hereditary possession (of sovereignty): in association with Ioannes 68 (:) πᾶσαν ὀνομάτων λατρείαν πρὸς τὸν καιρὸν συναριθμήσαντες Psellos: Chronographia V 4.5-8
  • They said that if Zoe 1 wished, she herself would control the state, otherwise she would give orders to Michael 5 and use him as a slave-emperor; they swore unbreakable oaths, pledging on holy relics - and at once captured her entire: in association with Ioannes 68 (:) ἀρρήτους τε ταύτῃ ὅρκους ὀμνύουσι καὶ τὴν καθ’ ἱερῶν δόντες πίστιν θηρῶσιν ὅλην εὐθύς Psellos: Chronographia V 4.8-12
  • Zoe 1 entrusted the power to them and with her exhortations calmed the City which was meantime in suspense awaiting her assent: in association with Ioannes 68 (:) ἐπιτρέπει γοῦν αὐτοῖς τὸ κράτος Psellos: Chronographia V 5.2-4
Ioannes the Orphanotrophos, brother of Michael IV (Ioannes 68)
  • Advised that Michael 5 must not undertake any action without the empress' opinion (Zoe 1) (:) Zonaras 17.18.5
  • Zoe 1 had little choice but to accept (Michael 5 as emperor), since she was helpless and bewitched by their sorcery, or rather tricked and captivated by their wiles and trickery and converted to their wishes καὶ τοῖς γοητεύμασιν ἐκείνων καταθελχθεῖσαν, ἢ μᾶλλον τοῖς μηχαναῖς τούτων καὶ τοῖς κλέμμασι κλαπεῖσαν καὶ συνειληθεῖσαν καὶ πρὸς τὰ ἐκείνων μετατεθεῖσαν θελήματα Psellos: Chronographia V 4.12.-16
  • He and Anonymi 6008 stood together and with the weaponry of argument besieged the easily-won soul of Zoe 1: they recalled her adoption of Michael 5, put the boy under his mother and sovereign and threw him at her feet (:) συμπαραταξάμενοι ταῖς μηχαναῖς τῶν ἐνθυμημάτων Psellos: Chronographia V 4.1-4
  • He said that if Zoe 1 wished, she herself would control the state, otherwise she would give orders to Michael 5 and use him as a slave-emperor; they swore unbreakable oaths, pledging on holy relics - and at once captured her entire (:) ἀρρήτους τε ταύτῃ ὅρκους ὀμνύουσι καὶ τὴν καθ’ ἱερῶν δόντες πίστιν θηρῶσιν ὅλην εὐθύς Psellos: Chronographia V 4.8-12
  • Zoe 1 entrusted the power to him and his family, and with her exhortations calmed the City which was meantime in suspense awaiting her assent (:) ἐπιτρέπει γοῦν αὐτοῖς τὸ κράτος Psellos: Chronographia V 5.2-4
Emperor Michael V Kalaphates (Michael 5)
  • Proclaimed emperor by the council convened after the death of his uncle Michael 4 (Paphlagon), he reigned for only five months (:) ἐβασίλευσε δὲ ὁ Μιχαὴλ οὗτος μῆνας μόνους πέντε Attaleiates: History 10.21-22, 17.21-22 / 9.5-6, 14.14
  • Adopted by Zoe 1, he was proclaimed emperor and was bound with oaths to abide by her wishes and to respect her as his mother, but when he was about to be crowned he fainted and was barely revived with perfumes and scents (:) σκοτώσει καὶ ἰλίγγῳ ληφθείς Glykas 589.16-590.6
  • Rule of the empire passed to the Kaisar (Michael 5), with his maternal uncle Ioannes 68 accomplishing everything (:) Zonaras 17.18.1
  • Ioannes 68 advised that he must not undertake any action without the opinion of the empress (Zoe 1) (:) Zonaras 17.18.4
  • Entered the palace (:) Zonaras 17.18.5
  • Being such he ascended the axle of empire, but for the orphanotrophos his uncle (Ioannes 68) and his entire family (Anonymi 6008) the peak of disasters was thereby brought on (:) Zonaras 17.18.12
  • He became emperor after Michael 4; Michael 61's account presented much information about him before he became emperor (:) βασιλεύει μετ’ αὐτὸν ὁ ἐκείνου ἀνεψιός Psellos: Chronographia V 1.1
  • Anonymi 6008 and Ioannes 68 stood together and with the weaponry of argument besieged the easily-won soul of Zoe 1: they recalled her adoption (of him), put him under his mother and sovereign and threw him at her feet (:) ἀναμνήσαντες τῆς υἱοθεσίας ὑπὸ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ δεσπότιδι τὸν παῖδα τιθέασι Psellos: Chronographia V 4.1-4
  • Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 enumerated a whole litany of names for the occasion, persuading Zoe 1 that he would have only the name of emperor, while she, in addition to the name would have her hereditary possession (of sovereignty) (:) ὁ μὲν ἀδελφιδοῦς τοῦ τῆς βασιλείας καὶ μόνον ὀνόματος τεύξεται Psellos: Chronographia V 4.5-8
  • Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 said that if Zoe 1 wished, she herself would control the state, otherwise she would give orders to him and use him as a slave-emperor (:) εἰ δ’ οὖν, ἐγκελεύσει τε τούτῳ καὶ ἐπιτάξει καὶ ὡς ἀργυρωνήτῳ βασιλεῖ Psellos: Chronographia V 4.8-10
Empress Zoe (Zoe 1)
  • Following the death of her husband Michael 4 (Paphlagon), she returned to the southern palace from the northern part of the city and a council was held wherein the dead emperor's nephew Michael 5 (Kalaphates) was proclaimed emperor (:) ἐν τοῖς κατὰ νότον ἀνακτόροις ἐπανελθούσης ἀπὸ τῶν βορειοτέρων μερῶν τῆς πόλεως Attaleiates: History 10.16-22 / 9.1-6
  • Inherited the empire after the death of Michael 4 and had as her associates her father's eunuchs (Anonymi 112), but when she realised she could not handle state affairs by herself she decided to appoint an emperor capable of facing the challenge (:) Skylitzes 416.58-67
  • Pondered for 3 days (after the death of Michael 4) and decided to appoint to the throne the emperor's nephew and namesake (Michael 5) whom she bound by terrible oaths that he would respect and obey her as his empress and mother for life (:) Skylitzes 416.67-73
  • Ioannes 68 advised that Michael 5 must not undertake any action without the opinion of the empress (Zoe 1) (:) Zonaras 17.18.5
  • Anonymi 6008 and Ioannes 68 went to Zoe 1 and and prostrated Michael 5 at her feet (:) Zonaras 17.18.6
  • When Ioannes 68 thought there was enough flattery, he at once initiated a most intelligent plan urging that nothing be done without her, but the foundations of power and life be laid on her and everything done to make her amenable (:) μηδὲν τῆς βασιλίδος ἄτερ ποιεῖν προτρέπεται Psellos: Chronographia V 3.8-13
  • Anonymi 6008 and Ioannes 68 stood together and with the weaponry of argument besieged her easily-won soul: they recalled her adoption (of Michael 5), put him under his mother and sovereign Zoe and threw him at her feet (:) ἀναμνήσαντες τῆς υἱοθεσίας ὑπὸ τῇ μητρὶ καὶ δεσπότιδι τὸν παῖδα τιθέασι Psellos: Chronographia V 4.1-4
  • Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 enumerated a whole litany of names for the occasion and persuaded her that Michael 5 would have only the name of emperor, while she, in addition to the name, would have her hereditary possession of sovereignty (:) ἡ δὲ πρὸς τούτῳ καὶ τὴν πατρῴαν ἕξει κατάσχεσιν Psellos: Chronographia V 4.5-8
  • Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 said that if she wished, she herself would control the state, otherwise she would give orders to Michael 5 and use him as a slave-emperor (:) αὐτὴ τῶν ὅλων ἀνθέξεται, εἰ δ’ οὖν, ἐγκελεύσει τε τούτῳ καὶ ἐπιτάξει καὶ ὡς ἀργυρωνήτῳ βασιλεῖ χρήσεται Psellos: Chronographia V 4.8-10
  • Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 swore unbreakable oaths, pledging on holy relics - and at once captured her entire (:) θηρῶσιν ὅλην εὐθύς Psellos: Chronographia V 4.10-12
  • She had little choice but to accept (Michael 5 as emperor), since she was without help, bewitched by the sorcery (of Anonymi 6008 and Ioannes 68), or rather tricked and captivated by their wiles and trickery and converted to their wishes (:) ταῖς μηχαναῖς τούτων καὶ τοῖς κλέμμασι κλαπεῖσαν καὶ συνειληθεῖσαν Psellos: Chronographia V 4.12-16
  • She entrusted the power to Ioannes 68 and Anonymi 6008 and with her exhortations calmed the City which was meantime in suspense awaiting her assent (:) τέως μετέωρον οὖσαν τὴν Πόλιν ἐπὶ τῷ ἐκείνης βουλήματι κατευνάζει τῇ προτροπῇ Psellos: Chronographia V 5.2-4
  • She took charge of state affairs and crowned Michael 5 emperor - wrongly, as it transpired (:) ... τὸν Μιχαὴλ ἐκεῖνον τοῖς τῶν ἀνάκτων οὐ καλῶς κατακοσμεῖ συμβόλοις Manasses, Chronicle 6055-6057