IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης Μετάφραση : Λουμάκης Σπυρίδων Για παραπομπή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης , "Romanos IV Diogenes", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία URL:

Περίληψη : Romanos Diogenis was born around 1025, probably in Cappadocia, where his family’s birthplace lay. He made his career in the army and in the 1060s he rose to eminence as a military leader in the wars against the Hungarians and the Pechenegs. On January 1068, after his marriage with empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa, he ascended to the throne. His efforts to repel Seljuk raids in Asia Minor brought no results and on August 1071 he was defeated at Mantzikert and put in captivity. He died on the 4th of August 1072 on the island of Prote, blinded after his defeat by the Doukas family. Άλλα Ονόματα Romanos Digenes Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης around 1025, probably in Cappadocia Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου August 4, 1072, Proti island in Propontis Κύρια Ιδιότητα Emperor

1. Descent and career

Romanos Diogenes was born around 1025, probably in Cappadocia, where his family’s birthplace lay and where he owned estates. He was son of Constantine Diogenes, a prominent military officer under Basil II (976-1025), and of a niece of later emperor Romanos Argyros (1028-1034).1 His father had been arrested complotting against Romanos III Argyros and was forced to suicide. As far as his mother concerns, Byzantine authors do not mention any information. From his marriage with Anna, daughter of strategos Alousianos of Bulgarian stock, Romanos had a son named Constantine, while from his second marriage two sons, Nikephoros and Leo. According to some sources, he was a relative of later emperor Nikephoros Botaneiates.

Romanos made his career in the army under emperor Constantine X Doukas (1059-1067) and rose in eminence during various battles against the Hungarians and the Pechenegs who invaded Danubian provinces of the state. His success on the battlefield and the bravery he showed against every enemy attack won him his appointment as commander-in-chief of the armies along the northern frontiers (under the title of doukas or katepano), centered in Serdica, an event that made him known within military cycles in the capital. At the same time, he was honored by the emperor with the title of vestarches.2

In 1067, after Constantine X’s death, Romanos tried to gain over the Hungarians, aiming at seizing power. However the conspiracy was unveiled and he was captured and driven in chains to the capital, in order to stand trial on a charge of sedition.3 At the imperial court presided the widow of Constantine X, augusta Eudokia Makrembolitissa, regent of her minor heirs to the throne. Instead of condemning the rebellion to death, augusta exiled him in Cappadocia.4

2. Romanos Diogenes emperor

2.1. Ascent to the throne

On Christmas 1067, Eudokia recalled Romanos Diogenes from his exile, to whom she bestowed the title of magistros. Her end was to marry him and entrust him with the mission to confront the Seljuk menace. The situation in the eastern frontier was so tragic, due to the continuous raids and loots of the Turks, that the new emperor should be a competent general.

However, empress’plans were against her written oath through which Constantine X had demanded from her personally and the

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Senate that they would protect and act as regents of his minor children, until the elder one would attain his majority and take over the throne. In addition, the senate committed itself that it would acknowledge as legitimate heirs only Constantine’s scions.5 This written commitment lay at the hands of patriarch of Constantinople John Xiphilinos, yet augusta resorted to a stratagem in order to break patriarch’s resistance: she made him believe that she was planning to marry his nephew, Bardas, so Xiphilinos arranged right away the annulment of the oath. Free from her commitment, on the 1st of January 1068 Eudokia moved on to her marriage with Diogenes, proclaiming him at the same time emperor.6

Romanos IV was summoned to come upon difficult and perplexed situations, externally because of the raids of the Seljuks, whom the Byzantine army could not confront with efficiency, as well internally: although he reigned together with Constantine X’s sons, Romanos had to deal with the reactions of the Doukas family, who, with caesarJohn Doukas, brother of the late emperor, in charge, continuously undermined his efforts. The reason behind this opposition lay on the fear of the Doukai in case Romanos would found a new dynasty, superseding the legitimate heirs of Constantine X.

Of primary concern for the new emperor was to reorganize the army and make the state machine ready for war, a task quite difficult by nature and even more because of the reaction of the Doukai. Romanos was forced to rely on foreign mercenaries (Latin/Franks and Turkomans), at least until he could raise an efficient Byzantine army. This solution, however, was not a satisfying one, since foreign mercenaries created in turn problems concerning the cohesion of the army. Furthermore, Romanos himself, although brave and experienced, did not possess the necessary military education and the commanding knowledge for the organization of wide-scale operations in a wide range of terrains, as it appears from the three campaigns he made. Especially the undertaking of the first two campaigns (1068, 1069) testifies the lack of planning, the ignorance of the condition of the road system, of the weather conditions and their side-effects upon the course of the military operations.7

Outside the military mistakes, Romanos committed political mistakes as well, proven fatal for his own power. One of them was that he kept in court Michael Psellos, John Doukas and their followers, who opposed him openly or in a tricky way and contributed to his fall. In addition, after his ascent to the throne, he proclaimed co-emperors the three sons of Constantine X. However, after having two sons with Eudokia, he proclaimed them co-emperors as well. Thus, the empire was governed by Diogenes, Eudokia and five co- emperors, a sign of the political instability that dominated inside the state. Finally, financial needs created by Romanos’continued military operations forced him to debase once more the currency, a sign of the financial crisis the empire went through, too.

2.2. Campaigns against the Seljuks

Leaving behind the crucial domestic problems, Romanos headed a series of campaigns against the Seljuks. His first campaign (March 1068-January 1069) was attempted against the poor condition of the army. Romanos’forces camped in Bithynia and Phrygia and only until October moved towards Syria, when they freed Hierapolis. From there, passing through the passes of Taurus, Romanos crossed Cilicia and Cappadocia to return at Constantinople. In the mean time the Seljuks plundered Amorion.8 The second campaign started in the spring of 1069. This time Romanos provided to take with him one of his political rivals, Michael Psellos, under the pretext that the latter should consult him during the campaign, but virtually in order to prevent him from plotting against the emperor during his absence. Through Dorylaion, the Byzantine forces reached Caesaria and Larisa of Cappadocia and from there on they ran over many times the region from Euphrates to Melitene. The emperor’s aim was to relief the border regions, mainly around the big urban centres, from the pressure of the Seljuks, who in the mean time had captured and plundered Ikonion.9

Realizing the difficulties and the poor results of the two earlier campaigns of his and indeed morally broken, in 1070 Romanos took the decision not to lead a new campaign, the conduct of which he appointed to domestichos ton Scholon Manuel Komnenos. The latter, although managed to reorganize the army and force discipline, was defeated by the Seljuks in Sebasteia and was captured. Altough his release a little later and the submission of the Seljuk leader that had captured him, it was very clear that Asia Minor had ceased to be under the absolute control of the imperial army.

