MICHAEL, mrkill or inrkA41. The name of nine emperors of Constantinople. 5111'11AEL I. (died 9151 succeeded to the throne on the death of Slauraeills. in 511, condueted a war against the Bulgarians, but was a feeble monarch, who abdicated without fighting against Leo, the Armenian, a general in his service. in S13, and retiring to a monastery, passed the remainder of his life in devotional exereises.—Micumm 11. (died 529), surnamed the 'Stammerer,' was born in Upper Phrygia, of an obscure but was ennobled by Leo the Armenian, who, how ever, afterward condemned him to death on a charge of conspiring against him. His life was saved by the assassination of Leo, and Michael was crowned Emperor in 820. Ile was cruel and arbitrary; and his attempts to force his sub jects to celebrate the Jewish Sabbath and Pass over brought about a revolt on the part of his general Eupliemins, who proclaimed himself Emperor. The rebellious general was slain near Syracuse, in Sicily. During Michael's reign the Saracens wrested Crete and Sicily from the Em pire.—MicnAEL (c.S3S-867), surnamed the 'Drunkard,' was grandson of Michael II., and succeeded his father, Theophilus, in S42, his mother, Theodora, being regent until 856. In his reign the Varangians appear as foes to the Empire, and the foundation for the separation of the Eastern and Western Churches was laid by a quarrel between the Patriarch, Photins, and the Pope. Nicholas 1. 3lichael was assassinated by Basil the Macedonian in 867.-5lIcnAEL IV. (died 104l), surnamed the Taphlagonian,' from the place of his birth, was raised to the throne by the Empress who on account of her uation for him is suspected of having murdered her husband. Ile was successful in war against
the Bulgarians in 1040, but died in 1041.—Mt CIIAEL V. the as. named, who was his uncle. Having exiled the Empress he was overthrown by the people in 1012, and, after hav ing his eyes put out, was sent to a monastery.— 2k1 Vl. succeeded the Empress Theodora in 1056• but retained the throne only a year, when he was compelled to resign in favor of Isaac Com nenus. He retired to a monastery. lie was surnamed Stratiotiens, and with him the )lace (Ionian dynasty became extinct, his successor be ing of the family of the Conmeni.—MicnArt. VII., YWCAS PARAPINACES, was a son of Constantine NI., and after the regency of his mother Endoxia he ascended the throne in 1071. Baying given too much power to unworthy favorites, lie was forced by an insurrection to abjure the throne in 1078, and retire to a monastery.—nellAET, VIII. PA 1-D:wow's (1234-52) was the first of his family to ascend the Byzantine throne. Ile was pro claimed joint Emperor of Nieiert with John Las earis about 1259, and soon after became sole ruler. In 1261 Constantinople. ''Mich had been held by the Latins since 1201, was captured, and Michael caused his young colleague to he blinded and dethroned. In order to retain possession of the capital, he made some pretence at an attempt to bring about a union of the Western and East ern Churches. which, however, proved to he of short duration.—MI(IMEL IX.. son of Andronieus II.. was associated with his father, but died be fore him in 1320.