Κύρια Ιδιότητα IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ. 1. General

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1 Περίληψη : A family of Asia Minor hailing from the theme of Paphlagonia. The Paphlagonians were not of illustrious descent, but they became distinguished thanks to the court positions held by the eunuch John Orphanotrophos. Despite the fact that two of its members, Michael IV and Michael V, ascended the throne, the family was never included among the ranks of Byzantine aristocracy. After the overthrow of Michael V in 1042, the Paphlagonians influence and power were lost outright. Κύρια Ιδιότητα Officials, 11 th -12 th Centuries 1. General The Paphlagonians were a family of Asia Minor that hailed from Paphlagonia. Its representatives were of humble origins and were never included among the upper echelons of Byzantine aristocracy. They owed their success to the position of the eunuch John, known by the monicker Orphanotrophos, who since the time of Basil II ( ) had been occupying important offices at court in Constantinople. Two Byzantine emperors, Michael IV the Paphlagonian and Michael V Kalaphates, came from this family. However, the attempt of the Paphlagonians to create a dynasty failed after the overthrow and blinding of Michael V in Following these events, the members of the family of Paphlagonians lost their social positions and soon disappeared from the forefront of history. 2. The appearance of the family The Paphlagonians owed their family name to the fact that they hailed from the theme of Paphlagonia. It is impossible to make a detailed reference to their activities in that region, since the first specific information on the family deals with the period after the first quarter of the eleventh century, when its members are shown to be active in Constantinople. Nevertheless, there is certain evidence in the sources that could define more fully the position these family members held in the social scale before John Orphanotrophos found himself among Basil II s courtiers and became a man of great influence. In the first place, it must be stated that this was a family of many members. The earliest and best-known generation of Paphlagonians comprised John, Constantine, George, the future emperor Michael and Niketas five brothers of which the first three were eunuchs. It is known that they also had a sister, Maria, whose son was the future emperor Michael V, representing the second generation of the family. Apart from the aforementioned family members, we can deduce from the sources that the Paphlagonians had other relatives as well, 1 but in most cases their name, position and relation to the five brothers is not mentioned. The Paphlagonians came from the lower social strata and had no upper-class ties. It is known that they were involved in banking and usury, activities that assisted them in becoming rich. 2 However, the family owed its rise primarily to the skills of the eunuch John Orphanotrophos and his ability to take advantage of the prevalent political circumstances of the time in order to elevate his brother to the imperial throne. 3. The role of John Orphanotrophos The earliest concrete evidence on the Paphlagonians dates from the period when members of the family settled in Constantinople, a time that saw the beginning of the rise of John the eunuch, eldest of the five brothers. According to Michael Psellos, the eunuch John was one of emperor Basil II s confidants at court, even though the latter had not entrusted him with any higher office. 3 Later on, in the reign of Constantine VIII ( ), John the eunuch was appointed to the service of Romanos Argyros, eparch of Constantinople. When in 1028 Argyros ascended the throne, John was given the opportunity to fill the most important position in the imperial court. It is known that in 1029 he was a praepositos and later, around , he was appointed overseer of the newlyfounded orphanage, hence the monicker by which he became known. Even though no other of his official titles is known, the fact Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/11

2 remains that during the time of Romanos III Argyros he was one of the most powerful personages at court and very quickly asserted his authority and gained significant influence. During the reign of Romanos III other members of the family were also given access to the palace, John s younger brother Michael being the first and foremost. Thanks to his physical appearance, Michael the Paphlagonian made an impression on the empress Zoe, wife of Romanos III, and soon became her lover. This fact gave the Paphlagonians the ability to exploit their influence and take over power in the state. There is no doubt that it was John Orphanotrophos who added political tint to this love affair. Since as a eunuch he was not eligible for the imperial office himself, it was natural that this part fell on young Michael. John Orphanotrophos plan for his family s rise to power met with success. During the night of Charcoal Thursday or the early hours of Good Friday, April 11-12, 1034, Romanos Argyros died suddenly in his bath. 4 On the same day Zoe married Michael, who thus ascended the throne of Constantinople, as the second husband of Constantine VIII s daughter. 