MICHAEL PSELLUS’ ANONYMOUS ENCOMIUM TO EMPEROR CONSTANTINE X DOUKAS
Keywords:
encomium, Michael Psellus, 11th century, Constantine X Doukas, encomiastic motifs
Abstract
This paper analyses an addresse-less encomium devoted to Emperor Constantine X Doukas and authored by Michael Psellus, one of the most learned individuals in Byzantine history. The purpose of this paper is to place the encomium, a valuable testament of Byzantine cultural heritage, within the context of the empire’s eleventh century political and social history, and to translate the document into modern English accompanied by scholarly commentary. Additionally, this paper will analyze the representation of the emperor in the speech through a comparative analysis of the encomium and Psellus’ historiographical work, the Chronographia
Downloads
Download data is not yet available.
References
Primary Sources:
Dennis, T. G. Michaelis Pselli, Orationes panegyricae, Stuttgart–Leipzig, 1994.
Dindorfius, L. Ioannis Zonarae epitome historiarum, IV, Lipsiae, 1871.
Gautier, P. Michel Italikos, Lettres et Discours, Paris, 1972.
______. Nicéphore Bryennios, Histoire, Bruxelles, 1975. (CFHB)
Kaldellis, A. – Krallis, D. Michael Attaleiates, The History, Cambridge, 2012.
Papaioannou, S. Michael Psellus, Epistulae, Berlin–Boston: Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, De Gruyter, 2019.
Reinsch, R. D. Michael Psellus, Leben der Byzantinischen Kaiser (976–1075) Chronographia, Berlin/ München/ Boston, 2015.
Tsolakis, E. ‘Η Συνέχεια τῆς χρονογραφίας τοῦ ’Ιωάννου Σκυλίτση (Ioannes Skylitzes Continuatus), Thessaloniki, 1968 [Tsolakis, E. He Synecheia tēs chronographias tou Ioannou Skylitzē (Ioannes Skylitzes Continuatus), Thessaloniki, 1968].
Secondary Works:
Angold, M. The Byzantine Empire 1025–1204 (A political history), London – New York, 1984.
Browing, R. ‘Enlightenment and Repression in Byzantium in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries’, Past & Present, 69, 1975, 3–23.
Cheynet, J. C. Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance (963–1210), Paris, 1990.
______. ‘La politique militaire byzantine de Basile II à Alexis Comnéne’, ZRVI, 29/30, 1991, 61–74.
Cormack, S. М. ‘Latin prose Panegyrics. Tradition and Discontinuity in the Late Roman Empire’, REAug, 22, 1976, 29–77.
Grünbart, M. Formen der Anrede im byzantinischen Brief vom 6. bis zum 12. Jahrhundert, Wien, 2005, 113–123.
Hunger, H. ‘On the imitations (Μίμησις) of the antiquty in Byzantine Literature’, DOP, 23/24, 1969/1970, 15–38.
Hunger, H., Die hochsprachliche profane Literatur der Byzantiner, I, München, 1978.
Jeffreys, E. ‘Rhetoric’, in: E. Jeffreys, J. Haldon, R. Cormack, (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, Oxford University Press, 2008, 827–837.
Krsmanović, B. Uspon vojnog plemstva u Vizantiji ХI veka, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 2001. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Krsmanović, B. – Radošević, N. ‘Legendarne genealogije vizantijskih careva i njihovih porodica’, ZRVI, 41, 2004, 71–98. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Lauritzen, F. ‘Autocrate negli encomi imperiali di Michele Psello (1018–1081)’, ZRVI, 49, 2012, 113–125.
______. The Depiction of Character in the Chronographia of Michael Psellus, Turnhout: Brepols, 2013.
Milovanović, Č. Mihailo Psel kao književni teoretičar (neobjavljena doktorska disertacija), Beograd, 1979. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Obolenski, D. Vizantijski komonvelt, Beograd: Prosveta – SKZ, 1991. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Oikonomides, N. ‘Le serment de l’imperatrice Eudocie (1067). Un episode de l’histoire dynastique de Byzance’, REB, 21, 1963, 101–128.
Ostrogorski, G, Vizantijski izvori za istoriju naroda Jugoslavije, I, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 1955 (2007). (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. Istorija Vizantije, Beograd, 1959. (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. ‘Avtokrator i samodržac’, u: Ž. Stojković (ur.), Vizantija i Sloveni, Sabrana dela Georgija Ostrogorskog, knjiga IV, Beograd, 1970a, 281–364. (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. ‘Vizantijski sistem hijerarhije država’, u: Ž. Stojković (ur.), O verovanjima i shvatanjima Vizantinaca, Sabrana dela Georgija Ostrogorskog, knjiga V, Beograd, 1970b, 238–262. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Ostrogorski, G. – Barišić, F. Vizantijski izvori za istoriju naroda Jugoslavije, III, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 1966 (2007). (Serbian Cyrillic)
Papaioannou, S. ‘Michael Psellus ҆ Rhetorical Gender’, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 24, 2000, 133–146.
