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Accession of Michael VI Stratiotikos as Byzantine Emperor, 1056

Type Event Region Europe Time 1056

After Empress Theodora died in August 1056, the aged logothete Michael Bringas, surnamed Stratiotikos, ascended as Byzantine emperor;…

Timeline

  1. 1056Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireOn August 31, 1056, Theodora, the last empress of the Macedonian dynasty, died without leaving an heir. The court and Senate had to act swiftly in selecting a new ruler to prevent the empire from falling into anarchy.
  2. 1056Constantinople · Byzantine EmpireIn accordance with Theodora's dying wishes, the Senate and Church chose the former logothete, the aged Michael Bringas, as emperor, taking the imperial name Michael VI Stratiotikos; the Macedonian dynasty formally came to an end.
  3. 1056–1057Byzantine Empire · Byzantine EmpireAfter accession, Michael VI distributed lavish grants to consolidate support, yet cut the pay of theme generals and neglected military needs. The Anatolian theme generals, especially Isaac Komnenos, grew increasingly dissatisfied with his legitimacy, and the rift between the civilian emperor and the military elite widened rapidly.

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