4. The apogee of Paphlagonian power: Michael IV Because Michael s rise to the throne was sudden and under suspicious circumstances, the Paphlagonians were forced to take measures for safeguarding their newly-acquired place. The fact that the new emperor was of humble origin and his family had no ties to any illustrious family in Byzantium forced the Paphlagonians into seeking to secure the support of members of the upper social strata of the capital and the provinces. Immediately after the enthronement, Michael IV lavished high honors on the members of the Senate. For many reasons, it seems that securing support inside Constantinople was accomplished by the Paphlagonians without difficulty, since by their marriage Zoe, a member of the Macedonian dynasty, had imparted legitimacy to this fait accompli change-over. Zoe s support, in conjunction with the emperor s generosity, was enough to ensure the support of the people of the capital. The situation in the provinces developed differently. Information contained in contemporary sources 5 shows that that in certain regions (in the Armeniakon theme and the duchy of Antioch) there were reactions against the new rule, led by the patrikiosconstantine Dalassenos. Those mentioned among his followers included his son-in-law, the future emperor Constantine Doukas, and other potentates of Asia Minor (Goudeles, Baianos, and Probatas), while the leader of the opposition in Antioch was the patrikios Elpidios. The reports that mention a part of Byzantine aristocracy offering resistance and not recognizing Michael IV as emperor, because the latter did not belong to an illustrious family, are indicative. 6 It may be said that checking the opposition that had rallied round Dalassenos was the main issue of domestic policy that Michael IV had to face during his reign. The new emperor s uncertain position is also evident from the fact the Paphlagonians were constrained to deal with Constantine Dalassenos and his followers not directly, but gradually and with caution. Thus, during the first months of his reign Michael IV was forced to negotiate constantly with the disgruntled grandees of Byzantium, trying to win them over by bestowing honors on them. After a few months, however, when his authority was firmly secured, he was able to take harsher measures and so he began banishing and imprisoning his opponents, as well as confiscating their properties. Michael IV and John Orphanotrophos utilized delegation of authority among family members in order to compensate for the lack of family ties between the Paphlagonians and representatives of the upper social strata. In this way, Michael IV s relatives became the mainstay of his power. In actual fact, the state was run by John Orphanotrophos, because Michael suffered from epilepsy. 7 A share in the exercise of authority was also given to two of the emperor s brothers: in 1034 Niketas was appointed doux of Antioch, but, because he died shortly afterwards, this important post was given to the emperor s other brother, the eunuch Constantine. The latter went on to become domestic of the Schools of the East. The last brother, George, later received the rank of protovestiarios. Their sister Maria s husband, Stephen, father of future emperor Michael V, was appointed droungarios tou ploimou and took part in the expedition of George Maniakes against the Arabs of Sicily. Apart from offices and titles, the emperor s relatives were given the chance to get rich. Thanks to the confiscation of the estates of their political adversaries, the Paphlagonians were able to become great landowners themselves in certain Byzantine themes. 8 Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/11

3 5. An attempt at creating a dynasty Regardless of the difficulties that Michael IV faced after he rose to the throne, the fact that he was succeeded by his nephew, Michael V, bears witness to the Paphlagonians as a family having consolidated their position to a significant degree during the period Given the fact the emperor suffered from epilepsy and could not father any children by his marriage to Zoe, it was natural that from the outset the question of succession arose among his relatives. The way by which they had come to power in 1034 demanded an urgent solution to the question of the prospective succession, since in case Michael died suddenly the Paphlagonians would be hardpressed to protect their family s interests. Already in 1034 Niketas, who was the only one of the brothers, except Michael, who was not a eunuch, had been earmarked as heir. However, since he died in the same year, it was agreed that Michael, son the emperor s sister Maria, would be named heir. John Orphanotrophos and the emperor managed to convince Zoe first to adopt Michael and then to invest him with the rank of caesar. 9 In this way the legitimacy of Michael as heir apparent to the throne was assured. The great degree of consolidation of the Paphlagonian dynasty s position during the period is best evidenced by the fact that, after the death of Michael IV (December 1041), Michael V Kalaphates 10 took over power without anyone offering resistance, either in the capital or in the provinces. This time the emperor s humble origins caused no reaction in the Byzantine aristocracy, a fact that in itself shows the success of the policies of John Orphanotrophos and Michael IV. 6. The uprising of 1042 and the end of Paphlagonian rule The peaceful transition of power notwithstanding, the new emperor ruled for only a few months by April 1042 he had been overthrown and blinded. This turn of events came about mainly because Michael V destroyed his reign s two supports: first he turned against his family and then he attempted to bypass the dynastic rights of the empress Zoe. When he ascended the throne, Michael Kalaphates tried to distance himself from his relatives. For this reason, first he banished the powerful John Orphanotrophos and then his two uncles, Constantine and George. 