That course of events made Romanos campaign anew against the Seljuks in the spring of 1071. This action of his was probably an act of despair rather than the result of wise consideration over the State strengths. The environment in the capital tried ceaselessly to

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3. Captivity and fall

The crucial clash between the Byzantines and the Seljuks took place on the 26 of August 1071 at Mantzikert. The imperial army was crushed and Romanos IV himself was captured alive. Some ascribe the defeat on the betrayal of the commander of the Byzantine second line, son of John Doukas. The emperor himself fought bravely (a fact acknowledge even by the ill-disposed Michael Psellos), but he could not change the outcome of the battle.12

The news of Romanos’captivity gave the chance to his political rivals to move on with his overthrow. Constantinople initially was in turmoil, until finally Eudokia took charge of power again, together with her first-born son Michael VII (1071-1078) and recalled from Bithynia caesar John Doukas. However, the latter, together with his son Andronikos, Psellos and a team of senators and the Varangian guard, overthrew augusta, forced her to become a nun against her will and confined her in a monastery in the Bosporus. In addition, they proclaimed Michael the only emperor and gave to the authorities the order to stop recognizing Romanos IV’s power (end of September 1071).

After the sign of a peace treaty with the Seljuk sultan, which left the Byzantine territories in Asia Minor almost intact, Romanos Diogenes left free and took the road back to Constantinople. He was quickly informed about the political turnabout in the capital and, by refusing to acknowledge the decisions taken in absentia and against Eudokias’will, he was determined to reclaim his throne by force. However he met the reluctance or even the hostility of the military commanders in the East. Loyal to him remained only his compatriots the Cappadocians, Theodore Alyates and the Armenian Chatatourios, commander of Antioch. By raising an army from units that had escaped from the battle at Mantzikert, Romanos took position at Amaseia, in order to confront the forces sent against him from Constantinople. At the battle that followed Diogenes was defeated, but managed to escape in Cilicia. In the spring of 1072 he was besieged at Adana by Andronikos Doukas himself and forced to come to terms with the mediation of the metropolitans of Chalcedon, Herakleia and Koloneia.13

As agreed, Romanos was tonsured and, feckless from an attempt of poisoning him that preceded, he followed the army up to Kotyaion.14 There, despite the agreed terms and the promises of the three archbishops, who had guaranteed his physical integrity, he was blinded on the 26 of June 1072, probably under the orders of John Doukas. After this blunt action, the half-dead Romanos reached a few days later his place of exile, the island of Prote in the Sea of Marmara (Propontis), where he died on the 4 of August 1072. Augusta Eudokia buried him with all the luxuries, under her son’s permission, who was aloof of the decision for the blinding, according to the unanimous record of the contemporary historiographers.15

1. Brand, C.M. – Cutler, A., “Romanos IV Diogenes”, Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium 3 (New York – Oxford 1991), p. 1807.

2. Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), p. 580.

3. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 97‑98; Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), pp. 121‑122.

4. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 99‑100; Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), p. 122.

5. Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), p. 681; Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 92.

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6. Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), pp. 684‑687; Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), pp. 123‑125; Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 101.

7. A characteristic example is the army casualties, when from the warm climate in the region of Antioch they crossed (during December) the passes of Cilicia on Tauros and from the rapid change of temperature men, horses and mules froze to death, forming a horrible spectacle along the road. See Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), pp. 133, 1‑7.

8. Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), pp. 124‑125; Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 103‑104; Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), p. 688.

9. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 122‑123; Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), pp. 133‑134; Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), p. 692.

10. Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), p. 141.

11. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 146; Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Institute for Balkan Studies 105, Thessaloniki 1968), p. 143. Outside some native Byzantines, Romanos had with him a mosaic of ethnicities: Normans, Franks, Alans, Turks, Armenians, Iberians, Bulgars, Uzes and others.

12. The heroism of Romanos and his strategic weaknesses were discussed a lot in his age, as Psellos testifies, who rightly observes that Romanos was worth of praises for his fighting strength, but reproachable because he endangered himself fighting in the first line, instead of conducting the battle from the right position, something the Seljuk sultan marked as well.

13. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 172‑174. Attaleiates disagrees with the strategy Romanos followed. Instead of exploiting the debacle of the army and the return of Constantine Doukas in the capital when winter came and proceed through the interior of Asia Minor westwards, Diogenes drew his army in Cilicia. He made a mistake even when the following spring, instead of stopping Andronikos Doukas in Tauros, he preferred to withdraw inside the castle of Adana.

14. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), p. 175.

15. Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 175‑179. John Zonaras [Büttner‑Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 3 (Bonn 1897), pp. 706‑707], writing at a time when the Doukai were not any more at the political forefront, expresses his opinion that all that happened was under the orders of John Doukas while his nephew, emperor Michael, was totally unaware; according to the same historiographer, Michael VII was incapable of making a single right decision, let alone exercising imperial power.

Βιβλιογραφία : Treadgold W.T., A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford 1997

Χριστοφιλοπούλου Α., Βυζαντινή Ιστορία 2.2, Θεσσαλονίκη 1997

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Μιχαήλ Ατταλειάτης, Ιστορία, Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia, Corpus Scriptorum

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Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1853

Συνεχιστής Ιωάννου Σκυλίτζη, Χρονογραφία, Τσολάκης, Ε. (επιμ.), Η Συνέχεια της Χρονογραφίας του Ιωάννου Σκυλίτζη, Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968

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Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner-Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 1-3, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1841-1897

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Polemis D., "Notes on Eleventh-Century Chronology (1059-1081)", Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 58, 1965, 60- 76

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Δικτυογραφία : Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes E XI-1072 http://www.pbw.kcl.ac.uk/apps/person.jsp?personKey=108215 Medieval Sourcebook: Michael Psellus: Chronographia: Book VII http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/psellus-chrono07.html Romanus IV - Byzantine Coinage http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/romanus_IV/i.html

Γλωσσάριo : augusta A formal title bestowed by an emperor on his wife, the empress, frequently after the birth of a son and heir. Rarely and extraordinary the title was bestowed on distinguished personages who belong to the emperor’s family. caesar In the Roman Empire the title of Caesar was given to the Emperor. From the reign of Diocletian (284-305) on this title was conferred on the young co- emperor. 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

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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. katepano (from "epano","above") Governor of a katepania. Title that from the end of the 10th century characterized the commanders of large provinces as Italy or Mesopotamia and from the 11th century, it was used also in the regions of Bulgaria, Antioch etc. magistros Higher office that Philotheos in his Kletorologion places above the anthypatos. This title lost its importance from the 10th century and gradually disappeared - most probably in the middle of the 12th century. strategos ("general") During the Roman period his duties were mainly political. Οffice of the Byzantine state´s provincial administration. At first the title was given to the military and political administrator of the themes, namely of the big geographic and administrative unities of the Byzantine empire. Gradually the title lost its power and, already in the 11th century, strategoi were turned to simple commanders of military units, responsible for the defence of a region. vestarches Byzantine honorary title, which is first mentioned in the 10th c. Taktikon of Escurial. Originally the title was exclusively bestowed upon eunuchs, but from the fifth decade of the 11th c. it was granted to non-eunuchs as well. During the 11th c. the title was conferred to various distinguished generals. After the beginning of the 12th c. the title seems to have disappeared.

