went on getting drunk and cared nothing for the affairs of his Empire; he knew quite well that the wretched people, as far as they dared have a will of their own, were on the side of the rightful bishop. Nicetas David, the friend and biographer of Ignatius, has preserved some of the Emperor's jokes on the subject. "There are three Patriarchs," he said; "mine is Theophilus Gryllus (the clown), the Patriarch of the Cæsar (Bardas) is Photius, and that of the people is Ignatius."[1] He had no respect for Photius; on one occasion he told him that he had a face like a Khazar,[2] another time he called him "Marzuka," a cryptic name which Photius, who was much hurt by it, elaborately explains as meaning a dog who steals shoe leather.[3]
Meanwhile what was happening in Rome? The two Legates came back with their gifts hidden away and gave as specious an account of what had happened as they could (861). Then came Leo, the Emperor's secretary, with the letters from his master and Photius. Nicholas waited a long time till he had heard the other side. At last in 862 Theognostus arrives with Ignatius's letter. Then the Pope, having examined the whole matter, decides for Ignatius. He answers the letters of Photius and Michael. To Photius, whom he again addresses only as "Vir prudentissimus," giving him no title, he refutes all his arguments, insists on the right of the Holy See, which Photius himself had completely acknowledged, and sternly commands him to give up the place he has usurped.[4] To the Emperor he insists on the facts that he himself had entirely recognized Ignatius when he was first made Patriarch, that Ignatius had held the see in peaceful possession for twelve years, that the Legates had grossly misused their power. "We advise and command you, beloved son and
- ↑ Herg. i. p. 356, n. 36.
- ↑ Symeon Mag. de Mich. and Theod. (ed. Bonn, 1838), p. 674. The Khazars were a branch of the great Turkish family who were attacking the Empire from the north. The statement was naturally offensive and doubtless wholly untrue.
- ↑ L.c. p. 674. κύων ἕλκων δέρμα. I have no notion what the language is, but Photius explains: Mar = dog; zu = thief; kas = shoe leather, and he was a great philologist.
- ↑ Herg. i. pp. 511–516.