11 Even though he soon recalled Constantine from exile and honored him with the high rank of nobelissimos, Byzantine historiographers stress the fact that his policy towards his relatives was completely different from that followed by his predecessor. While Michael IV sought and found his authority s mainstay among his relatives, Michael V saw in them the main obstacle to the independent rule towards which he tended and he decided to castrate them, thereby depriving himself of the assistance they could have offered him. 12 Michael Kalaphates folly did not end here, but was also expressed in his attitude towards the empress Zoe herself, whom he exiled to the island of Prinkipos, where he ordered that she be tonsured a nun. This act drove the capital s citizens to an uprising. Members of the Senate, representatives of the Church, but mainly the common people, loyal to the Macedonian dynasty, rebelled in 1042 against Kalaphates. Michael V was deposed and blinded along with his uncle, the novelissimos Constantine. 13 The April uprising in Constantinople cost the Paphlagonians the throne and the positions they held since the time of Michael IV. After the overthrow of Michael V, the family lost is political influence, as the Paphlagonians never succeeded in integrating themselves into the upper social strata of Byzantium and bonding with them. 1. It is thought that the brothers had many relatives on both sides of the family. See Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 11. Cf. Litavrin, G. G., Vosstanie v Konstantinopole v aprele 1042 g., Vizantijskij Vremennik 33 (1972), p Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), p Cf. Litavrin, G. G., Vosstanie v Konstantinopole v aprele 1042 g., Vizantijskij Vremennik 33 (1972), p. 39. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/11

4 3. Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellus, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp For more details on John Orphanotrophos see Janin, R., Un ministre byzantin. Jean l Orphanotrophe, Échos d Orient 30 (1931), pp According to Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), p. 391, Romanos Argyros was drowned by partisans of the Paphlagonians. Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellus, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp , also refers to the fact that Zoe, Michael and John Orphanotrophos were considered responsible for the death of Romanos III. 5. Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), pp Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), p Cf. Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner-Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), p Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), pp. 395, 404. Contrary to Skylitzes, who gives a particularly negative evaluation of Michael IV s administration, Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellus, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp , sees in him a capable ruler. 8. For instance, it is known that the eunuch Constantine owned land in the Opsikion theme. See Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), pp It is speculated that the lands he owned had been confiscated from opponents of the emperor who belonged to the Byzantine aristocracy. Actually, they were the estates of Goudeles, Baianos and Probatas. See Litavrin, G. G., Vosstanie v Konstantinopole v aprele 1042 g., Vizantijskij Vremennik 33 (1972), p. 41. Cf. Cheynet, J.-C, Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ) (Byzantina Sorbonensia 9, Paris 1990), pp Because of a difference in the sequence of events as narrated by Byzantine authors, it is difficult to accurately determine when Michael was proclaimed caesar. This could have taken place immediately after the death of Niketas (1034) or ca. 1040, shortly before the death of Michael IV. For details, see Krsmanović, B., Uspon vojnog plemstva u Vizantiji XI veka (Beograd 2001), pp Michael V s nickname (Kalaphates) derived from the early craft of his father, Stephen, commander of the fleet sent against Sicily in the reign of Michael IV. The term kalaphates (Arabic qalafat) refers to the caulker, a craftsman that uses pitch and oakum to seal the seams between the planks during the construction of a wooden ship. 11. According to the testimony of Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin - New York 1973), pp , Constantine was exiled to his estates in the Opsikion theme and George to the theme of Paphlagonia. 12. Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp Cf. Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellus, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp For details on the uprising in Constantinople, which lasted April 19-21, 1042, see Litavrin, G. G., Vosstanie v Konstantinopole v aprele 1042 g., Vizantijskij Vremennik 33 (1972), pp Βιβλιογραφία : Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973 Magdalino P., "Paphlagonians in Byzantine High Society", Λαμπάκης, Στ. (επιμ.), H Bυζαντινή Mικρά Aσία 6ος αι.-12ος αι., IBE/EIE, Aθήνα 1998, Διεθνή Συμπόσια 6 = Σπύρος Bρυώνης 27, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/11

