Alexander the brother of Leo was still a young man just going into his twentieth year. When Leo died, he took over the direction of the empire with Constantine the son of Leo as co-emperor. As soon as he became ruler he sent and brought back the patriarch Nicholas [the mystikos] from Galakrenei, deposed Euthymios and installed Nicholas for the second time. Seating him beside himself for a silention in the Magnaura, he confirmed the deposing of Euthymios. Those clergy who were supporters of Nicholas set upon Euthymios like wild beasts once he was deposed. They struck him with their fists, slapped his face, plucked out his reverend beard, beat him on the neck and inflicted other unbearable tortures, calling him interloper, adulterer and defiler of other men’s wives. That reverend man endured all this humbly and quietly. He was exiled to Ta Agathou and died shortly after. He was brought into the city and buried in his own monastery. The cleric who had plucked out his grey beard, on returning to his own house at the same hour, found it burned down and his daughter sitting paralysed and dumb beside it. She survived for several years, obtaining the necessities of life for herself by begging.

The emperor Alexander’s former way of life was luxurious and unbridled, his passions being hunting and other [194] licentious, habitual practices, for he knew nothing of behaviour worthy of an emperor, preferring to devote himself to debauchery and immorality. From the time he came into possession of the empire and of plenary powers he neither conceived nor accomplished anything worthy of note. When he became sole ruler he appointed as rector a vagabond named John Lazares, a wretched fellow not worth mentioning, who shortly after died a shameful death: he, a cleric, playing ball in the Hebdomon! Then, there were his accomplices before he acceded to the throne, Gabrielopoulos and Basilitzes, partakers and ministers of his wicked deeds. These he showered with money and raised to the dignity of patrician.