______. ‘Η μίμηση στη ρητορηκή θεωρία του Μιχαήλ Ψελλού’, in: C. Angelidi (ed.), Byzantium Matures: Choices, Sensitivities and Modes of Expression – Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries, Athens, 2004, 87–98 [Papaioannou, S. ‘He mimēsis stē rhetorikē theōria tou Michael Psellou’, in: C. Angelidi (ed.), Byzantium Matures: Choices, Sensitivities and Modes of Expression – Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries, Athens, 2004, 87–98].
Polemis, D. The Doukai. A Contribution to Byzantine Prosopography, London, 1968.
Radošević, N. ‘Pohvalna slova caru Androniku II Paleologu’, ZRVI, 21, 61–84. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Nikejski carevi u savremenoj im retorici’, ZRVI, 26, 1987, 69–86. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘The Emperor as the Patron of Learning in Byzantine Basilikoi Logoi’, in: J. S. Langdon. et all (ed.), TO EΛΛΗNIKON, Studies in Honor of Speros Vryonis Jr., vol. 1, New Rochelle, New York, 1993, 267–287.
______. ‘Konstantin Veliki u vizantijskim carskim govorima’, ZRVI, 33, 1994, 7–20. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Podela vlasti u grčkim carskim govorima IV veka’, ZRVI, 34, 1995, 7–20. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Smenjivanja na prestolu u grčkim carskim govorima IV veka’, ZRVI, 38, 1999/2000, 17–26. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Reinsch, D. R. ‘Wer waren die Leser und Hörer der Chronographia des Michael Psellus?’, ZRVI, 50, 2013, 389–398.
Stanković, V. Komnini u Carigradu. Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 2006. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Šaranac Stamenković, J. ‘Konstantin X Duka u carskom govoru Mihaila Psela’, ZRVI, 49, 2012, 127–143. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Psellus' Epistle (ΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ) ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΟΥΚΑΝ: The Byzantine Basileus Archetype of God on Earth’, Church Studies, 14, 2017, 269–279.
Vries de – van der Velden, E. ‘La lune de Psellus’, Bsl 57/2, 1996, 239–256.
Zlatarski, N. V. Istoriя na Bъlgarskata Dъržava prez srednite vekove, II, Sofiя, 1934. (Bulgarian Cyrillic)
Dennis, T. G. Michaelis Pselli, Orationes panegyricae, Stuttgart–Leipzig, 1994.
Dindorfius, L. Ioannis Zonarae epitome historiarum, IV, Lipsiae, 1871.
Gautier, P. Michel Italikos, Lettres et Discours, Paris, 1972.
______. Nicéphore Bryennios, Histoire, Bruxelles, 1975. (CFHB)
Kaldellis, A. – Krallis, D. Michael Attaleiates, The History, Cambridge, 2012.
Papaioannou, S. Michael Psellus, Epistulae, Berlin–Boston: Bibliotheca scriptorum Graecorum et Romanorum Teubneriana, De Gruyter, 2019.
Reinsch, R. D. Michael Psellus, Leben der Byzantinischen Kaiser (976–1075) Chronographia, Berlin/ München/ Boston, 2015.
Tsolakis, E. ‘Η Συνέχεια τῆς χρονογραφίας τοῦ ’Ιωάννου Σκυλίτση (Ioannes Skylitzes Continuatus), Thessaloniki, 1968 [Tsolakis, E. He Synecheia tēs chronographias tou Ioannou Skylitzē (Ioannes Skylitzes Continuatus), Thessaloniki, 1968].
Secondary Works:
Angold, M. The Byzantine Empire 1025–1204 (A political history), London – New York, 1984.
Browing, R. ‘Enlightenment and Repression in Byzantium in the Eleventh and Twelfth Centuries’, Past & Present, 69, 1975, 3–23.
Cheynet, J. C. Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance (963–1210), Paris, 1990.
______. ‘La politique militaire byzantine de Basile II à Alexis Comnéne’, ZRVI, 29/30, 1991, 61–74.
Cormack, S. М. ‘Latin prose Panegyrics. Tradition and Discontinuity in the Late Roman Empire’, REAug, 22, 1976, 29–77.
Grünbart, M. Formen der Anrede im byzantinischen Brief vom 6. bis zum 12. Jahrhundert, Wien, 2005, 113–123.
Hunger, H. ‘On the imitations (Μίμησις) of the antiquty in Byzantine Literature’, DOP, 23/24, 1969/1970, 15–38.