5 Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ), Ι-ΙΙ, Paris (ανατ. 1967) Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1853 Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner-Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 1-3, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn Cheynet J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ), Paris 1990, Byzantina Sorbonensia 9 Krsmanović B., Uspon vojnog plemstva u Vizantiji XI veka, Beograd 2001 Lemerle P., Cinq études sur le XIe siècle byzantin, Paris 1977 Janin R., "Un ministre byzantin. Jean l'orphanotrophe", Échos d'orient, 30, 1931, Kazhdan A., Brand C.M., Cutler A., "John the Orphanotrophos", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 2, New York Oxford 1991, 1070 Kazhdan A., Brand C.M., Cutler A., "Michael IV Paphlagon", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 2, New York Oxford 1991, Литаврин Г.Г., "Восстание в Константинополе в апреле 1042 г.", Византийский временник, 33, 1972, Vryonis S., "Byzantine ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ and the Guilds in the Eleventh Century", Dumbarton Oaks Papers, 17, 1963, Μπουρδάρα Κ., Καθοσίωσις και Τυραννίς κατά τους Μέσους Βυζαντινούς χρόνους Ι: Μακεδονική δυναστεία , Αθήνα 1981 Laurent V., "La chronologie des gouverneurs d'antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine", Mélanges de l'université Saint-Joseph, 38, 1962, Brand C.M., "Michael V Kalaphates", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 2, New York Oxford 1991, 1366 Κεκαυμένος, Στρατηγικόν, Litavrin, G.G. (ed.), Sovety i rasskazy Kekavmena. Sočinenie vizantijskogo polkovodca XI veka, Moskva 1972 Δικτυογραφία : Michael IV - Byzantine Coinage Michael IV the Paphlagonian Michael V Calaphates (13 December AD April AD 1042). Gold histamenon nomisma Γλωσσάριo : Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/11

6 caesar In the Roman Empire the title of Caesar was given to the Emperor. From the reign of Diocletian ( ) on this title was conferred on the young coemperor. This was also the highest title on the hierarchy of the Byzantine court. In the 8th c. the title of Caesar was usually given to the successor of the throne. In the late 11th c. this office was downgraded and from the 14th c. on it was mainly conferred on foreign princes. doukas (lat. dux) Antiquity: Roman military commander who, in some provinces, combined military and civil functions. Buzantium: a higher military officer. From the second half of the 10th c. the title indicates the military comander of a larger district. After the 12th c., doukes were called the governors of small themes. droungarios tou ploimou ("droungarios of the fleet") Commander of the byzantine fleet stationed Constantinople. Droungarios tou ploimou is first mentioned in the midle 9th C (Taktikon of Uspenski). nobelissimos A Byzantine high-ranking dignity that appeared in the Early Byzantine period. Until the first half of the 11th c., it was exclusively bestowed on members of the imperial family. The title survived until the Palaiologan era. patrikios (from lat. patricius) Higher title of honour, placed, according to the "Tactika" of the 9th and the 10th centuries, between anthypatos and protospatharios. It was given to the most important governors and generals. Gradually, however, it fell into disuse and from the 12th century did not exist any more. praefectus urbi (prefect of the city) (later referred to as the eparch of the city) Αdministrator and virtual governor of Constantinople in the Early/Middle Byzantine Era. He was responsible for the surveillance and the harmonius life of the Capital. One of his responsibilities was to control the commercial and manufacturing activities of Constantinople. After 1204, however, the office began to diminish, while from the 14th century, his responsibilities were assumed by two officers, the so-called kephalatikeuontai of the capital. praepositos (from lat. praepositus sacri cubiculi) The praepositos or praipositos (πραιπόσιτος του ιερού κουβουκλίου or του ευσεβεστάτου κοιτώνος) was a grand chamberlain by the Early Byzantine period the highest official, usually Eunuch, in the imperial service. After the 6th C. his functions were assumed by the parakoimomenos. The dignity involved in palace ceremony and disappeared until the end of 11th C. protovestiarios (and protovestiarites) Honorific title given to high-ranking officials and future emperors during this period. The protovestiarios was originally responsible for the imperial wardrobe, but in the 9th-11th centuries the holders of the title could command an army or conduct negotiations with foreign states. Πηγές Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp , Berlin New York 1973), pp , , , , , Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum 3 (Bonn 1897), pp , Παραθέματα Michael Psellos narrates the Paphlagonian family's ascent to power: Ὑπηρέτουν τῷ βασιλεῖ τούτῳ πρὸ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἄλλοι τέ τινες καί τις ἀνὴρ ἐκτομίας, τὴν μὲν τύχην φαῦλος καὶ καταπεπτωκὼς, ὅσα δὲ ἐς γνώμην ῥέκτης δεινότατος τούτῳ δὴ καὶ Βασίλειος ὁ αὐτοκράτωρ οἰκειότατά τε ἐχρῆτο, καὶ ἐκοινώνει τῶν ἀπορρήτων, εἰς Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/11

