Michael V Kalaphates — Romanos IV Diogenes: Textual parallels in the chronographia of Michael Psellos

The books five and seven of the Chronographia contain some striking parallels between the two deposed and blinded emperors of the eleventh century, Kalaphates and Diogenes. The aim of this article is to consider whether these parallels are real historical facts or products of fabrication. Then, it will move on to examine how the two emperors are treated by Psellos within a context that takes into account the aspects of his political thought.