Prosopography of the Byzantine World

Chronology for 1049

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  • 1049: Tughrul Beg sent an embassy replying to that of Drosos; its rejection made him declare war

    Tughrul Beg sent an ambassador with greetings to Konstantinos IX to renew their friendship, but claimed that the Turks still raiding the empire were wild wolves unknown to him. He sent to Konstantinos IX as ambassador the man whom they called "seriph". Konstantinos rejected the seriph's demand for tribute to be paid to the sultan, and sent him away. The sultan at once declared war: Konstantinos fortified as far as possible his lands bordering Turkish territory

    People involved

    • Anonymus 192 σέριφος envoy of Tughrul Beg to Konstantinos IX
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Tughrul Beg 51 Ταγγρολίπηκα Μουκάλετ طغرلبك Tughrul Beg, Seljuk Sultan

  • 1049: Fifteen thousand Pechenegs equipped & sent to face Tughrul Beg's attack in the east

    Tughrul Beg, when the tribute demanded by his ambassador was refused, threatened to attack. As a short-term response, Konstantinos chose 15,000 Pechenegs and gave them four leaders from among the Pechenegs of Constantinople: Soultzous, Selte, Karamas and Kataleimon. He gave them gifts, chariots and horses, and Konstantinos Hadrobalanos as a guide on the route to Iberia

    People involved

    • Karamas 101 τὸν Καραμᾶν Karamas, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Kataleim 101 Καταλείμ Kataleim, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Konstantinos 117 Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν Ἁδροβάλανον Konstantinos Hadrobalanos
    • Selte 101 Σελτέ Selte, Pecheneg commander, once a Roman ally
    • Soultzous 101 τὸν Σουλτζοῦν Soultzous, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally

  • 1049: Pecheneg troops soon rebelled, voted not to go east, & settled by the Danube

    The 15,000 Pechenegs, with their four leaders mounted horses provided by the Byzantines and set off for Iberia to fight Tughrul-Beg. However they had only reached Damatrys, under the guidance of Konstantinos Hadrobalanos, when they held a discussion over what they were to do. They decided not to travel so far to fight their fellow-Turks for Byzantine masters they did not really trust. On the proposal of Kataleim they decided to return to their comrades in Bulgaria. They failed to kill Hadrobalanos, who took refuge on the upper stories of the palace of Damatrys. They made their way to the coast. Standing before the sea with his men, wondering how to cross it, Kataleim asked those who wished to save themselves and their fellow Pechenegs to follow him, spurred his horse and entered the water, crossed to Hagios Tarasios, and reached Triaditza (Serdica). [This fantastic event throws doubt over the intention of the narration]. Konstantinos Arianites gathered his Macedonian forces and pursued them, reached Lobitzos, pillaged the encampment of Selte who managed to escape, and returned

    People involved

    • Karamas 101 τὸν Καραμᾶν Karamas, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Kataleim 101 Καταλείμ Kataleim, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Konstantinos 116 Κωνσταντῖνος Konstantinos Arianites, doux of Adrianople
    • Konstantinos 117 Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν Ἁδροβάλανον Konstantinos Hadrobalanos
    • Selte 101 Σελτέ Selte, Pecheneg commander, once a Roman ally
    • Soultzous 101 τὸν Σουλτζοῦν Soultzous, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally

  • 1049: Expedition of raiktor Nikephoros did not engage Turks but imposed terms on Abu'l-Aswar of Dvin

    When Abu'l-Aswar of Dvin broke the peace and attacked the Romans, Konstantinos IX sent the eastern tagmata against him under Nikephoros, whom he made raiktor and stratopedarches, not because of his military qualities but because of his goodwill towards the emperor. The man, although originally a priest, abandoned his vocation for the sake of the celebrity and glory offered by life as a layman, and entered Konstantinos' service. Nikephoros reached the Sidera bridge and Kantzakion without coming across any Turks (who remained encamped in Persarmenia under Abimelech, brother of Qutlumish, nervous of the Roman approach). However Nikephoros' army forced Abu'l-Aswar to renew the peace he had broken, and give his nephew Artaseiras as a hostage to be taken to the capital

    People involved

    • Abimelech 101 Ἀβιμελέχ Abimelech, brother of Qutlumish
    • Aplesphares 101 Ἀπλησφάρην Abu'l-Aswar, ruler of Dvin
    • Artaseiras 101 Ἀρτασείραν Artaseiras, nephew of Aplesphares of Dvin
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Nikephoros 108 Νικηφόρον Nikephoros, raiktor and courtier of Konstantinos IX