Πηγές Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853).

Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Η Συνέχεια της Χρονογραφίας του Ιωάννου Σκυλίτζη (Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus) (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968).

Gautier. P. (ed.), Nicéphore Bryennios, Histoire (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 9, Bruxelles 1975).

Renauld. É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d’un siècle de Byzance (976‑1077) 2 (Paris 1928).

Παραθέματα Michael Attaleiates, a contemporary to Romanos IV, recounts the latter's enthronement

Ὅμως δ’ οὖν ἀνίσταταί τις τῶν εὐπατριδῶν, ῾Ρωμανὸς βεστάρχης, ᾧ τὸ ἐπίκλην Διογένης. οὗτος γὰρ καὶ πρότερον μὲν ὁρῶν ἐκ τῆς τῶν κρατούντων αἰτίας καὶ τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ὑστερημάτων ἀναπληρούμενα τῶν ἐχθρῶν τὰ θελήματα καὶ μεγάλους γινομένους ταῖς μικρολογίαις τῶν ῾Ρωμαίων, ἐποτνιᾶτο καὶ ἤσχαλλε, καὶ ἀποστασίαν μὲν ὤδινεν, οὐκ ἔρωτι μέν, ὡς διεβεβαιοῦτο ὕστερον, καὶ ἀπολαύσει τῶν ἑξαιρέτως αὐτῆς, ἀλλ’ ὡς τὰς τύχας ἀνορθῶσαι τῶν ἤδη πεσόντων ῾Ρωμαίων, ὅτι μὴ κατὰ λόγον εἶχε τὰ πράγματα. ἐμπιστευθεὶς οὖν ἐπὶ τέλει τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ Δούκα τὴν τῆς Σαρδικῆς ἀρχήν, ἐβουλεύσατο τοὺς Σαυρομάτας προσλαβέσθαι συνεργοὺς εἰς τὸ μελετώμενον καὶ εἰς προῦπτον αὐτὸ ἀγαγεῖν. ἐπείθοντο γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι τῷ ἀνδρὶ τούτῳ διὰ τὸ ἐκ τῆς ἀγχιθύρου στρατηγίας προεπιγινώσκεσθαι τοῦτον αὐτοῖς, ὁπότε τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἴστρον ἄρχων πόλεων τούτοις ἀντεπολέμησε καὶ πεσεῖν ἐκινδύνευσεν, εἰ μὴ ἐξείλετο τοῦτον ἀκαταγωνίστῳ ῥύμῃ καὶ ῥώμῃ Νικηφόρος μάγιστρος ὁ Βοτανειάτης· τοῦτο γὰρ ἐγὼ διὰ χειλέων τοῦ Διογένους ὁμολογούμενον ἐπυθόμην. γενομένων δὲ γραμμάτων πρὸς ἐκείνους ἐφ’ ᾧ τελεσθῆναι καὶ τὰς συνθήκας δι’ ὅρκου, τῶν συμβούλων αὐτοῦ τις, τὸ γένος Ἀρμένιος, ὃς καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἔργον αὐτὸν μειζόνως ἠρέθισεν, ἐπεβουλεύσατο τούτῳ, καὶ συμπείσας ἀποστεῖλαι τοὺς ἀμφ’ αὐτὸν μηνυτὰς τῶν βεβουλευμένων, πρὸς σύμπνοιαν ἄξοντας τῶν τε στρατηγούντων καὶ τῶν ὑπηκόων τινάς, ὡς εἶδεν αὐτὸν ἐψιλωμένον χειρός, κατεῖπεν αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς ἐγχωρίοις ὡς εἴη μεμελετηκὼς ἀποστασίαν, μᾶλλον δὲ προδοσίαν αὐτῶν εἰς τοὺς Σαυρομάτας. καὶ πρὸς θυμὸν διερεθίσας αὐτοὺς ἐπιτίθεται τούτῳ ἀθρόον, καὶ μόνον εὑρηκὼς συλλαμβάνει καὶ εἰς τὴν βασιλεύουσαν ἄγει δεσμώτην, δίκας τοῦ τολμήματος δώσοντα. κριθεὶς τοίνυν παρὰ τῶν πρώτων τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς τῷ τῶν ἐπιβούλων νόμῳ ἑάλω καὶ κατεψηφίσθη θανεῖν, μὴ ἀντερίσας ἢ ἀντιθέσεις πλασάμενος ἢ τὴν κατηγορίαν ἀπαρνησάμενος, ἀλλ’ αὐτέλεγκτος ἐκ τῆς ὁμολογίας γενόμενος. εἰ δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς τῶν δικασάντων μέρος ὑπῆρχον, ἴσασιν οἱ πολλοί. διὸ καὶ ὑπερορίᾳ ἀπεστάλη πρὸς νῆσον, πᾶσιν ἀνίαν ἐνθέμενος ὅσοι τῆς αὐτοῦ νεότητος ἢ καὶ

