Michael VI Bringas ( el, Μιχαήλ Βρίγγας), called Stratiotikos or Stratioticus ("the Military One", "the Warlike", or "the Bellicose") or Gerontas ("the Old"), reigned as
Byzantine emperor from 1056 to 1057.
Career
Apparently a relative of the powerful courtier
Joseph Bringas (influential during the reign of
Romanos II),
[Norwich, p. 327] Michael Bringas was an elderly patrician and a member of the court bureaucracy who had served as
military finance minister (and hence the epithet ''Stratiotikos'').
[Kazhdan, p. 1366] Michael Bringas was chosen by the empress
Theodora as her successor shortly before her death on August 31, 1056. The appointment had been secured through the influence of
Leo Paraspondylos Leo Paraspondylos ( el, Λέων Παρασπόνδυλος) was a high-ranking 11th-century Byzantine Empire, Byzantine official, who served as chief minister to Empress Theodora (11th century), Theodora and Emperor Michael VI.
Biography
Leo's sur ...
, Theodora's most trusted adviser.
Although Michael managed to survive a conspiracy organized by
Theodosios, a nephew of the former emperor
Constantine IX Monomachos,
[Norwich, p. 327] he was faced with the disaffection of the military aristocracy. His most costly error was to ignore the perceived rights of the general
Nikephoros Bryennios, whom he restored to his former rank after his falling out with the Empress Theodora, but refused to restore his wealth and estates.
[Finlay, p. 533] After dismissing Bryennios's grievances in an audience, the emperor completely alienated the military, which remained a powerful element of society. Michael compounded his error by rebuffing Bryennios after he had already ordered the restored general to lead a division of 3,000 men to reinforce the army in
Cappadocia.
From here Bryennios began plotting to overthrow Michael VI, and it was his capture that precipitated the military nobility to rally around the general
Isaac Komnenos, who was proclaimed emperor in
Paphlagonia on 8 June 1057.
Although Michael lost heart, the bureaucrats around him attempted to defend their position and assembled an army against the rebels. On 26 August 1057, the government's army was routed at the
Battle of Petroe near
Nicaea,
[Finlay, p. 536] and Isaac Komnenos advanced on
Constantinople
la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه
, alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth ( Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya (Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...
. Michael VI attempted to negotiate with the rebels through the famous courtier
Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos or Psellus ( grc-gre, Μιχαὴλ Ψελλός, Michaḗl Psellós, ) was a Byzantine Greek monk, savant, writer, philosopher, imperial courtier, historian and music theorist. He was born in 1017 or 1018, and is believed to hav ...
, offering to adopt Isaac as his son and to grant him the title of ''kaisar'' (
caesar
Gaius Julius Caesar (; ; 12 July 100 BC – 15 March 44 BC), was a Roman people, Roman general and statesman. A member of the First Triumvirate, Caesar led the Roman armies in the Gallic Wars before defeating his political rival Pompey in Caes ...
),
[Norwich, p. 332] but his proposals were publicly rejected. Privately Isaac showed himself more open to negotiation, and he was promised the status of co-emperor. However, during the course of these secret negotiations, a riot in favor of Isaac broke out in Constantinople. Patriarch
Michael Keroularios convinced Michael VI to abdicate in Isaac's favor on 30 August 1057.
The emperor duly followed the patriarch's advice and became a monk. He retired to his private home and died there shortly thereafter.
Sources
Primary sources
* Michael Psellus, ''Chronographia''.
*
Secondary sources
*
*
*George Finlay (1853). ''History of the Byzantine Empire from 716–1057'', William Blackwood & Sons.
*
See also
*List of Byzantine emperors
This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Eastern Roman Empire, to its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. Only the emperors who were recognized as le ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Michael 06 Bringas
11th-century Byzantine emperors
Monarchs who abdicated
Eastern Orthodox monks
Eastern Orthodox monarchs
Year of birth unknown
Place of birth unknown
1050s deaths
1050s in the Byzantine Empire
Logothetai tou stratiotikou