Hunger, H., Die hochsprachliche profane Literatur der Byzantiner, I, München, 1978.
Jeffreys, E. ‘Rhetoric’, in: E. Jeffreys, J. Haldon, R. Cormack, (ed.), The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies, Oxford University Press, 2008, 827–837.
Krsmanović, B. Uspon vojnog plemstva u Vizantiji ХI veka, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 2001. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Krsmanović, B. – Radošević, N. ‘Legendarne genealogije vizantijskih careva i njihovih porodica’, ZRVI, 41, 2004, 71–98. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Lauritzen, F. ‘Autocrate negli encomi imperiali di Michele Psello (1018–1081)’, ZRVI, 49, 2012, 113–125.
______. The Depiction of Character in the Chronographia of Michael Psellus, Turnhout: Brepols, 2013.
Milovanović, Č. Mihailo Psel kao književni teoretičar (neobjavljena doktorska disertacija), Beograd, 1979. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Obolenski, D. Vizantijski komonvelt, Beograd: Prosveta – SKZ, 1991. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Oikonomides, N. ‘Le serment de l’imperatrice Eudocie (1067). Un episode de l’histoire dynastique de Byzance’, REB, 21, 1963, 101–128.
Ostrogorski, G, Vizantijski izvori za istoriju naroda Jugoslavije, I, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 1955 (2007). (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. Istorija Vizantije, Beograd, 1959. (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. ‘Avtokrator i samodržac’, u: Ž. Stojković (ur.), Vizantija i Sloveni, Sabrana dela Georgija Ostrogorskog, knjiga IV, Beograd, 1970a, 281–364. (Serbian Cyrillic)
_____. ‘Vizantijski sistem hijerarhije država’, u: Ž. Stojković (ur.), O verovanjima i shvatanjima Vizantinaca, Sabrana dela Georgija Ostrogorskog, knjiga V, Beograd, 1970b, 238–262. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Ostrogorski, G. – Barišić, F. Vizantijski izvori za istoriju naroda Jugoslavije, III, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 1966 (2007). (Serbian Cyrillic)
Papaioannou, S. ‘Michael Psellus ҆ Rhetorical Gender’, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, 24, 2000, 133–146.
______. ‘Η μίμηση στη ρητορηκή θεωρία του Μιχαήλ Ψελλού’, in: C. Angelidi (ed.), Byzantium Matures: Choices, Sensitivities and Modes of Expression – Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries, Athens, 2004, 87–98 [Papaioannou, S. ‘He mimēsis stē rhetorikē theōria tou Michael Psellou’, in: C. Angelidi (ed.), Byzantium Matures: Choices, Sensitivities and Modes of Expression – Eleventh to Fifteenth Centuries, Athens, 2004, 87–98].
Polemis, D. The Doukai. A Contribution to Byzantine Prosopography, London, 1968.
Radošević, N. ‘Pohvalna slova caru Androniku II Paleologu’, ZRVI, 21, 61–84. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Nikejski carevi u savremenoj im retorici’, ZRVI, 26, 1987, 69–86. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘The Emperor as the Patron of Learning in Byzantine Basilikoi Logoi’, in: J. S. Langdon. et all (ed.), TO EΛΛΗNIKON, Studies in Honor of Speros Vryonis Jr., vol. 1, New Rochelle, New York, 1993, 267–287.
______. ‘Konstantin Veliki u vizantijskim carskim govorima’, ZRVI, 33, 1994, 7–20. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Podela vlasti u grčkim carskim govorima IV veka’, ZRVI, 34, 1995, 7–20. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Smenjivanja na prestolu u grčkim carskim govorima IV veka’, ZRVI, 38, 1999/2000, 17–26. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Reinsch, D. R. ‘Wer waren die Leser und Hörer der Chronographia des Michael Psellus?’, ZRVI, 50, 2013, 389–398.
Stanković, V. Komnini u Carigradu. Evolucija jedne vladarske porodice, Beograd: Vizantološki institut SANU, 2006. (Serbian Cyrillic)
Šaranac Stamenković, J. ‘Konstantin X Duka u carskom govoru Mihaila Psela’, ZRVI, 49, 2012, 127–143. (Serbian Cyrillic)
______. ‘Psellus' Epistle (ΤΟΥ ΑΥΤΟΥ) ΠΡΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΑ ΤΟΝ ΔΟΥΚΑΝ: The Byzantine Basileus Archetype of God on Earth’, Church Studies, 14, 2017, 269–279.
Vries de – van der Velden, E. ‘La lune de Psellus’, Bsl 57/2, 1996, 239–256.
Zlatarski, N. V. Istoriя na Bъlgarskata Dъržava prez srednite vekove, II, Sofiя, 1934. (Bulgarian Cyrillic)
