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The Byzantine historian Michael Psellus [b.1018-d.1096] contribution to our understanding of the crusades comes from his Chronographia, which provides a history of Byzantine emperors immediately before the First Crusade. His work is especially useful for providing details of the decline of the Byzantine Empire in the decades prior to the crusades. Especially useful is his history of Romanus IV Diogenes who reigned and took part in the disasterous Byzantine defeat to Turkish forces at Manzikert in 1071. This defeat made clear just how dangerous Turkish forces were to the continued existance of the Byzantine Empire and encouraged eastern Christians to look to the West for help, ultimately resulting in the crusades. A popular and useful translation of Psellus' work is, Michael Psellus. Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus. trans. E.R.A. Sewter. London: Penguin, 1966. It has been republished on numerous occasions and is commonly used in Byzantine History classes throughout the United States. The indroduction of the work, also written by E.R.A. Sewter, notes:              It is generally agreed among Byzantine scholars that the Chronographia holds a very high              place in the catalogue of medieval histories. Apart from its intrinsic value as memoir of              a contemporary witness who is for the most part quite reliable and intelligent, it is undenaibly              a work of art. Psellus can have few rivals as a vivid narrator of events. His character studies              are masterly, his psychological insight most impressive. As a picture of Byzantine life and              particularly of life at the Imperial court his work could scarcely be surpassed. On the other              hand, there are serious deficiencies (by modern standards) in the Chronographia. Far too              often Psellus omits to give the names of prominent persons, in a tantalizing and unnecessary              way. He is apt to be eclectic, though it is fair to add that nowhere does he profess to tell the              whole truth.(1) [Continued...] Manzikert- Crusades-Encyclopedia Romanus IV Diogenes- Crusades-Encyclopedia 1. Michael Psellus. Fourteen Byzantine Rulers: The Chronographia of Michael Psellus. trans. E.R.A. Sewter. (London: Penguin, 1966) 15. (c) Andrew Holt, November 2005- Permission is granted for electronic copying and distribution in print for educational and personal use. No permission is granted for commercial use.