I'm going to indulge my interest in Byzantine history with another quote about Michael the Aged. This comes from the Chronicle of Constantine Manasses. Constantine wrote a summarizing history of the world from creation through to 1081AD. That's a lot of ground to cover so most of his history is the barest summary with an occasional anecdote thrown in. Obviously he had more to work with the closer he got to his own time. Unlike the history of Michael Psellus, which doesn't even give Michael his own reign - he's simply lumped in with the sole reign of Theodora - Constantine gives Michael his own chapter. For a Byzantine writer, he has a certain amusing tone.
"The Reign of Old Man Michael
His name was Michael, who in years strove to out-do the long lived crows in longevity. He had already reached the final stages of his life, when battle released him from his duties. In other matters he seemed to be both majestic and excellent. However, he was not able to bring forth the offshoots from his heart into the light or to reveal the ear of corn deep inside him because the attendants of Theodora, born in the purple, usurped all power. They despised Michael as a dried-up head of cabbage; leafless, old and already withered because he had bound himself with dreadful oaths to leave everything to them, both in words and deeds. He was like a shadow and emperor in name only. All other matters were controlled by the hands of those to whom Theodora had left Michael as nursemaids, guards, administrators and fathers of the empire, for, as the saying goes, old men are children twice."
I'm going to indulge my interest in Byzantine history with another quote about Michael the Aged. This comes from the Chronicle of Constantine Manasses. Constantine wrote a summarizing history of the world from creation through to 1081AD. That's a lot of ground to cover so most of his history is the barest summary with an occasional anecdote thrown in. Obviously he had more to work with the closer he got to his own time. Unlike the history of Michael Psellus, which doesn't even give Michael his own reign - he's simply lumped in with the sole reign of Theodora - Constantine gives Michael his own chapter. For a Byzantine writer, he has a certain amusing tone.
"The Reign of Old Man Michael
His name was Michael, who in years strove to out-do the long lived crows in longevity. He had already reached the final stages of his life, when battle released him from his duties. In other matters he seemed to be both majestic and excellent. However, he was not able to bring forth the offshoots from his heart into the light or to reveal the ear of corn deep inside him because the attendants of Theodora, born in the purple, usurped all power. They despised Michael as a dried-up head of cabbage; leafless, old and already withered because he had bound himself with dreadful oaths to leave everything to them, both in words and deeds. He was like a shadow and emperor in name only. All other matters were controlled by the hands of those to whom Theodora had left Michael as nursemaids, guards, administrators and fathers of the empire, for, as the saying goes, old men are children twice."
So many parallels Brandon.