MICHAEL PSELLUS’ ANONYMOUS ENCOMIUM TO EMPEROR CONSTANTINE X DOUKAS

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

Keywords

• encomium, Michael Psellus, 11th century, Constantine X Doukas, encomiastic motifs