7 ὑπερηφάνους μὲν οὐκ ἀναβιβάσας ἀρχὰς, γνησιώτατα δὲ πρὸς αὐτὸν διακείμενος. Τῷ δὲ ἀδελφός τις ἦν, τὸν μὲν πρὸ τῆς βασιλείας χρόνον ἔτι μειράκιον, τὸ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα γενειάσας ἤδη καὶ τῆς τελεωτέρας ἡλικίας ἁψάμενος κατεσκεύαστο δὲ τό τε ἄλλο σῶμα παγκάλως καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ἐς ἀκριβῆ ὡραιότητα εὐανθής τε γὰρ ἦν καὶ τὸ ὄμμα λαμπρὸς καὶ ὡς ἀληθῶς μιλτοπάρῃος. Τοῦτον ὁ ἀδελφὸς τῷ βασιλεῖ τῇ βασιλίδι συγκαθημένῳ, οὕτω δόξαν ἐκείνῳ, εἰσήνεγκεν ὀφθησόμενον καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἄμφω εἰσεληλυθέτην, ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς ἅπαξ ἰδὼν καὶ βραχέα ἄττα ἐρωτήσας, ἐξιέναι μὲν παρεκελεύσατο, ἐντὸς δὲ εἶναι τῶν βασιλείων αὐλῶν ἡ δὲ βασιλὶς, ὥσπερ τινὶ συμμέτρῳ φωτὶ τῷ ἐκείνου κάλλει τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἀναφθεῖσα, ἑαλώκει εὐθὺς καὶ ἐξ ἀρρήτου μίξεως τὸν ἐκείνου ἐνεκυμόνησεν ἔρωτα καὶ ἦν τοῦτο τέως ἀπόρρητον τοῖς πολλοῖς. Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), p The historian John Scylitzes describes Michael IV's ascent to the throne: νόσῳ δὲ χρονίᾳ βάλλεται καὶ τριχορρυεῖ γένυν τε καὶ τὴν κόμην, κατεργασθείς, ὥς φασιν, ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου τοῦ μετὰ ταῦτα ὀρφανοτρόφου. οὗτος γὰρ ὁ Ἰωάννης καὶ πρὸ τῆς βασιλείας ὑπηρετῶν τῷ Ρωμανῷ, ἄρτι τοῦ κράτους ἐπιβάντος αὐτοῦ μεγάλην δύναμιν ἔσχεν. ἦσαν δὲ αὐτῷ καὶ ἕτεροι ἀδελφοί, Μιχαήλ, Νικήτας, Κωνσταντῖνός τε καὶ Γεώργιος. ἀλλ αὐτὸς μὲν ὁ Ἰωάννης καὶ Κωνσταντῖνος καὶ Γεώργιος ὑπῆρχον εὐνοῦχοι, ἀγυρτικὴν μετιόντες τέχνην, ὁ δὲ Νικήτας εἶχε μὲν τὰ παιδογόνα καὶ τὸν πρῶτον ἤδη ἐπήνθει ἴουλον, ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ τῆς ἀνδρικῆς ἤδη ἡλικίας ἁπτόμενος εὐπρεπέστατος ἦν τὴν ὄψιν. ἄμφω δὲ τὴν ἀργυραμοιβὴν μετῄεσαν ἐπιστήμην καὶ τὰ ἀργύρια ἐκιβδήλευον. τούτους οἰκειωθέντας ἅπαντας τῷ βασιλεῖ διὰ τοῦ Ἰωάννου ἡ τύχη, τὴν μέλλουσαν καταλήψεσθαι δυναστείαν αὐτοὺς ὑποδηλοῦσα, ἐπὶ μέγα διὰ παντὸς ἐξῇρε δυνάμεως. οἵ τε γὰρ ἄλλοι ἐν διαφόροις ἀρχαῖς ἐξητάζοντο, καὶ ὁ Μιχαὴλ ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως ἄρχων προὐβέβλητο τοῦ πανθέου. πρὸς τοῦτον ἡ βασιλὶς ἔρωτα δαιμονιώδη σχοῦσα καὶ μανικόν, καὶ κρυφίους ἐντυχίας ποιησαμένη, σκοτίως ἐπεμίγνυτο. διὸ καί φασι χρονίοις φαρμάκοις κατεργασθεὶς ὁ βασιλεὺς θυμαλγέσι νόσοις ἐσφακελίζετο, καιρὸν ἐπιζητούσης τῆς βασιλίδος τοῦ τὸν μὲν βασιλέα ἀποσκευάσασθαι ἀνυπονοήτως, τὸν Μιχαὴλ δὲ εἰς τὸν βασίλειον θρόνον ἀναγαγεῖν. ὅθεν καὶ φαρμάκοις, ὡς εἴρηται, οὐκ ὠκυμόροις, ἀλλὰ σχολαίτατον καὶ βραδὺν ἐπάγουσι θάνατον καταπραχθεὶς οἰκτρὸν καὶ ἐπώδυνον διήντλει τὸν βίον, κλινοπετὴς ὢν καὶ ὅλῃ ψυχῇ τὸν θάνατον ἐκκαλούμενος. διήρκεσεν οὖν ἄχρι τῆς ἑνδεκάτης τοῦ Ἀπριλλίου μηνός, τῆς δευτέρας ἰνδικτιῶνος, τοῦ Ϛφμβ ἔτους. τότε δὲ κατὰ τὴν ἡμέραν τῆς ἁγίας μεγάλης πέμπτης τὴν διανομὴν τῆς τῶν συγκλητικῶν ποιησάμενος ῥόγας, καὶ ἐπιθυμήσας λούσασθαι κατὰ τὸ ἐν τῷ μεγάλῳ παλατίῳ βαλανεῖον καὶ εἰσελθὼν οἰκτρῶς ἀποπνίγεται ὑπὸ τῶν περὶ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ἐν τῇ κολυμβήθρᾳ τοῦ λοετροῦ, βασιλεύσας ἐπ ἔτη πέντε καὶ μῆνας ἕξ. καὶ ταύτῃ τῇ νυκτὶ τῶν ἁγίων παθῶν ψαλλομένων μηνύεται ὁ πατριάρχης Ἀλέξιος ὑπὸ τοῦ βασιλέως Ρωμανοῦ τάχα ἀνελθεῖν ἐν τοῖς ἀνακτόροις καὶ ἀνελθὼν εὑρίσκει μὲν νεκρὸν τὸν ἄνακτα Ρωμανόν, τοῦ χρυσοτρικλίνου δὲ κοσμηθέντος ἐπὶ βήματος καθίσασα ἡ Ζωὴ ἐξάγει τὸν Μιχαήλ, καὶ τὸν πατριάρχην καταναγκάζει ἱερολογῆσαι τοῦτον αὐτῇ. ὁ δὲ τῷ λόγῳ ἐκβαμβηθεὶς ἵστατο ἐννεὸς καὶ πρὸς τὴν ἱερολογίαν ἐνεδοίαζεν. ἀλλ ὁ Ἰωάννης σὺν τῇ Ζωῇ πεντήκοντα μὲν χρυσίου λίτρας τῷ πατριάρχῃ, πεντήκοντα δὲ τῷ κλήρῳ δοὺς ἔπεισεν ἱεροτελεστίας αὐτοὺς ἀξιῶσαι. Berlin New York 1973), p John Orphanotophos' role in the establishment of the new dynasty: Ἡ Ζωὴ δὲ τὸν Μιχαὴλ ἐπὶ τὸν βασίλειον ἐνιδρύσασα θρόνον ᾠήθη μὲν ἀντὶ ἀνδρὸς καὶ βασιλέως δοῦλον καὶ διάκονον ἕξειν, καὶ ἤδη τοὺς πατρῴους εὐνούχους εἰσαγαγοῦσα εἰς τὰ ἀνάκτορα γενναιότερον ἥπτετο. ἀλλ ἀπέβη πάντα ταύτῃ εἰς τοὐναντίον λαμπρῶς. ὁ γὰρ τοῦ βασιλέως ἀδελφὸς Ἰωάννης, πρακτικὸς ἄνθρωπος ὢν καὶ δραστήριος, ἅμα τε ἐπέβη τῶν βασιλείων, καὶ δεδιὼς περὶ τἀδελφοῦ (ἑώρα γὰρ ὡς εἰς παράδειγμα τὸν Ρωμανόν), μή τι καὶ πάθῃ δεινόν, τοὺς μὲν εὐνούχους τῆς βασιλίδος καταβιβάζει τοῦ παλατίου καὶ τὰς πιστικωτάτας τῶν θεραπαινίδων αὐτῇ ἀποσκευάζεται, γυναῖκας δὲ τῶν κατὰ γένος αὐτῷ προσηκόντων φρουροὺς ἐφίστησι τῇ βασιλίδι καὶ φύλακας. καὶ οὐδὲ μικρὸν ἢ μέγα ἦν, ὃ μὴ μετὰ γνώμης αὐτοῦ διεπράττετο. Berlin New York 1973), p Scylitzes refers to the power of John Orphanotrophos: Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 7/11

8 Μιχαὴλ δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς ὑπό τε τῆς δαιμονίου νόσου εἰργόμενος, καὶ ἄλλως πρὸς μεταχείρησιν πραγμάτων νωθρός τις ὢν καὶ ἀμβλύς, σχῆμα μὲν εἶχε τῆς βασιλείας καὶ ὄνομα, ἡ δὲ τῶν πραγμάτων ἐνέργεια ἅπασα πολιτικῶν τε καὶ στρατιωτικῶν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἦν τοῦ Ἰωάννου. Berlin New York 1973), p John Scylitzes describes in his historical work the division of power among the Paphlagonians: Νικήτα δὲ τοῦ στρατηγοῦντος Ἀντιοχείας τῆς ἐν Συρίᾳ καταστρέψαντος τὴν ζωήν, ἅτερος τῶν ἀδελφῶν ὁ Κωνσταντῖνος καθίσταται τούτου διάδοχος, καὶ Γεώργιος ὁ λοιπὸς πρωτοβεστιάριος γίνεται, τοῦ Συμεών, ὡς εἴπομεν, τὸ μοναχικὸν ἐνδυσαμένου σχῆμα. ἐλευθεροῖ δὲ καὶ τοὺς καθειργμένους Ἀντιοχεῖς τῆς χρονίου καθείρξεως ὁ βασιλεύς, ἀναγαγὼν καὶ πρὸς τὸ τοῦ καίσαρος περίοπτον ὕψος Μιχαὴλ τὸν τῆς ἑαυτοῦ ἀδελφῆς Μαρίας υἱόν. Berlin New York 1973), p Michael V's rise to the throne and