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γενναιότητος ἐν πείρᾳ καθίσταντο. οἱ δ’ ἀγνοοῦντες αὐτὸν ἐκ τῶν εἰδότων παραλαμβάνοντες ὑπῆρχον ἐξ ἀκοῆς ἐρασταί· καὶ διὰ τοῦτο δι’ εὐχῆς ἦν τοῖς ὅλοις ἀνώτερον γενέσθαι τὸν ἄνδρα κολαστηρίων καὶ χαρισθῆναι τῇ ῾Ρωμαίων ἀρχῇ. ἐπεὶ δὲ καὶ ὁ σκοπὸς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς οὐ φιλαυτίας ἀλλὰ φιλαδελφίας καὶ φιλευσεβείας ὅλος ἦν, ὡς προέφαμεν, περιαλγοῦντος τῆς τῶν ὀρθοδόξων κακοπαθείας, ἐνηργήθη λοιπὸν τοῖς εὐχομένοις τὰ τῆς εὐχῆς, καὶ παραστάντος αὐτοῦ τῷ βασιλικῷ βήματι περιέσχεν ἔλεος ἄσχετον τὴν Αὐγοῦσταν, καὶ σταλαγμοὶ δακρύων τῶν βλεφάρων ταύτης ἐξέπεσον· ἦν γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ οὐ μόνον τοῖς ἄλλοις πλεονεκτήμασι προτερῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ θεαθῆναι παντάπασιν ἥδιστος, ἐπιμήκης τε καὶ στέρνων καὶ νώτων ἐν καλῷ καθορώμενος, καὶ εὐγενές τι πνέων ὡς ἀληθῶς καὶ διογενές, εὐόφθαλμός τε εἴπερ τις ἄλλος, καὶ κάλλος ἀποστίλβων τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς, μήτ’ ἀκριβὲς τὸ λευκὸν μήτε τὸ μέλαν ἀποσώζων ὡσαύτως ἀλλ’ ὥσπερ συγκεκερασμένον… τῇ δημιουργίᾳ τῇ φύσει καὶ συγκεκραμένον τῷ ἐρυθήματι, κἀν τούτοις ἅπασι τὴν γλυκύτητα περιθέουσαν ἔχων, καὶ ἄξιον εἶδος κατὰ τὸν κωμικὸν τυραννίδος ἐπιδεικνύμενος. ὡς οὖν καὶ ἡ ἑστῶσα γερουσία συνέπαθεν, εὐθὺς ἐπηκολούθησεν ἡ συμπάθεια, καὶ περισωθεὶς τοῦ κινδύνου καὶ βασιλικῶν ἀξιώσεων ἔτυχε, καὶ ἀπολυθεὶς παρὰ πάντων ἠσπάζετό τε καὶ εὐφημεῖτο καὶ ἔργον εὐχῆς γενέσθαι κατήκουσε, καὶ τὴν αὐτοῦ σωτηρίαν ἰδίαν ἐνόμιζεν ἕκαστος. ἐξιὼν οὖν εἰς Καππαδοκῶν, ἐξ ἧς τὴν ἀρχὴν τῆς γενέσεως ἔσχηκε, πάλιν μεταπεμφθεὶς εἰς τὴν βασιλεύουσαν εἰσελήλυθε, κἀν τοῖς γενεθλίοις τοῦ Χριστοῦ μάγιστρος καὶ στρατηλάτης ἀνεδείχθη παρὰ τῆς βασιλίδος, προελθούσης βασιλικῶς μετὰ τῶν ἰδίων παίδων, ὡς ἔθος τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν, εἰς τὸν μέγιστον σηκὸν τῆς τοῦ θεοῦ σοφίας.

Bekker, I. (ed.), Michaelis Attaliotae Historia (Bonn 1853), pp. 97, 7‑100, 3.

The accessio of Romanos IV to the throne, according to Skylitzes Continuator

Ἀλλ’ ἐπειδήπερ ἐξ ἀνάγκης βασιλέως ἐδεήθη τὰ πράγματα δυναμένου αὐτὰ ποσῶς καταστῆσαί τε καὶ ὁμαλίσαι ἐν οὕτως ἐναντίοις καιροῖς, ἐψηφίζετο μὲν ἀξιολογώτατος ὁ Βοτανειάτης καὶ ἄλλοι πολλοί, νικᾷ δὲ ὅμως ἡ θεία βουλή· διὸ καὶ ἀνάγεται ἐπὶ ταύτην ὁ βεστάρχης ῾Ρωμανὸς ὁ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Διογένους υἱός. Ὃν δὲ τρόπον ἀνήχθη, ἔνθεν ἐρῶ. Ἦν μὲν προβεβλημένος δοὺξ Σαρδικῆς ὁ Διογένης, πατρίκιος δὲ τυγχάνων ἐζήτησε τὸν βασιλέα Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν Δούκαν τιμηθῆναι βεστάρχης. Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ὑπειπὼν αὐτῷ: «δεικνύων ἔργα ἀπαίτει μισθούς», κενὸν αὐτὸν καὶ ἄπρακτον ἀπεπέμψατο μὴ προσσχὼν τῇ αἰτήσει αὐτοῦ. Ἐξελθὼν οὖν ὁ Διογένης καὶ τὴν Σαρδικὴν καταλαβών, περιτυχὼν Πατζινάκοις ἐξελθοῦσι καὶ λεηλατοῦσι τὴν χώραν τρόπαιον μέγιστον ἐστήσατο κατ’ αὐτῶν, καὶ τῶν ἑαλωκότων ζῶντας μὲν πολλούς, κεφαλὰς δὲ τῶν ἀνηρῃμένων τῷ βασιλεῖ πεπομφὼς ἐτιμήθη βεστάρχης, γράψαντος αὐτῷ τοῦ βασιλέως ὡς οὐκ ἐμὸν δῶρον, ὦ Διόγενες, τοῦτο ἀλλὰ τῆς οἰκείας ἀρετῆς καὶ ἀνδραγαθίας. Διατρίβων δὲ ἐκεῖσε ἠβουλήθη μὲν ἀντᾶραι τῷ βασιλεῖ, ἐπέσχε δὲ τὸ μελετώμενον δεδιὼς εἰς φῶς ἀγαγεῖν. Ὅμως, ἐπειδὴ ὁ βασιλεὺς ἀπῆν καὶ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας ἐχήρευον, κοινολογεῖταί τινι τῶν πιστικωτάτων τὸ πρᾶγμα καὶ δι’ αὐτοῦ τοῖς παρακειμένοις ἔθνεσιν ὁμιλήσας περὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πράγματος, φιλίως αὐτῷ διακειμένοις ἐξ ὅτου τῶν παρ’ ἐκείνοις ἦρξε μερῶν καὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ γενναιότητος πεῖραν ἔχουσι δαψιλῆ. Καταμηνύεται παρά του Ἀρμενίου τὸ γένος, καὶ δὴ συλληφθεὶς δεσμώτης πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα ἀπάγεται. Ἐλεγθεὶς δὲ καὶ καταθέμενος καὶ διὰ τοῦτο κατακριθεὶς θάνατον ὡς ἐπίβουλος ὑπερορίζεται καὶ τῆς πόλεως ἐκβάλλεται, πᾶσιν ἀνίαν ἐνθέμενος ὅσοι τῆς αὐτοῦ γενναιότητος καὶ ἀνδρείας ἐν πείρᾳ καθίσταντο. Οἱ δ’ ἀγνοοῦντες ἐκ τῶν εἰδότων ταύτην παραλαμβάνοντες ὑπῆρχον ἐξ ἀκοῆς ἐρασταί. Καὶ διὰ τοῦτο δι’ εὐχῆς ἦν τοῖς ὅλοις ἀνώτερον τὸν ἄνδρα γενέσθαι κολαστηρίων καὶ χαρισθῆναι τῇ ῾Ρωμαίων τοῦτον ἀρχῇ. Ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ σκοπὸς ζήλου θείου ἦν καὶ οὐ φιλαυτίας, περιαλγοῦντος τῆς τῶν χριστιανῶν πληθύος παχούσης κακῶς καὶ κεραϊζομένης ὁσημέραι πρὸς τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν, ἐνηργήθη λοιπὸν τοῖς εὐχομένοις τὰ τῆς εὐχῆς. Παραστάντος γὰρ αὖθις αὐτοῦ τῷ βασιλικῷ βήματι περιέσχεν ἔλεος ἄσχετος τὴν αὐγοῦσταν Εὐδοκίαν· ἦν γὰρ ὁ ἀνὴρ μετὰ τῶν ἄλλων καὶ θεαθῆναι ἀγαθός, ἐπιμήκης τε τὴν ἡλικίαν ὢν καὶ στέρνων καὶ νώτων ἐν καλῷ καθορώμενος, εὐόφθαλμός τε, εἴπερ τις ἄλλος, καὶ τοῦ πάθους αὐτόθεν παράκλησιν ἐκκαλούμενος, μήτ’ ἀκριβὲς τὸ λευκὸν μήτε τὸ μέλαν ἀποσῴζων, ἀλλ’ οἷον συγκεκραμένα κατ’ ἴσον ἀμφότερα. Ὡς οὖν καὶ ἡ παρεστῶσα γερουσία συνέπαθεν, εὐθὺς ἐπηκολούθησεν ἡ συμπάθεια. Καὶ περισωθεὶς τοῦ κινδύνου παρὰ πᾶσαν ἐλπίδα καὶ προσδοκίαν βασιλικῆς ἀξιώσεως ἔτυχε. Διὸ καὶ ἀπολυθεὶς παρὰ πάντων ἠσπάζετο. Ἐξιὼν οὖν εἰς τὴν Καππαδοκῶν, ἐξ ἧς καὶ τὴν γέννησιν ἔσχηκε, πάλιν μεταπεμφθεὶς εἰς τὴν βασιλεύουσαν εἰσελήλυθε, κἀν τοῖς γενεθλίοις τοῦ σωτῆρος Χριστοῦ μάγιστρος τιμᾶται καὶ στρατηλάτης προβέβληται παρὰ τῆς βασιλίδος, προελθούσης βασιλικῶς μετὰ τῶν ἰδίων παίδων εἰς τὸν μέγιστον καὶ περίπυστον τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ Σοφίας σηκόν.

Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968), pp. 121, 9‑122, 27.

Skylitzes Continuator on Romanos IV's coronation (New Years Day 1068)

Ἕνα καθένα γοῦν πρὸς ἑαυτὸν ὁ πατριάρχης προσκαλούμενος τὸ ἀναγκαῖον τοῦ πράγματος κατεσκεύαζε, διασύρων τὸ

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ἔγγραφον ὡς ἔκνομόν τε καὶ ἄθεσμον καὶ διὰ ζηλοτυπίαν ἑνὸς ἀνδρὸς γεγονὸς καὶ μὴ πρὸς κοινὴν λυσιτέλειαν ἀφορῶν, ὅπερ ἔσται πάντως, εἰ ζευχθήσεται ἡ βασιλὶς ἀνδρὶ γενναίῳ τε καὶ θυμοειδεῖ· ἀναθηλήσουσι γὰρ τὰ ῾Ρωμαίων ἐσαῦθις, ἤδη μαρανθῆναι καὶ ἀποσβεσθῆναι ἐλπιζόμενα. Ὡς δ’ ἔσχε πάντας συμψήφους, τοὺς μὲν πειθοῖ καὶ κολακείᾳ, τοὺς δὲ καὶ χρημάτων παροχαῖς καὶ μειλίγμασιν ἁδροτέροις, καὶ τῷ πραχθησομένῳ δέος οὐχ ὑπῆν, ἄγεται μὲν ὁ Διογένης νυκτὸς εἰς τὰ βασίλεια ἔνοπλος καὶ τῇ βασιλίδι προσζεύγνυται· ἀναγορεύεται δὲ βασιλεὺς κατὰ τὴν πρώτην τοῦ Ἰανουαρίου μηνὸς τῆς ἕκτης ἐπινεμήσεως, ἔτει ͵ϚφοϚʹ, λαθὼν πάντας τοὺς τῆς βασιλίδος υἱεῖς. Γίνεται παραυτίκα τάραχος παρὰ τῶν Βαράγγων πολὺς μὴ ἀνεχομένων εὐφημῆσαι αὐτὸν παρὰ τὰ κοινῇ δόξαντα. Ἐπιφανεὶς δὲ αὐτοῖς ὁ ταύτης υἱὸς Μιχαὴλ σὺν τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς γνώμῃ αὐτῶν ἀπαγγέλλουσι γενέσθαι τὸ γεγονός, καὶ αὐτίκα μετατραπέντες μεγάλαις καὶ διατόροις φωναῖς αὐτὸν καὶ αὐτοὶ ἀνηγόρευσαν.

Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968), pp. 123, 17‑124, 7.

Romanos IV Diogenes in captivity (August 26, 1071)