  • 1049: Conclusion of peace with Tughrul Beg

    Konstantinos IX had sent a messenger to the sultan Tughrul Beg together with wonderful gifts, and requested him to conclude an alliance. He then asked him to intercede in favor of Liparit, duke of Trialeti, with his captor Nasr al-Dawla Ahmad ibn Marwan al-Kurdi. After Tughrul Beg had made the alliance, the Great Mosque in Constantinople was restored, and the Friday service was held in his name

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Tughrul Beg 51 Ταγγρολίπηκα Μουκάλετ طغرلبك Tughrul Beg, Seljuk Sultan

  • 1049: Trial over the Vivarion estate: Ioannes Iveritzes v. Basileios Pikrides (whose speech was written by Psellos)

    Psellos wrote a speech for Basileios Pikrides defending his ownership of the Vivarion estate against Ioannes Iberitzes. The estate had left the family of Stephanos, grandfather of the plaintiff, during his ownership or that of his wife, and should return. Ioannes observed acutely that the date of the documented sale (999) was earlier than the chrysobull apparently conferring Vivarion on Stephanos (1006), suggesting forgery. But a careful reading of the texts showed that Vivarion was in fact conferred on Stephanos by a pittakion of 995, while the chrysobull only confirmed this: the sale was valid. A later owner, Maria, daughter of Michael (brother of the kouboukleisios Leon), tried without success to cast doubt on the sale to Basileios' father. Intervention by the metropolitan of Ankyra added nothing. Though Ioannes' documentation was poor and his arguments invalid, he was very persistent in harassing Basileios. But the latter showed that Stephanos was given Vivarion but sold it; his son, Ioannes' father, made no claim on it; Vivarion was passed on as dowry and was then subject to three deeds of sale, one decided by a court and another confirmed by a court. Defeated by this meticulous work, Ioannes finally called for direct testimony either of his grandfather's sale or his grandmother's confirmation of it, the two disputed documents. Even in winter, Basileios found one direct and two indirect witnesses to events half a century earlier, humiliating Ioannes and ensuring he could never re-open the case

    People involved

    • Anonymi 2103 ἐμαρτύρουν indirect witnesses to the sale of Vivarion
    • Anonymus 2118 μητροπολίτης ᾿Αγκύρας metropolitan of Ankyra
    • Anonymus 2120 ἐμαρτύρησεν witness to the first sale of Vivarion
    • Basileios 2101 Βασίλειον Πικρίδου Basileios Pikrides, manglabites
    • Ioannes 2106 ᾿Ιωάννης Ioannes Iberitzes, protospatharios and vestiarites
    • Maria 2101 Μαρίαν Maria, daughter of Michael (brother of kouboukleisios Leon)

  • 1049 March: Memorandum on decision over award of a suburban estate (Vivarion) between two litigants

    Psellos wrote a hypomnema on the case between Ioannes Iberitzes and Basileios Pikrides over possession of an estate called Vivarion. Ioannes produced, during the trial, a long series of assertions over the history of Vivarion, Basileios replied with an equally long list of counter-arguments (in a speech prepared by Psellos), supported by consistent documentation. Psellos listed the many documents produced in the case, discussing identity of authorship by analysis of handwriting and orthography, and rebutting criticism based on comparison of dates. He said that Ioannes' father throughout his life had never questioned the validity of the sale of Vivarion. He ended the hypomnema by addressing the defeated claimant Ioannes Iberitzes, who challenged Basileios Pikrides to swear an oath while refusing to swear himself; he proclaimed that this would stop Ioannes ever reopening the case

    People involved

    • Anonymus 2119 πατρί father of Ioannes Iberitzes
    • Basileios 2101 Βασίλειον Πικρίδου Basileios Pikrides, manglabites
    • Ioannes 2106 ᾿Ιωάννης Ioannes Iberitzes, protospatharios and vestiarites
    • Michael 61 τῷ Ψελλῷ, Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054)
    • Stephanos 2101 Στέφανον Stephanos Iberitzes, protospatharios

  • 1049: Konstantinos IX summoned Kegen for consultation: other Pechenegs tried vainly to kill him

