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
This is a list of the Byzantine emperors from the foundation of Constantinople in 330 AD, which marks the conventional start of the Byzantine Empire, Eastern Roman Empire, to Fall of Constantinople, its fall to the Ottoman Empire in 1453 AD. On ...
from 1056 to 1057.
Career
Apparently a relative of the powerful courtier
Joseph Bringas Joseph Bringas ( el, ) was an important Byzantine eunuch official in the reigns of Emperor Constantine VII (r. 945–959) and Emperor Romanos II (r. 959–963), serving as chief minister and effective regent during the latter. Having unsuccessfull ...
(influential during the reign of
Romanos II
Romanos II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Ρωμανός, 938 – 15 March 963) was Byzantine Emperor from 959 to 963. He succeeded his father Constantine VII at the age of twenty-one and died suddenly and mysteriously four years later. His son Bas ...
),
[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
Theodora is a given name of Greek origin, meaning "God's gift".
Theodora may also refer to:
Historical figures known as Theodora
Byzantine empresses
* Theodora (wife of Justinian I) ( 500 – 548), saint by the Orthodox Church
* Theodora o ...
as her successor shortly before her death on August 31, 1056. The appointment had been secured through the influence of
Leo Paraspondylos, 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
Cappadocia or Capadocia (; tr, Kapadokya), is a historical region in Central Anatolia, Turkey. It largely is in the provinces Nevşehir, Kayseri, Aksaray, Kırşehir, Sivas and Niğde.
According to Herodotus, in the time of the Ionian Re ...
.
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
Paphlagonia (; el, Παφλαγονία, Paphlagonía, modern translit. ''Paflagonía''; tr, Paflagonya) was an ancient region on the Black Sea coast of north-central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus (region), Pontus t ...
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
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
near
Nicaea
Nicaea, also known as Nicea or Nikaia (; ; grc-gre, Νίκαια, ) was an ancient Greek city in Bithynia, where located in northwestern Anatolia and is primarily known as the site of the First and Second Councils of Nicaea (the first and s ...
,
[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, 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 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 a civil war, an ...
),
[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
Michael I Cerularius or Keroularios ( el, Μιχαήλ Α΄ Κηρουλάριος; 1000 – 21 January 1059 AD) was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1043 to 1059 AD. His disputes with Pope Leo IX over church practices in the 11th century p ...
convinced Michael VI to abdicate in Isaac's favor on 30 August 1057.
Sources
Primary sources
* Michael Psellus
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 ha ...
, ''Chronographia''.
*
Secondary sources
*
*
*George Finlay (1853). ''History of the Byzantine Empire from 716–1057'', William Blackwood & Sons.
*
See also
* List of Byzantine emperors
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