Τὸν δὲ βασιλέα περιστοιχίσαντες οἱ πολέμιοι οὐκ εὐχείρωτον ἔσχον εὐθύς, ἀλλ’ ἅτε στρατιωτικῶν καὶ πολεμικῶν εἰδήμων καὶ κινδύνοις προσομιλήσας πολλοῖς καρτερῶς ἠμύνατο, καὶ πολλοὺς ἀνελὼν τέλος ἐπλήγη φασγάνῳ τὴν χεῖρα, τοῦ τε ἵππου κατακοντισθέντος ἐκ ποδὸς ἱστάμενος διεμάχετο. Καμὼν δ’ ὅμως πρὸς ἑσπέραν ἁλώσιμος –φεῦ τοῦ πάθους– καὶ αἰχμάλωτος ὁ περιώνυμος βασιλεὺς ῾Ρωμαίων γίνεται. Καὶ τῇ μὲν νυκτὶ ἐκείνῃ ἐπ’ ἴσης τοῖς πολλοῖς ἐπὶ γῆς ἀτίμως καὶ περιωδύνως κατέδαρθε, μυρίοις περικλυζόμενος λυπηρῶν κύμασι. Τῇ δ’ ἐπαύριον ἀγγελθείσης τῷ σουλτάνῳ καὶ τῆς τοῦ βασιλέως ἁλώσεως χαρά τις ἄπληστος καὶ ἀπιστία κατέσχεν αὐτὸν οἰόμενον <ὡς ἀληθῶς μέγα τι καὶ ὑπερμέγεθες εἶναι>, ὥσπερ καὶ ἦν, μετὰ νίκην τοσούτου καὶ τηλικούτου στρατοῦ καὶ αὐτὸν τὸν βασιλέα ἁλώσιμον λαβεῖν καὶ ὑποχείριον. Ἀνθρωπίνως δὲ ὅμως τὸ γεγονὸς λογισάμενος καὶ τὴν νίκην μετριοφρόνως ἐνεγκὼν καὶ τὸ γεγονὸς εὐτύχημα συστολὴν μᾶλλον καὶ ψυχῆς ἀγαθῆς ἔνδειξιν καὶ τρόπων καλοκαγαθίας μεστῶν θέμενος, Θεῷ τὸ πᾶν ἀνετίθει, ὡς μεῖζον ἢ κατὰ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ ἰσχὺν ἀποτελέσας τρόπαιον. Διὰ τοῦτο καὶ προσαχθέντος τῷ σουλτάνῳ Ἀξὰν τοῦ βασιλέως ῾Ρωμαίων ἐν εὐτελεῖ καὶ στρατωτικῇ ἀμπεχόνῃ διαπορῶν ἦν καὶ περὶ τούτου μαρτυρίαν ζητῶν. Ὡς δ’ ἐπληροφορήθη παρὰ τῶν πρέσβεων καὶ τοῦ Βασιλακίου, πεσόντος μὲν πρὸ τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ, οἰκτρὸν δέ τι καὶ γοερὸν ἀνοιμώξαντος, εὐθὺς ὥσπερ ἐμμανὴς ἀνέθορε τοῦ θρόνου καὶ ἔστη ὀρθός. Τεθέντα τοῦν ὅμως πρὸ τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ, πατήσας, ὥσπερ ἔθος, καὶ ἀναστήσας καὶ περιπτυξάμενος «μὴ δέδιθι» ἔφη «ὦ βασιλεῦ, ἀλλ’ εὔελπις ἔσο πρὸ πάντων, ὡς οὐδενὶ προσομιλήσεις κινδύνῳ σωματικῷ, τιμηθήσῃ δ’ ἀξίως τῆς τοῦ κράτους ὑπεροχῆς. Ἄφρων γὰρ ἐμοὶ λογίζεται ἐκεῖνος, ὁ μὴ τὰς ἀπροόπτους τύχας ἐξ ἀντεπιφορᾶς λογιζόμενός τε καὶ εὐλαβούμενος». Ἐπιτάξας οὖν αὐτῷ σκηνὴν ἀποταχθῆναι καὶ θεραπείαν ἁρμόζουσαν, σύνδειπνον αὐτὸν τηνικαῦτα καὶ ὁμοδίαιτον ἀπειργάσατο, μὴ παρὰ μέρος καθίσας, ἀλλὰ σύνθρονον ἐν εὐθύτητι τῆς ἐκκρίτου τάξεως καὶ ὁμόδοξον κατὰ τὴν τιμὴν ποιησάμενος. Δὶς τῆς ἡμέρας συνερχόμενος αὐτῷ καὶ συλλαλῶν καὶ παρακλήσεσιν ἀνακτώμενος, μέχρις ἡμερῶν ὀκτὼ τῶν ὁμοίων ἐκοινώνει αὐτῷ λόγων τε καὶ ἁλῶν μηδ’ ἄχρι καὶ βραχυτάτου λόγου πρὸς τοῦτον πεπαρῳνηκώς, περί τινων δὲ δοκούντων σφαλμάτων ἐν τῇ ἐλάσει τῆς στρατιᾶς ὑπομνήσας.

Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968), pp. 150, 6‑151, 13.

The fall of Romanos IV Diogenes, according to Skylitzes Continuatus

Ὁ δὲ καῖσαρ τὰ τῆς βασιλείας, ὡς ἐδόκει, ἄριστα κρατυνόμενος, τὸν πρόεδρον Κωνσταντῖνον, τὸν βραχύτερον τῶν υἱέων, μετὰ δυνάμεως ἁδρᾶς κατὰ τοῦ Διογένους ἀφίησιν, ὃς καὶ ἑνωθεὶς αὐτῷ ἐν τῇ Δοκείᾳ ἀπεδειλία τὸν πόλεμον. Ὁρῶν δὲ ὁ Διογένης ὑπερτεροῦντα τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου ἑαυτόν, ἄρας ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνεῖται εἰς Καππαδοκίαν. Ἐν τοσούτῳ δὲ πλῆθος Φράγκων τῷ Κωνσταντίνῳ προσγίνεται, καὶ Κρισπῖνος αὐτὸς μετὰ τῶν ὁμογενῶν, ὃν ἀνιὼν ὁ Διογένης ἐν Ἀβύδῳ περιώρισε πρότερον. Θεόδωρον οὖν πρόεδρον τὸν Ἀλυάτην, ἄνδρα γενναῖον καὶ ἐπιφανῆ, μεγέθει τε καὶ θέᾳ θαυμασιώτατον, στέλλει κατ’ αὐτῶν. Ἐρρωμένως δ’ ἀντιταξαμένων τῶν περὶ τὸν Κωνσταντῖνον ἡττῶνται οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀλυάτην, ἁλίσκεται δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἐξορύττεται σκηνικοῖς σιδήροις. Περιώδυνος δὲ ὁ Διογένης ἐπὶ τοῖς συμβεβηκόσι γεγονὼς εἰς τὴν Καππαδοκίαν ἐνέβαλε, πανταχόθεν τὸ στρατιωτικὸν προσκαλούμενος. Αὐτὸς δὲ διῆγεν ἐν τῷ Τυροποιῷ, φρούριον δὲ τοῦτο λίαν ἰσχυρὸν καὶ ἀπόκρημνον. Προσκαλεσάμενος οὖν ὁ Κωνσταντῖνος καὶ τὸν Ἀντιοχείας δοῦκα, τὸν Χατατούριον, σύμμαχον κατὰ τοῦ Διογένους οὐκ ἔσχεν ὑπακούοντα· προσέθετο γὰρ τῷ Διογένει. Καὶ τοῦτον παραλαβὼν παραγίνεται εἰς Κιλικίαν, ἔνθα καὶ προσεκαρτέρει τὴν ἀπὸ τοῦ σουλτάνου ἀναμένων βοήθειαν, ὁμοῦ δὲ καὶ διὰ τὸν χειμῶνα διάγων ἐκεῖσε, ἀλεεινοτέραν τὴν Κιλικίαν ἐπιστάμενος, καὶ πάλιν πρὸς συλλογὴν στρατοῦ ἑαυτὸν ἀπησχόλει. Ὁ δέ γε Κωνσταντῖνος μετὰ τὸ τὸν Διογένην ὑποχωρῆσαι ὑπέστρεψεν εἰς τὸ Βυζάντιον. Ἀντ’ ἐκείνου δὲ στέλλεται κατὰ τοῦ Διογένους ὁ πρόεδρος Ἀνδρόνικος, ὁ τοῦ καίσαρος υἱός. Διανείμας δὲ τοῖς στρατιώταις σιτηρέσια, διὰ τῆς κλεισούρας τοῦ Ποδανδοῦ ἀφικνεῖται εἰς Κιλικίαν, ἔνθα συναντᾷ αὐτῷ ὁ

Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/9/2021 Σελίδα 8/10 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης Μετάφραση : Λουμάκης Σπυρίδων Για παραπομπή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης , "Romanos IV Diogenes", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία URL:

Χατατούριος, ὃν καὶ πρὸς βραχὺ μαχεσάμενον ἀναιροῦσιν οἱ τοῦ Ἀνδρονίκου. Τῶν δὲ ἄλλων συμφυγόντων εἰς Ἄδαναν, ἔνθα καὶ ὁ Διογένης διέτριβε, πολιορκίᾳ τὴν πόλιν διέλαβεν ὁ Ἀνδρόνικος. Συνθηκῶν δὲ γενομένων ἐφ’ ᾧ τὸν Διογένην ἀποθέσθαι τὴν βασιλείαν τὴν τρίχα τε καρέντα διάγειν ἰδιωτικῶς, ἔξεισι τοῦ κάστρου μελανειμονῶν καὶ τὰ καθ’ ἑαυτὸν ἀποκλαιόμενος. Νόστου δὲ εὐθὺς μιμνήσκεται ὁ Ἀνδρόνικος καὶ τὸν Διογένην μεθ’ ἑαυτοῦ ἐφελκόμενος μελανειμονοῦντα, ἐν εὐτελεῖ ὑποζυγίῳ ὀχούμενον δι’ ἐκείνων τῶν κωμῶν καὶ τῶν χωρῶν αἷς τὸ πρὶν ἰσόθεος ἐγνωρίζετο. Μέχρι δὲ τοῦ Κοτυαείου τὴν ὁδοιπορίαν ὀδυνηρῶς ποιησάμενος ‒ἦν γὰρ νοσηλευόμενος ἀπὸ κοιλιακῆς διαθέσεως ἐκ κωνείου προποθέντος αὐτῷ ἐξ ἐπιβουλῆς ἐπιγενομένης‒ ἐκεῖσε κατεσχέθη, ἄχρις ἂν ἐκ βασιλέως τὸ ποιητέον αὐτῷ ὁρισθῇ. Ἀλλ’ ἧκεν ἡμέραις ὕστερον ἡ κατὰ τοῦ μάτην δυστυχοῦντος ἀπόφασις διοριζομένη τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ διορυγῆναι. Οὓς καὶ παραυτίκα ἐξορύττεται τῶν ἀρχιερέων, τῶν ἐπὶ τῷ δοῦναι λόγον συμπαθείας ἐσταλμένων, μηδόλως ἐπαρηξάντων αὐτῷ· οἵτινες ἦσαν ὅ τε Χαλκηδόνος, ὁ Ἡρακλείας καὶ ὁ Κολωνείας Θεόφιλος, οὓς καὶ τῶν ὅρκων ὑπεμίμνησκε καὶ τῶν ἐκ τοῦ θείου νεμέσεων. Οἱ δέ, καίπερ βοηθῆσαι προαιρούμενοι, ἀσθενῶς εἶχον καὶ ἀδυνάτως ἀνδρῶν ὠμηστῶν καὶ ἀπηνῶν ἀναρπασάντων αὐτὸν καὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐξορυξάντων ἀνηλεῶς καὶ ἀφιλανθρώπως. Προσενεχθεὶς δὲ ἐν εὐτελεῖ τῷ ὑποζυγίῳ μέχρι τῆς Προποντίδος ὥσπερ πτῶμα σεσηπός, τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς ἔχων ἐξορωρυγμένους, τὴν δὲ κεφαλὴν καὶ τὸ πρόσωπον ἐξῳδηκός, σκωλήκων βρύον καὶ δυσωδίας, ἡμέρας ὀλίγας ἐπιβιοὺς ἐπωδύνως καὶ πρὸ τῆς τελευτῆς ὀδωδώς, ἀπολείπει τὸν βίον τῇ νήσῳ τῇ Πρώτῃ τὸν χοῦν ἀποθέμενος, ἔνθα νέον ἐκεῖνος ἐδείματο φροντιστήριον, κηδευθεὶς πολυτελῶς παρὰ τῆς ὁμευνέτιδος καὶ βασιλίδος Εὐδοκίας, μνήμην καταλιπὼν πειρασμῶν καὶ δυστυχημάτων ὑπερβαινόντων ἀκρόασιν. Ἐπὶ δὲ τοῖς τοσούτοις καὶ τηλικούτοις κακοῖς οὐδὲν βλάσφημον ἢ ἀπόφημον ἐφθέγξατο, εὐχαριστῶν δὲ διετέλει, φέρων εὐμαρῶς τὰ προσπίπτοντα. Λέγεται δὲ τὰ εἰς αὐτὸν πραχθέντα γνώμης ἄτερ τοῦ βασιλέως γενέσθαι Μιχαήλ, ὡς ὕστερον αὐτὸς ἐνωμότως διισχυρίζετο, τοῦ καίσαρος ὑπὸ σκότῳ καὶ ἀφανείᾳ ταῦτα τελεσιουργοῦντος καὶ διαταττομένου. Οὗτος ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ τὴν ἐπισκοπὴν Ναζιανζοῦ εἰς μητροπόλεως ἀνεβίβασε δίκαιον. Ἐβασίλευσε δὲ ἄχρι τῆς αἰχμαλωσίας αὐτοῦ ἔτη τρία καὶ μῆνας ὀκτώ.

Τσολάκης, Ε. (ed.), Ioannes Scylitzes Continuatus (Ίδρυμα Μελετών Χερσονήσου του Αίμου 105, Θεσσαλονίκη 1968), pp. 152, 29‑155, 5.

A 12th-C. negative evaluation of Romanos IV Diogenes by Nikephoros Bryennios

Ὁ μὲν δὴ βασιλεὺς ῾Ρωμανὸς ὁ Διογένης προθυμηθεὶς τὰ ῾Ρωμαίων ὑψῶσαι ἀρξάμενα ἤδη κλίνειν οὐκ εὐφυῶς οὐδ’ ἐπιστημόνως τὰ τῆς ὑψώσεως μεταχειρισάμενος αὐτός τε κατεβέβλητο καὶ τὰ ῾Ρωμαίων ἑαυτῷ συγκατέβαλε πράγματα.

