Certainty: 1 Illness & death of Skleraina Certainty: 1
1046
Certainty: 1 Second trial of Lazaros of Philippopolis sought to overturn the verdict of the first Certainty: 1
1047
Certainty: 2 Siege of Constantinople by Leon Tornikios, who won several skirmishes
Leon Tornikios reached the city, hoping to take it at once, and camped opposite Blachernai near the monastery of Hagioi Anargyroi. He began with promises to the citizens, but failed, so he turned to action. The emperor had installed machines on the walls and brought in ammunition. He gathered and paid troops to man the walls. He had stationed outside the Blachernai gate fewer than 1000 soldiers, armed by the senate on his orders, protected by a ditch. Tornikios attacked and forced them to retreat so that the gates were thrown open for them. Had his men got inside, he would have been victorious, but luck failed him: the defenders re-occupied the gates. Some onlookers began to flee, but the emperor was steadfast, furious at the defeatism of his sister Helena (Euprepeia had been exiled before). Konstantinos Leichoudes supported the plan to fight Tornikios outside the walls (at Blachernai), opposing Argyros, who implored the emperor not to pit small forces against the experienced army of the rebel. To be seen alive by friend and foe, the emperor watched from the wall, clad in imperial robes, on a balcony of the palace with Theodora and Zoe. He endured fierce mockery from the Macedonians outside. He was grazed by an arrow which lodged in the conical helmet of a servant, terrifying bystanders, including Psellos. It was rumoured Konstantinos was dead, Theodora had taken over and chosen Tornikios as emperor. At the end of the day Konstantinos prophecied to Psellos that Tornikios' fortunes would decline from then on, though when he saw Tornikios stopping the killing he worried about the loss of divine favour
Certainty: 2 Tornikios had the city at his mercy, but did not take it; fortune turned against him Certainty: 2
Certainty: 0 Donations to Hagios Michael of Sosthenion by Konstantinos IX & Zoe Certainty: 0
Certainty: 0 Donation to Mangana by Konstantinos IX & Zoe Certainty: 0
1048
Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote Oratio Panegyrica 5 for Konstantinos IX Certainty: 1
1049
Certainty: 1 Success of Romanos Boilas as a court buffoon Certainty: 1
1050
Certainty: 2 Zoe was buried in a most beautiful tomb
Konstantinos' devotion to Zoe can best be seen in the beautiful tomb he built for her. One of the little silver-plated columns round her tomb took in moisture at a point where the metal had split and in accordance with natural laws produced a little mushroom. Konstantinos, full of enthusiasm, filled the palace with the cry that the Lord had wrought a miracle at her tomb, so that all might know that her soul was numbered among the angels. Everyone realised the truth, but all encouraged his fervour, some in fear and others making the lie a chance to enrich themselves
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos IX was deeply moved by Zoe's death Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2 Konstantinos openly recognised his mistress (an Alan princess), naming her sebaste Certainty: 2
1053
Certainty: 1 Psellos wrote to Ioannes Mauropous on behalf of an old man, & mocked Ioannes for wanting to return to the capital Certainty: 1
1054
Certainty: 2 Psellos' return to court after tonsure, & its uncomfortable results Certainty: 2