    Konstantinos IX summoned Kegen to Constantinople to confer about the Pechenegs who made destructive raids from Hekaton Bounoi, where they had settled after crossing the Haimos. Kegen reached the capital, camped with his army at the plain of Maitas, and that night was attacked in his sleep by three Pechenegs with swords, but was only slightly injured. Kegen's son Baltzar cried for help when his father was attacked and next morning he tied the captured attackers behind the chariot carrying his father, not daring to punish them because they invoked the emperor's name. He and his brother Goulinos on foot with the entire cavalry followed the four-wheel chariot, pulled by two horses and dragging the conspirators. They appeared before the emperor in the Hippodrome

    People involved

    • Anonymi 120 Πατζινάκων τριῶν three Pecheneg conspirators who attacked Kegen
    • Baltzar 102 Βαλτζάρ Baltzar, son of Kegen
    • Goulinos 101 Γουλίνῳ Goulinos/Koulinos, son of Kegen
    • Kegen 101 Κεγένης Kegen, Pecheneg leader
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos

  • 1049: Konstantinos IX imprisoned Kegen & his sons

    The three Pecheneg conspirators who had failed to murder Kegen were brought before Konstantinos IX. When asked the reason for their attack, they said Kegen was plotting to enter Constantinople at dawn, massacre and pillage, and then return to the Pechenegs. He released the three to live where they wished. Konstantinos asked Kegen's son Baltzar why he did not punish the conspirators immediately after their capture. He protested that they kept invoking the emperor's name. The emperor did not believe nor did he investigate the claims of the conspirators, but he took Kegen to the palace, allegedly to heal his wounds, but jailed him in the Elephantine, and banished Baltzar and his brother Goulinos/Koulinos to two other places. The emperor provided Kegen's Pecheneg army with abundant supplies, but confiscated their chariots and horses. He was acclaimed by the Pechenegs

    People involved

    • Anonymi 120 Πατζινάκων τριῶν three Pecheneg conspirators who attacked Kegen
    • Baltzar 102 Βαλτζάρ Baltzar, son of Kegen
    • Goulinos 101 Γουλίνῳ Goulinos/Koulinos, son of Kegen
    • Kegen 101 Κεγένης Kegen, Pecheneg leader
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos

  • 1049: Pecheneg victory over Konstantinos Areianites at Dampolis

    Konstantinos Arianites was informed that the Pechenegs of Kegen (imprisoned by Konstantinos IX) had joined those across the Haimos and carried out raids from their encampent at Aule. He left Adrianople with his army and marched against them but was defeated at Dampolis. Polys and Theodoros Strabomytes, famous from the Tornikios campaigns, were killed

    People involved

    • Anonymus 188 Πολύν Polys, supporter of Leon Tornikios
    • Konstantinos 116 Κωνσταντῖνος Konstantinos Arianites, doux of Adrianople
    • Theodoros 104 Θεόδωρον Theodoros Strabomytes, supporter of Leon Tornikios

  • 1049: Tyrach & baptised Pecheneg leaders, sent from Constantinople to pacify the others, joined their raids

    After the defeat of Konstantinos Arianites at the battle of Dampolis, Konstantinos IX gave gifts and favours to the baptised Pecheneg leaders, Karamas, Kataleim, Selte, Soultzous and Tyrach. In this way he persuaded them to undertake to pacify their fellow Pechenegs. In fact, they simply swelled their numbers in the raids

    People involved

    • Anonymi 5006 τοὺς δὲ ἀρχηγοὺς αὐτῶν καὶ συ leaders of Pechenegs who crossed Danube in 1046/47
    • Karamas 101 τὸν Καραμᾶν Karamas, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Kataleim 101 Καταλείμ Kataleim, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Konstantinos 116 Κωνσταντῖνος Konstantinos Arianites, doux of Adrianople
    • Selte 101 Σελτέ Selte, Pecheneg commander, once a Roman ally
    • Soultzous 101 τὸν Σουλτζοῦν Soultzous, Pecheneg commander and Roman ally
    • Tyrach 101 Τυράχ Tyrach, Pecheneg leader

  • 1049 July: Chrysobull regulating Nea Mone & its income from the Jews of Chios

    Konstantinos IX Monomachos in a chrysobull set out rules for the life of the monastic community at Nea Mone and attached to the monastery 15 formerly free Jewish families living on the island, exempting them from all tax charges