Gautier, P. (ed.), Nicéphore Bryennios, Histoire (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 9, Bruxelles 1975), pp. 143, 1‑4.

Michael Psellos critisizes Romanos IV Diogenes

Τῷ βασιλεῖ τούτῳ, φημὶ δὴ ῾Ρωμανῷ τῷ τοῦ Διογένους, τὸ μὲν γένος ἀρχαῖον καὶ εὔδαιμον, πλὴν τοῦ πατρός· οὗτος γὰρ ἐπὶ τυρρανικαῖς αἰτίαις ἁλοὺς ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος ῾Ρωμανοῦ τοῦ κατὰ τοὺς Ἀργυροὺς, ἑαυτὸν ὤσας κατὰ κρημνοῦ ἐξαπόλωλε· ὁ δὲ τρόπος ἔστι μὲν οὗ κατευθύνων, τὰ πλείω δὲ εἰρωνικός τε καὶ ἀλαζὼν, ἀλλ’ οὐδ’ αὐτὸς τὰς τυραννίδας ἐκπέφευγεν, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν ἄλλον χρόνον ἐλάνθανεν, ἐπὶ δὲ Εὐδοκίας τῆς βασιλίδος, ἣν ὁ λόγος φθάσας ὑπεζωγράφησε, τὸ κρυπτόμενον ἐγύμνωσε βούλευμα· ἀλλ’ εὐθὺς ἑαλώκει, καὶ δίκας ἂν ἐδεδώκει ὧν ἐτετολμήκει, εἰ μὴ τὸ τῆς βασιλίδος φιλάνθρωπον ὑπεξεῖλε τοῦτον τῆς κατακρίσεως, παρ’ ᾧ καὶ εἰς τὴν κρίσιν ἠπάτηται· ᾠήθη γὰρ ὡς εἰ βασιλέα ποιήσειεν ὃν δέον ἀνελεῖν σέσωκεν, ἑαυτῇ τὸ πᾶν τοῦ κράτους περιποιήσαιτο, καὶ οὐκ ἂν ἐκεῖνον ἄλλο τι φρονεῖν παρ’ ὅπερ αὐτὴ βούλοιτο, δίκαια μὲν ὑπολαμβάνουσα, διημαρτήκει δὲ τοῦ σκοποῦ· οὐ πολλὰς γὰρ ἡμέρας ὑποκριθεὶς αὐτῇ τὴν ὑπακοὴν, εὐθὺς τῶν οἰκείων ἐγεγόνει ἠθῶν, καὶ ὅσον ἐκείνη κατάρχειν τούτου ἐβούλετο καὶ οἷον τὸν δυναστεύοντα λεοντοκομεῖν, τοσοῦτον ἐκεῖνος τὸν χαλινὸν ἐδυσχέραινε καὶ δεινῶς πρὸς τὴν ἐπέχουσαν χεῖρα ὑπέβλεπεν· καὶ τὰ μὲν πρῶτα ἐντὸς ὀδόντων ὑπετονθόρυζεν, εἶτα δὴ καὶ ἐπεδημοσίευε τὴν δυσχέρειαν.

Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d’un siècle de Byzance (976‑1077) 2 (Paris 1928), pp. 157, 10, 1‑158, 10, 23.

Positive and negative qualities of Romanos IV according to Psellos

Τὸ δ’ ἀστρατήγητον τούτου διεῖλε τὰς δυνάμεις, καὶ τὰς μὲν αὐτοῦ κατεῖχε, τὰς δὲ ἐπ’ ἄλλο τι ἐξαποστέλλει, καὶ δέον ὅλῳ τῷ πλήθει τοῦ στρατεύματος τοῖς ἐναντίοις ἀντικαθίστασθαι, ὁ δὲ τῷ ἐλάττονι μέρει πρὸς αὐτοὺς ἀντετάξατο. Τὸ δὲ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐπαινεῖν μὲν οὐκ ἔχω, ψέγειν δὲ οὐ δύναμαι, αὐτὸς τὸν ὅλον κίνδυνον δέχεται· τοῦτο δὲ μέσον ἐστὶν ἀντιρρήσεως· εἰ μὲν γὰρ ὡς φιλοκίνδυνον λογίσαιτό τις τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ἀγωνιστὴν προθυμότατον, ἔχοι ἂν ἀφορμὰς πρὸς ἐγκώμιον· εἰ δ’ ὅτι, δέον κατὰ τὴν στρατηγικὴν ἀκρίβειαν πόρρω ἵστασθαι, πρωτοστράτηγον τυγχάνοντα τοῦ στρατεύματος, καὶ τοῖς πλήθεσιν ἐπιτάττειν τὰ

Δημιουργήθηκε στις 24/9/2021 Σελίδα 9/10 IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Συγγραφή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης Μετάφραση : Λουμάκης Σπυρίδων Για παραπομπή : Μαρκούρης Γιάννης , "Romanos IV Diogenes", Εγκυκλοπαίδεια Μείζονος Ελληνισμού, Μ. Ασία URL:

δέοντα, ὁ δὲ ἀλογίστως παρεκινδύνευε, πολλὰ ἂν ἐς αὐτὸν ἀποσκώψειεν· ἐγὼ δὲ μετὰ τῶν ἐπαινούντων, ἀλλ’ οὐ τῶν αἰτιωμένων εἰμί.

Renauld, É. (επιμ.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d’un siècle de Byzance (976‑1077) 2 (Paris 1928), pp. 162, 20, 6‑21, 10.

Χρονολόγιο Around 1025: Birth of Romanos Diogenis, probably in Cappadocia

1060s: Romanos Diogenis rise in eminence as military leader in the Balkan provinces of Byzantium. He receives the title vestarches

1067: Revolt of Romanos Diogenis against the heirs of emperor Constantine X. With the intervention of the empress Eudokia, he is not condemned to blinding, but ousted in his birthplace. He returns to Constantinople on Christmas day of the same year

1st January 1068: Romanos Diogenis is married to Eudokia Makrembolitissa and crowned emperor

1068-1069: First campaigns of Romanos Diogenis against the Seljuks

26 August 1071: Defeat of the Byzantine army at Mantzikert and captivity of Romanos Diogenis

End of September 1071 – end of spring 1072: Fights between Romanos Diogenis and forces loyal to the Doukas family. Romanos is defeated and is forced to tonsure

26 June 1072: Blinding of Romanos Diogenis at Kotyaeion

4 August 1072: Death of Romanos Diogenis on the island of Prote in the Sea of Marmara (Propontis)

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