3/21/2012

15. Road to Manzikert

15th-century French miniature depicting the Français 226 , Fol. 256 #131

HIST 302 Spring 2012

Ossification sets in

• Emperor VIII – 65 year old widower – cavorts with concubines; obscene performances in the palace • dies Nov. 1028 – who will succeed him?

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The Daughters of Constantine VIII

• eldest, a nun • 2nd = Zoe (~50) • 3rd = Theodora (40s) spinsterish Palace bureaucracy choses Romanus Argyrus to marry Zoe – over 60 – he pleads not to have to divorce his wife – she cuts her hair immediately (joins a convent) to save her husband from being blinded

Empress Zoe falls in love

Eunuch of the palace brings in his handsome brother Michael Paphlagonian for an audience • Zoe falls madly in love • rumors swirl about affair • elderly Romanus disbelieves – soon dies (hmmmm...) Hours after Emperor’s death Zoe summons Patriarch to perform wedding and consecration • dead emperor still in the room

Michael IV Paphlagonian (r. 1034-41)

• suffered from epileptic fits Michael sends Zoe away to the gynaeceum • he was no soldier – bolts at first engagement in • turns to building churches – very despondent over death of Romanus • dying of gangrene and dropsy • convinced by brother to adopt brother-in-law’s son Michael Calaphates (caulker) – power of the eunuchs

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Michael V Calaphates (120 days)

• Michael IV dies in a monastery in the capital • Zoe convinced to allow Michael V to become emperor • makes radical changes – Michael V has Zoe sent to a nunnery – kills John (one that made Michael IV Emperor) • people revolt and want their queen back – his palace looted; thousands killed • he and general crony hide in a monastic church – officials come and get them; soldiers blind them

Michael Psellos We found the monastery already surrounded by huge crowds, many of whom were trying to smash down the building in their eagerness to get inside. We had appalling difficulty in forcing our way through the hysterical throng, all shouting abuse and threatening the miserable fugitives with unspeakable atrocities. When I arrived in the chapel and saw the Emperor on his knees, clutching the altar, the nobilissimus standing on his left, both of them scarcely recognizable in their sordid rags, their very faces transformed by mortal fear, my eyes filled with tears.

Joint Rule of Zoe and Theodora

• sisters reluctantly embrace one another Psellos gives vivid descriptions: • Zoe was short and plump, hair still golden skin white and unwrinkled • Theodora taller and thinner, disproportionally small head, cheerful, smiling but timid soon palace polarized between sister’s factions • bureaucracy looks for another husband

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Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-55)

• from ancient, noble family • been exiled on Lesbos with 2nd wife’s niece – she had a voracious sexual appetite • Constantine made Emperor while suffered – lowest ebb of military funding in Byzantine history – lost all possessions in to – W and E churches in full schism

Schism of 1054 Patriarch Michael Cerularius • distrusted Latins, loathed the idea of Papal supremacy – sends a letter the all the Frankish bishops: – violently condemned Roman practices sinful and Judaistic – acrimonious correspondence ensued Ecumenical Patriarch Michael Cerularius (left) Leo IX (right) 15th century Greek manuscript National Library, Palermo

The Arrival of the Pope’s men

• 3 prelates go to • Cardinal Humbert – prime mover of Gregorian Reform Movement – narrow-minded and anti-Greek • Cardinal Frederick of Lorraine – future Pope Stephen IX • Archbishop of Amalfi – had fought Normans at Civitate when no Byzantine help came (bitter)

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Cerularius refuses the envoys

After making them wait an argument quickly ensued – Petition seal had been broken • Celarius calls it a forgery 3 months later Humbert marches into H. Sophia • lays a bull of Excommunication on altar

The Leisure Class of Constantine IX

• actively encouraged arts and sciences • surrounded himself with intellectuals in court – : historian, politician, philosopher – John Xiphilinus: lawyer, entire legal code in his head – John Mauropous: poet and teacher • founded several universities throughout the Empire • allowed army to become a shadow of its former self

Transition of Power

1055 Constantine IX dies • Zoe had died in 1050 • Theodora lives on until 1056; becomes ill • her counselors conferred: – elderly patrician Michael Bringas – civil servant

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Michael VI Stratioticus (1056-7)

Rule indicates tension between civil bureaucracy and army nobility • On Easter Emperor to give largess: – gives bonuses and promotions to many magistrates and civil servants – gives army abuse • plan to return to the Imperator model

Yet another plot to overthrow a malfeasant Emperor

Isaac (r. 1057-9) – general personally abused by Michael VI • conspirators ask him to lead a rebellion – refuses; retires to his estate • Patriarch sides with military; plot needs Komnenos – raised on the shield of the troops – most the army surrenders to him • Michael VI abdicates; no blinding

Gold of , 1057-1059

The Almost Founding the Komneni Dynasty

Isaac sets about reviving army • works day of ascension; not even a bath • starts confiscating property for funds – Patriarch complains; arrested and exiled • “tireless energy” – contracts fever while hunting and gets sick – nominates a new Constantine Ducas • done at Psellos’ suggestion • what would have happened if Issac ruled 20 years???

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Constantine X Ducas (1059-67)

• intellectual with little head for leadership • becomes pawn of bureaucracy • tell him to not just curb, but destroy the might of the army • terribly underfunded • Seljuk Turks arrive on the scene

Seljuk Turks

• nomadic tribe from Transoxiana • Adopt Sunni Islam By 1045 had conquered Baghdad • had sights on Fatimids – Shi’a in Egypt • • fights an engagement at Manzikert (1071) Alp Arslan in the square in front of the Control Center for Emergency Situations, Turkmenistan

Oxus River

Transoxania

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Romanos IV Diogenes (1067-71)

• Constantine X Ducas dies in 1067 – on his deathbed, wife agrees not to remarry • She does to Romanos Diogenes – handsome military man from aristocracy • plans a massive campaign against the Turks – 60-70,000 Byzantine troops • set out in Spring of 1071 – small garrison town of Manzikert

Battle of Manzikert (1071) • Byzantine army in central forces Seljuks to abandon siege of – Sultan’s army begins to dissolve • Byz splits army – ½ besiege Manzikert () – ½ Byzantine forces see Sultan and withdraw to Constantinople • Romanus does not know ½ his army has retreated

Armenia

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• Byzantines lose 20 % of its fighting force – not critical but now cut off from • source of soldiers • Civil War between army and bureaucracy • Seljuks consolidate their victories

Consequences of Manzikert

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