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos

  • 1049 August: Rejection of complaint concerning estate assigned to Nea Mone

    When the sons of Katakalon caused trouble to the monks of Nea Mone to whom they had sold their estate of Kalothekia, Konstantinos IX Monomachos issued another chrysobull confirming the estate’s ownership

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos

  • 1049: Collection of a large army from east & west under raiktor Nikephoros

    Konstantinos IX appointed Nikephoros raiktor strategos autokrator over the eastern tagmata when they crossed from Abydos and Chrysopolis. He sent him against the Pechenegs with Katakalon Kekaumenos, whom he made stratelates of the East, and Herve Phrangopoulos, ordering them both to obey Nikephoros

    People involved

    • Herve 101 Ἐρβέβιον τὸν Φραγγόπωλον Hervé Phrangopoulos/Frankopoulos
    • Katakalon 101 Κατακαλών Katakalon Kekaumenos
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Nikephoros 108 Νικηφόρον Nikephoros, raiktor and courtier of Konstantinos IX

  • 1049: Battle of Diakene (Bulgaria): careful battle-plan designed to prevent Pechenegs from escaping

    The raiktor Nikephoros crossed the Haimos mountains at the Sidera pass with his forces, camped at Diakene, and planned to leave the baggage train there and march unencumbered against the Pechenegs, thinking, unwisely, that he could overcome them without a blow. Before the battle, Katakalon Kekaumenos shouted out loud begging to engage in battle with the Pechenegs while they were still dispersed, but the Roman army did not agree. The raiktor Nikephoros ridiculed him, saying that the enemy would flee into the thickets where it would be difficult to capture them, and asked him not to interfere with his orders

    People involved

    • Katakalon 101 Κατακαλών Katakalon Kekaumenos
    • Nikephoros 108 Νικηφόρον Nikephoros, raiktor and courtier of Konstantinos IX

  • 1049: Diakene: Byzantine overconfidence (of eastern troops?) & dissension turned to defeat, with some losses

    Nikephoros, a courtier of Konstantinos IX, was made raiktor. He took the Roman troops out of their camp to face the Pechenegs when they had joined together all their forces. Herve Phrangopoulos led the left wing of the army and Nikephoros himself the centre. When the Romans were defeated these two were among the first to turn back and flee. Katakalon Kekeumenos led the right wing of the army. Despite the flight of his colleagues he kept fighting with a few men till he fell, badly injured. The defeat was complete

    People involved

    • Herve 101 Ἐρβέβιον τὸν Φραγγόπωλον Hervé Phrangopoulos/Frankopoulos
    • Katakalon 101 Κατακαλών Katakalon Kekaumenos
    • Nikephoros 108 Νικηφόρον Nikephoros, raiktor and courtier of Konstantinos IX

  • 1049: Katakalon Kekaumenos terribly wounded at Diakene, but saved by a son of Kegen

    Katakalon Kekaumenos received two serious wounds during the battle against the Pechenegs at Diakene, one on his skull - his helmet having been dislodged - from the top of his head to his eyebrows, and another on the neck cutting across his mouth. He bled heavily. Goulinos/Koulinos, the son of Kegen, after the Pecheneg victory over the Romans, found the injured Kekaumenos (whom he knew from the time when the latter commanded the forts along the Danube) still breathing among the dead. He turned him over and recognised him, placed him on a horse, took him to his tent, and cared for his wounds

    People involved

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Success of Romanos Boilas as a court buffoon

    Romanos Boilas used his inventiveness and his speech impediment to worm his way into the affections of Konstantinos IX. At first there were special times for fun with him, but later he could appear at any moment of imperial business. Later Konstantinos wanted his company all the time. He liked what Romanos did, and Romanos did what Konstantinos liked. Some elaborate charades are recorded, particularly one about a lost polo horse. He also charmed Zoe and Theodora, pretending to be the child of each in turn, remembering details of the pregnancy. He gained freedom (and keys) to go everywhere in the palace, and eventually became head of Konstantinos' bodyguard

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Romanos 62 Ῥωμανοῦ ... Βοΐλα Romanos Boilas
    • Theodora 1 Θεοδώραν (BBÖ I.19) Empress Theodora
    • Zoe 1 Ζωή Empress Zoe

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Marriage of Konstantinos (X) & Eudokia Makrembolitissa