his efforts to consolidate his position, as being described by Scylitzes: πλὴν οὐ παρέμεινεν ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ φρονήματος, ἀλλ ἀποβλέψασα πρὸς τὸν ὄγκον τῆς βασιλείας καὶ διαγνοῦσα, ὡς οὐκ ἄν ποτε καθ ἑαυτὴν αὐτὴ δυνηθείη ὀρθῶς τὰ κοινὰ διεξάγειν, καὶ ἀλυσιτελὲς νομίσασα τὸ ἀβασίλευτον καὶ ἄναρχον τὴν τηλικαύτην εἶναι ἀρχήν, καὶ δέον εἶναι κρίνασα προχειρίσασθαι βασιλέα τὸν δυνάμενον ἀντιλαμβάνεσθαι τῶν πραγμάτων ἐν ταῖς συμβαινούσαις τῶν περιστάσεων, καὶ ἐπὶ τρεῖς ὅλας ἡμέρας περὶ τούτου διασκοπήσασα, τὸν τοῦ βασιλέως ἀνεψιὸν καὶ ὁμώνυμον, τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ Στεφάνου τοῦ ἐν Σικελίᾳ τα πράγματα διαφθείραντος, καίσαρα ὄντα καὶ δραστήριον δοκοῦντα καὶ περὶ τὰ πράγματα δεξιόν, ὅρκοις πρότερον φρικωδετάτοις κατασφαλίσασα, ὡς κυρίαν αὐτὴν ἕξει διὰ βίου καὶ δέσποιναν καὶ μητέρα, πράττουσαν, ἅττα δὴ καὶ κελεύει ποιεῖν, εἰσποιητὸν προσλαμβάνεται υἱὸν καὶ βασιλέα Ρωμαίων ἀναγορεύει, τῷ βασιλικῷ ταινιώσασα διαδήματι, πρότερον ἐκποδὼν ποιησαμένη τὸν ὀρφανοτρόφον καὶ ἐς τὸ μοναστήριον τῶν Μονοβατῶν ἐξορίσασα, παραπλησίως καὶ Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν δομέστικον τῶν σχολῶν τῆς ἀρχῆς παραλύσασα καὶ ἐν τοῖς τοῦ Ὀψικίου κτήμασιν αὐτοῦ τῆς ἁψῖδος τοῦτον περιορίσασα, ὡσαύτως καὶ Γεώργιον τὸν πρωτοβεστιάριον ἐν τοῖς κατὰ Παφλαγονίαν κτήμασιν αὐτοῦ στείλασα. κατ αὐτὴν δὲ τὴν ὥραν, καθ ἣν ἀνεδεῖτο τῷ διαδήματι ὁ Μιχαήλ, σκοτώσει καὶ ἰλίγγῳ ληφθεὶς ἐγγὺς ἦλθε τοῦ πεσεῖν. μόλις δ οὖν αὐτὸν ἀνεκαλέσαντο μύροις καὶ ἀρώμασι καὶ λοιποῖς ἄλλοις εὐώδεσιν εἴδεσιν. ἐκλονεῖτο δὲ καὶ ἡ γῆ παρ ὅλους τοὺς τέσσαρας μῆνας τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ. τέως δὲ στεφθεὶς παρὰ τοῦ πατριάρχου καὶ βασιλεὺς καταστὰς τιμαῖς καὶ ἀξιώμασι τὴν σύγκλητον καὶ δωρεῶν διανομαῖς τὸ κοινὸν ἀνελάμβανεν. ἐντεύξει δὲ τῇ πρὸς τὴν δέσποιναν καὶ Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν δομέστικον μετακαλεσάμενος τῆς ὑπερορίας καὶ νωβελίσσιμον τιμήσας εἶχε μεθ ἑαυτοῦ. δόξας δὲ ἐν βεβαίῳ ἑστάναι αἰφνίδιον ἔπεσε. γράμμασι γὰρ τοῦ ὀρφανοτρόφου καὶ συμβουλίαις τοῦ δομεστίκου διαφθαρείς, λεγόντων πολλάκις, μὴ πιστεύειν τῇ δεσποίνῃ, ἀλλὰ φυλάττεσθαι ταύτην, ἵνα μὴ παραπλήσια πάθῃ τῷ τε θείῳ αὐτοῦ καὶ βασιλεῖ Μιχαὴλ καὶ τῷ πρὸ αὐτοῦ Ρωμανῷ, γοητείαις, ὡς ἔφασκον, κατεργασθέντι, καὶ συμβουλευόντων, εἰ οἷόν τε, ἐκποδὼν θέσθαι αὐτὴν καὶ σπεῦσαι μὴ προληφθῆναι, καὶ συνεχεῖς τὰς προσβολὰς περὶ ταὐτοῦ ποιούμενοι πράγματος ἀναπεῖσαι ἴσχυσαν ἐπιβουλὴν κατ αὐτῆς μελετῆσαι. Berlin New York 1973), p Michael V turns against his relatives: οὐ πολὺ τὸ ἐν μέσῳ, καὶ βασιλεὺς ἀνηγορεύθη Μιχαὴλ ὁ τοῦ προαπελθόντος βασιλέως ἀδελφιδοῦς, τὴν Καίσαρος τύχην ἐκ πολλῶν ἕλκων χρόνων, εἶτα τῇ ἀνακτορίσσῃ θέσει χρηματίσας υἱός, καὶ ὅρκοις φρικωδεστάτοις, οὐ μέλανι ἀλλ αἵματι ἀχράντῳ τοῦ θεανθρώπου λόγου καὶ χειρὶ τοῦ μείζονος ἐν γεννητοῖς γυναικῶν βαπτιστοῦ ἐνσεσημασμένοις, ἀνόθευτον τὴν πρὸς αὐτὴν τάχα βεβαιωσάμενος πίστιν. καὶ ἦν ὁ ἀνὴρ ἐπὶ μὲν τῆς προτέρας διαγωγῆς κακιζόμενος καὶ τοῖς ἐπαινετῶς πολιτευομένοις μὴ συναπτόμενος, ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς βασιλικῆς ἀναβάσεως καὶ λίαν ἐγκωμιαζόμενός τε καὶ σεμνυνόμενος, οἷα φιλοτίμως ἄρτι πρῶτον ὑπὲρ τοὺς πρὸ αὐτοῦ βεβασιλευκότας τῇ συγκλήτῳ καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις προσφερόμενος ὑπηκόοις, καὶ τιμαῖς περιβλέπτοις καὶ ἀξιώμασι πλείστους ὅσους καταγεραίρων, καὶ τὴν εὐνομίαν, εἴπερ τις ἄλλος, σπουδάζων ἀνεγερθῆναι, καὶ τῶν ἀδικουμένων ἐκδικητὴς Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 8/11

9 ἀναφαινόμενος ἀπαραίτητος, καὶ δικαιοσύνην τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων ὑπεραίρων καὶ προτιμώμενος. ἐξήγαγε γὰρ καὶ τῆς χρονίας φρουρᾶς τόν τε Κωνσταντῖνον ἐκεῖνον τὸν Δαλασσηνόν, ὡς ὕποπτον περὶ τῆς βασιλείας ἐν πύργῳ ἀποκλεισθέντα παρὰ τοῦ θείου αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὸν πατρίκιον ἐκεῖνον Γεώργιον τὸν Μανιάκην, ὃν καὶ τῷ τῶν μαγίστρων τετιμηκὼς ἀξιώματι καὶ κατεπάνω Ἰταλίας προεχειρίσατο. τοὺς δὲ συγγενεῖς αὐτοῦ, πολλοὺς μὲν καὶ πλουσίους φορτικοὺς δὲ δοκοῦντας τῷ βάρει τῶν πράξεων, ἄρδην ἐκ μέσου πεποίηκε, τὸν μὲν ἐξάρχοντα τούτων Ἰωάννην μοναχὸν καὶ ὀρφανοτρόφον, ὃς τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων εἶχεν ὡς βασιλεὺς διοίκησιν, ἀϊδίῳ ἐλάσας φυγῇ, τοὺς δὲ λοιποὺς ἀκμῆτας καὶ τὸν ἴουλον ἐπανθοῦντας, οὓς δὲ καὶ προσήβους, ἐκτομίας ἀπεργασάμενος. καὶ τὸ γένος αὐτοῦ τοῦτον τὸν τρόπον καταστρέψας, ἄφρονα ζῆλον προσφέρειν τοῖς συνετοῖς ἔδοξεν, ἐψιλωμένον ἑαυτὸν τοσαύτης βοηθείας καὶ συγγενικῆς βοηθείας ἀπεργασάμενος. Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p The inner dynastic rivalries of the Paphlagonians as being described in Michael Psellos' work: Γέγονε δὲ τούτῳ προσθήκη πρὸς τὴν τοῦ θείου διαβολὴν καὶ ὁ ἀδελφὸς Κωνσταντῖνος, ὃς δὴ πρὸ πολλοῦ ἦν τῷ Ἰωάννῃ βασκαίνων, ὅτι δὴ μόνος παρὰ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς τῶν πραγμάτων εἶχε διοίκησιν, καὶ οἷον δεσπότης αὐτῶν ἀλλ οὐχ ὁμογενὴς ἦν, τότε μὲν οὐχ οἷός τε ἦν τὸ μῖσος εἰς προὖπτον ἐξενεγκεῖν ὁ γάρ τοι ἀδελφὸς ἐκείνων καὶ βασιλεὺς τὸν μὲν Ἰωάννην, ὡς καὶ τῶν ἄλλων πρεσβύτατον καὶ συνετώτατον ἄνδρα καὶ διεξητασμένον ἐν τῇ τῶν κοινῶν πραγμάτων ἐπιμελείᾳ, ὑπερηγάπα καὶ ἔστεργε, τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν γένος ὡς μήτε τὰ μέτρια ἠγαπηκότας μήτε τι ἐκείνῳ λυσιτελοῦντας εἰς τὴν τῆς βασιλείας διοίκησιν ἐμίσει καὶ ἀπεστρέφετο ὅθεν καὶ χαλεπαίνοντος κατ ἐκείνων τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος οὗτος αὐτοῖς διέλυε τὴν ὀργὴν καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν εἰς εὐμένειαν μετερρύθμιζεν εἰ τοίνυν καὶ ἐβάσκαινον αὐτῷ τῆς δόξης <οἱ> ἀδελφοὶ, καὶ μάλιστά γε ὁ Κωνσταντῖνος, ἀλλὰ τολμῆσαί τι κατ ἐκείνου καὶ πρᾶξαι ἀδύνατον αὐτοῖς ἦν. Ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ἐτεθνήκει, μεταπεπτώκει δὲ εἰς τὸν ἀνεψιὸν ἡ τοῦ κράτους διαδοχὴ, εὔκαιρον κατὰ τοῦ Ἰωάννου ὁ Κωνσταντῖνος ἔσχηκεν ἀφετήριον ἦν γὰρ καὶ προτεθεραπευκὼς τὸν αὐτοκράτορα ὁπηνίκα τὴν τοῦ καίσαρος εἶχε τιμήν ἐδίδου γὰρ αὐτῷ τῶν οἰκείων ἀπαντλεῖν θησαυρῶν ὁπόσα καὶ ἐβούλετο, καὶ ἦσαν ἐκείνῳ τὰ τούτου χρήματα ἀντὶ πρυτανείου καὶ ταμιείου ἐξωνεῖτο γοῦν αὐτὸν ἐντεῦθεν, καὶ ὡς ἐπὶ προδήλῳ τῇ τύχῃ τὴν ἐκείνου γνώμην προκατελάμβανεν, ἐκοινώνουν τε ἀπορρήτων ἄμφω ἀλλήλοις, καὶ διαβεβλημένως ἤστην πρὸς τὸν Ἰωάννην, ὡς ἀντεπιχειροῦντα τοῖς δόξασι καὶ συγγενεῖ ἑτέρῳ τὴν ἀρχὴν μνηστευόμενον. Ὁ τοίνυν καῖσαρ ὁμοῦ τε βασιλεὺς ἀνηγόρευται, καὶ ἐς τὴν τοῦ νωβελλισίμου τιμὴν ἀνάγει τὸν Κωνσταντῖνον, ὁμοδίαιτόν τε ποιεῖ, καὶ λαμπρὰς ἀπεδίδου τῆς προλαβούσης εὐνοίας τὰς ἀμοιβάς. Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), p The subsequent historian John Zonaras describes the fall of Michael V (1042): Ὡς δὲ κατὰ τοῦ ὁμογενοῦς αἵματος τοιοῦτον ἤρατο τρόπαιον, ἕνα ἔτι περιλελεῖφθαι αὐτῷ ἐνόμιζεν Ἡράκλειον ἄεθλον τὸ καὶ τὴν βασιλίδα ἀποσκευάσασθαι, καὶ πρὸς τοῦτον λοιπὸν ἀποδύεται, ἐνάγοντα πρὸς τοὖργον καὶ τὸν θεῖον ἔχων Κωνσταντῖνον καὶ παραθήγοντα. λογοποιεῖ τοίνυν ὁ δυσγενέστατος παῖς κατὰ τῆς εὐγενεστάτης μητρὸς καὶ συμπλάττει κατ αὐτῆς αἰτιάματα φαρμακόν τε καλεῖ καὶ ἐπιβουλεύειν αὐτοῦ τῇ ζωῇ τῆς ἀθῴου κατηγορεῖ. καὶ τί δεῖ κύκλους ἑλίττειν; ἐξωθεῖ τῶν βασιλείων αὐτὴν καὶ περιορίζει τῇ νήσῳ τῇ λεγομένῃ τοῦ Πρίγκιπος καὶ τέλος ἀποκείρει τὴν εὐεργέτιν καὶ μεταμφιέννυσι καὶ ἀντὶ τῆς ἐκ πενταγονίας προσηκούσης αὐτῇ πορφύρας ἐνδιδύσκει τριβώνιον. καὶ ὁ μὲν ὡς ἤδη τὸ πᾶν ἠνυκὼς ἔχαιρέ τε καὶ γαῦρος ὦπτο καὶ παιδιαῖς ἑαυτὸν ἐπέδωκε καὶ τρυφαῖς ἡ δὲ δίκη οὐκ ἐπενύσταξεν, ἀλλ αὐτίκα μετῆλθε τὸν ἀλιτήριον. ὡς γὰρ τὸ περὶ τὴν βασιλίδα δρᾶμα τοῖς ἐν τῇ πόλει κεκήρυκτο, κατήφειαν ἦν ὁρᾶν παρὰ πᾶσι καὶ σκυθρωπότητα, καὶ ὡς ἐν οἰκείᾳ συμφορᾷ διετίθετο ἕκαστος, εἶτα καὶ φανερῶς ἐλοιδοροῦντο τῷ τυραννήσαντι. αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες καὶ θρήνους συνίστων, ἀνακαλούμεναι τὴν βασίλισσαν. καὶ τέλος εἰς στάσιν φανερὰν ἀνερράγησαν οἱ τῆς πόλεως ξύμπαντες. καὶ ἵνα τὸν τολμητίαν τιμωρήσωνται, οὐδεὶς ἐφείδετο τῆς οἰκείας ζωῆς, ἀλλ ἕκαστος τῷ προστυχόντι τὴν δεξιὰν ὁπλίσας συνέθεον ἐπὶ τὰ ανάκτορα. τὸν δὲ πρῶτον μὲν οὐ πάνυ τι τὸ τοῦ πλήθους συγκίνημα ἐθορύβησεν, εἶτα τὸν δῆμον ὁρῶν ἐκμαινόμενον εἰς λόχους τε συνιστάμενον καὶ τὸν λαὸν ἐπιρρέοντα, τοὺς δὲ περὶ αὐτὸν ἀμφιβόλους ταῖς γνώμαις κατανοῶν (κἀκείνοις γὰρ τὸ περὶ τὴν βασίλισσαν μεμίσητο τόλμημα), περιδεής τις καὶ ἐναγώνιος γέγονεν. ἀλλά τι μικρὸν τὴν ἀγωνίαν αὐτῷ ὁ νωβελίσιμος ἐπεκούφισεν. οἴκοι γὰρ ὢν καὶ τὴν στάσιν μεμαθηκώς, τοὺς περὶ αὐτὸν ὁπλίσας (πολλοὶ δ αὐτῷ παρετρέφοντο) διὰ μέσης τῆς ἀγορᾶς παριὼν ἀπῆλθεν εἰς τὰ βασίλεια καὶ αὐτίκα στέλλουσι τοὺς ἐπανάξοντας τὴν βασίλισσαν, τοῖς δὲ στασιώταις ἀντέστησάν τινας ἐκ τἀφανοῦς βέλη κατ αὐτῶν ἀφιέντας καὶ λίθους ἐκ σφενδονῶν, ἐξ ὧν οὐ βράχιστοι ἀνῃρέθησαν. ἤδη δὲ τὴν βασιλίδα ἀνακομισθεῖσαν στήσαντες ἐπὶ μετεώρου ἐν τῷ θεάτρῳ τοῖς στασιάζουσιν ἐπεδείκνυον, ἵνα δῆθεν αὐτοῖς κατευνασθῇ ὁ θυμός, ἀνακληθείσης τῆς σφετέρας Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 9/11

10 δεσπότιδος. τοῖς δὲ τοῦτο μᾶλλον ἀνῆψε τὸν θυμὸν καὶ ἐξέκαυσε τὴν ὀργήν. ὡς γὰρ μετημφιεσμένην αὐτὴν ἑωράκεισαν, ἐπὶ πλέον ἀνερρώγεσαν εἰς τὸν πόλεμον καὶ τῆς κακοηθείας τὸν τυραννοῦντα μισήσαντες ἀφίστανται μὲν τῆς βασιλίδος Ζωῆς, πρὸς δὲ τὴν Θεοδώραν τὴν ταύτης σύγγονον τρέπονται, ἤδη προμετασχηματισθεῖσαν κἀκείνην παρὰ τῆς ἀδελφῆς, ὡς ὁ λόγος φθάσας ἐδίδαξε, καί τινα τῶν αὐτῆς θεραπόντων παραλαβόντες πατρῴων ἀφίκοντο ἐπ αὐτήν καὶ ταύτην τῆς κατοικίας ἐξαγαγόντες καὶ οἷον περὶ αὐτὴν συνασπίσαντες εἰς τὸ μέγα τέμενος ἄγουσι τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ λόγου Σοφίας, καὶ παρὰ πάντων τῶν τε τῆς βουλῆς καὶ τῶν τοῦ δήμου καὶ αὐτῶν τῶν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἡ Θεοδώρα βασιλὶς ανηγόρευτο. τοῦτο πᾶσαν ἐλπίδα τῷ Μιχαὴλ καὶ τοῖς περὶ ἐκεῖνον ἀπέσβεσε, καὶ δεδιὼς περὶ τῇ ζωῇ τῶν βασιλείων μεθίσταται καὶ νηὶ τῶν βασιλικῶν ἐμβεβηκὼς αὐτὸς καὶ ὁ νωβελίσιμος εἰς τὴν περιώνυμον ἀπῆλθον τοῦ Στουδίου μονήν, τὰ μὲν τῆς βασιλείας γνωρίσματα ἀποθέμενος, μοναστοῦ δ ἑαυτῷ περιθέμενος ἄμφια. ἐπεὶ δ ἐγνώσθη τοῦτο τῷ δήμῳ, οὐκ εἶχον ὅπως ἐκ τῆς χαρᾶς κατάσχωσιν ἑαυτούς, καὶ ἐπ ἐκεῖνον συνέθεον. ἤδη δὲ κλινούσης ἡμέρας, οἱ περὶ τὴν Θεοδώραν δείσαντες μὴ ἡ βασιλὶς Ζωὴ αὖθις τὸν ἐκβεβλημένον ἀνακαλέσηται, ἵνα μὴ ἡ ἀδελφὴ αὐτῇ συγκοινωνήσῃ τῆς βασιλείας, στέλλουσι τοὺς τὰ ὄμματα καὶ ἀμφοῖν ἐξορύξοντας. οἱ μὲν οὖν ἐξ αὐτοῦ τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου τῆς τοῦ Στουδίου μονῆς ἐκσπασθέντες ἀπήγοντο τὸ δὲ πλῆθος συρρεῦσαν περὶ αὐτοὺς ἐνύβριζόν τε καὶ ἐπετώθαζον καὶ μέλη συντιθέντες ἐπετραγῴδουν αὐτοῖς. ὡς δ ἧκον ἐπὶ τὸ Σίγμα (τόπος δ ἐστὶ κεκλημένος τουτί), ἐκεῖ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐξεκόπησαν, ὁ μὲν Κωνσταντῖνος γενναίως φέρων τὴν συμφοράν, ὁ δὲ Μιχαὴλ θεοκλυτῶν τε καὶ ὀδυρόμενος. Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum 3 (Bonn 1897), pp The blinding and death of John Orphanotrophos as being described in the historical work of Zonaras: ὅ γε μὴν ἐκτομίας Ἰωάννης, ὁ γεγονὼς ὀρφανοτρόφος, ὁ τοῦ βασιλεύσαντος Μιχαὴλ τοῦ Παφλαγόνος αὐτάδελφος, εἰς Μιτυλήνην τοῦ Μονομάχου κρατήσαντος μεταχθεὶς ἐκεῖ πηροῦται τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, ὡς μέν τισι δοκεῖ, παρὰ τῆς βασιλίδος Θεοδώρας γνώμης ἄτερ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος, ὡς δ ἐνίοις, αὐτοῦ τοῦ κρατοῦντος τοῦτο κελεύσαντος, μηνιῶντος αὐτῷ διὰ τὸ τῆς ὑπερορίας πολυετὲς καὶ ἀναίτον. ὃς βραχείας ἡμέρας τῇ πηρώσει ἐπιβιώσας τὴν ζωὴν ἐξεμέτρησεν. Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum 3 (Bonn 1897), pp Χρονολόγιο early eleventh c.: Beginning of the activities of the eunuch John, hailing from Paphlagonia, who appears a man of considerable influence in the circle of Basil II. 1028: Romanos III Argyros ascends the throne. John the eunuch is already in his personal service. 1029: John the eunuch is mentioned with the rank of praepositos. 1033/4: John the eunuch commences his duties as manager of the orphanage of Constantinople. He brings his brother Michael into the palace service. April 1034: Death of Romanos III Argyros. Michael IV the Paphlagonian ascends the throne. His brother Niketas is appointed doux of Antioch, while his two other brothers, Constantine and George, both receive similar posts. December 1041: Death of Michael IV and enthronement of Michael V Kalaphates, son of Maria, Michael IV s sister. late 1041 early 1042: Michael V Kalaphates banishes his uncles John Orphanotrophos, Constantine and George, while he castrates all his male relatives. He soon recalls Constantine, to whom he awards the rank of novelissimos. April 19-21, 1042: The people of Constantinople rise in support of the empresses Zoe and Theodora. Michael V Kalaphates is dethroned and blinded along with the novelissimos Constantine. Fall of the Paphlagonian dynasty. 1043: The exiled John Orphanotrophos is blinded and dies a few days later. Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 10/11

11 List of important family members John Orphanotrophos: He was one of the best known members of the family of Paphlagonians and eldest of the five brothers. He acquired the monicker Orphanotrophos in 1033/34, when he took over the administration of the orphanage of Constantinople. He was the de facto ruler of the state during the reign of Michael IV. He was exiled when Michael V Kalaphates came to power. When Constantine IX Monomachos ( ) ascended the throne, Orphanotrophos was sent to Lesbos, where he was blinded and died shortly afterwards. Michael IV the Paphlagonian: He was John s brother. He was introduced to palace service by John Orphanotrophos, who was one of Romanos III Argyros confidants. When Michael was presented to Zoe, the empress fell in love with him. It is thought that Zoe, Orphanotrophos and Michael conspired against Romanos III Argyros, who died in 1034 under suspicious circumstances. On the same day married Michael, who thus ascended the throne. Thanks to his reign the Paphlagonians occupied important state positions. He suffered from epilepsy. He died on December 1041 and was succeeded by his nephew, Michael V Kalaphates. Niketas: He was the only one of the Paphlagonian brothers, with the exception of Michael, that was not a eunuch. After Michael IV came to power, Niketas was appointed doux of Antioch. The Paphlagonians looked to him for the succession of Michael IV, but he died suddenly in the same year. Constantine: He was the brother of John, Michael, Niketas and George. He was also a eunuch. During the reign of Michael IV he replaced the deceased Niketas as doux of Antioch. He later became domestic of the Schools of the East. When Michael V Kalaphates came to power, Constantine was banished to his estates in the Opsikion theme, whence he was soon recalled and honored with the rank of novelissimos. He was Kalaphates closest associate and shared his fate: he was blinded after the uprising of April 1042 in Constantinople and his nephew s downfall. George: He was the brother of all the above, as well as a eunuch. In the time of Michael IV he received the rank of protovestiarios. When Michael V Kalaphates ascended the throne, George was exiled to Paphlagonia. Maria: She was the sister of the aforementioned brothers. She was married to Stephen. Their son was the future emperor Michael V Kalaphates. Stephen: He was Maria s husband and father of the emperor Michael V Kalaphates. It is thought that the emperor s monicker derived from the father s craft. When Michael IV came to power, Stephen was entrusted with important posts. He is mentioned in the sources as the failed commander of the Byzantine fleet sent, under the overall leadership of George Maniakes, to recapture Sicily, that had been overran by the Arabs. Michael V Kalaphates: He was the son of Maria and Stephen. After the death of Niketas he was earmarked as the successor of his uncle, Michael IV the Paphlagonian. The empress Zoe adopted him and awarded him the rank of caesar, a fact that enabled him to appear as a legitimate heir to the throne. When he came to power (December 1041), he tried to become independent of his family and the empress Zoe. His attempt to remove Zoe caused a massive uprising in Constantinople in April 1042, resulting in his overthrow and blinding. His downfall spelled the disappearance of the family of Paphlagonians from the historic stage. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 15/1/2017 Σελίδα 11/11