2021-08-31 Tue

Michael VI Bringas reigned as Byzantine emperor from 1056 to 1057.

Apparently a relative of the powerful courtier Joseph Bringas (influential during the reign of Romanos II), Michael Bringas was an elderly patrician and a member of the court bureaucracywho had served as military finance minister (and hence the epithet Stratiotikos). 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, Theodora's most trusted adviser.

On 26 August 1057, the government's army was routed at the Battle of Petroe near Nicaea,and Isaac Komnenos advanced on Constantinople. 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),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 or 31 August 1057. The emperor duly followed the patriarch's advice and became a monk. He retired to his private home and died there by 1059.

The above shown coin of Michael VI Stratioticus depicts the Bust of Christ facing, with nimbus with one dot in each limb, wearing pallium and colobium, raising right hand and holding book of gospels in left. The reverse of a coin shows Michael VI, standing on left, wearing crown and jewelledchlamys, holding cross on globe, blessed by Mary, standing on right, wearing pallium and maphorion; MQ between their heads.

Image Source: https://www.wildwinds.com/