    Konstantinos (X) had been married to the daughter of Konstantinos Dalassenos, and had proved a respectable husband. After her death, he thought to take another wife, so as to avoid calumny from the malicious. Michael Keroularios, foreseeing Konstantinos' rise to imperial power (being his mentor), married to him his niece Eudokia, by whom he had male and female offspring before and after his accession

    People involved

    • Anonyma 113 θυγατρί (Cheynet: Dalassenoi 6, cf. Polemis 12) daughter of Konstantinos Dalassenos, first wife of Konstantinos X Doukas
    • Eudokia 1 Εὐδοκίας (BBÖ I.23, Hunger p. 24.1, cf. Polemis 12) Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa
    • Konstantinos 10 τοῦ Δοῦκα (BBÖ I.21-22, Polemis 12) Emperor Konstantinos X Doukas
    • Michael 11 Μιχαήλ (Seyrig 225) Michael I Keroularios, patriarch of Constantinople

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Ioannes Mauropous was removed from Constantinople by appointment as metropolitan of Euchaita

    Konstantinos IX regarded Ioannes Mavropous as a father and teacher, and thought him worthy of a high position in the church. Eventually, on the advice of Michael Psellos and with the backing of Michael Keroularios, he made Mavropous metropolitan of Euchaita [this has been seen less as well-merited promotion, and more as a comfortable kind of exile]

    People involved

    • Ioannes 289 Ἰωάννου Ioannes Mauropous, metropolitan of Euchaita
    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Michael 11 Μιχαήλ (Seyrig 225) Michael I Keroularios, patriarch of Constantinople
    • Michael 61 τῷ Ψελλῷ, Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054)

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Ioannes Italos came from Rome to Constantinople & had a good Greek education with Psellos

    Ioannes Italos made his way somehow to Constantinople. There, education was still at a fairly primitive level, and he was taught by some rough teachers before he fell under the influence of the great Michael Psellos. Despite the excellent example of his master, his progress was more apparent than real, because of his barbaric temperament: he took part in public disputations, and even set himself up against his master

    People involved

    • Ioannes 66 Ἰωάννης Ἰταλός (Skoulatos 90) Ioannes Italos

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Psellos, largely responsible for religious eduction at the time, wrote hundreds of small texts for his pupils

    Psellos, largely responsible for religious eduction in Constantinople at the time, wrote hundreds of small texts for his pupils. Many were inspired by their questions and those of others, on the Bible and other theological issues

    People involved

    • Michael 61 τῷ Ψελλῷ, Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054)

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Dispute over ownership of metochion of Melissourgeion between Iveron & monk Kosmas Kontoleon (Tornikios)

    Tornikos Kontoleon, now the monk Kosmas Kontoleon, had a dispute with the monks of Iveron over the metochion of Melissourgeion, which the monks claimed they had acquired following an exchange with the late monk Gomatos, and that they then granted it to Kosmas' father for his lifetime only

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Tornikios 102 Τορνίκιον Tornikios Kontoleon, katepano of Italy, strategos of Hellas

  • 1049 (Uncertain): Psellos & his old friend Niketas found themselves teaching at the same school (Hagios Petros)

    Psellos and his old friend Niketas Maistor ended up teaching at the same school of Hagios Petros. Niketas taught grammar and Psellos added philosophy at a higher level

    People involved

    • Michael 61 τῷ Ψελλῷ, Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054)
    • Niketas 2102 Νικήταν Niketas, maistor of the school of Hagios Petros

  • 1049:: Konstantinos IX insisted on sleeping without guards, despite Psellos' warnings

    Konstantinos IX slept with open doors and with no guard to keep watch outside, and often all his valets went away. A man might easily have got in to see him and and out again with no obstruction. When people reproached him for laxity over guards, he was not annoyed, but he rejected his critic's judgement about God as misguided. Konstantinos felt himself emperor through God and guarded by Him alone. With this perfect guard, he said, he scorned a more imperfect human one. Michael Psellos often tried to change his mind. He made comparisons between an emperor and helmsmen, builders or soldiers, all of whom trust God but also use other safeguards. Such precautions were even more appropriate for an emperor. But Konstantinos was not to be persuaded by any argument

    People involved

    • Konstantinos 9 Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Μονομάχου ملك الروم (DO III.39.10, IV.1.21) Emperor Konstantinos IX Monomachos
    • Michael 61 τῷ Ψελλῷ, Michael Psellos (named Konstantinos till tonsure in 1054)