Michael 4 was a member of the Melissenos family: Theoph. AM 6258 (Μιχαὴλ μὲν τὸν Μελισσηνὸν), Scriptor Incertus 359-360, Scyl., p. 11, Genesius I 9 (he had the nickname Kassiteras; other sources ascribe this name to his son Theodotos 2). He married a sister of the empress Eudokia (Eudokia 1), the third wife of the emperor Constantine V (Konstantinos 7) (cf. Anonyma 2); he was therefore brother-in-law (σύγγαμβρος) of Constantine V; he was father of Theodotos 2 (the future iconoclast patriarch of Constantinople): Scriptor Incertus 359-360, cf. Scyl., p. 11 (father of Theodotos), Genesius I 9 (father of Theodotos 2). The family home was at Nakoleia (in Phrygia); see Theodotos 2. He was one of the strategoi appointed by the emperor Constantine V (Konstantinos 7) in 766/767 (indiction 5) because they were supporters of iconoclasm; Michael 4 became strategos of the Anatolikoi; the others were Michael 5 Lachanodrakon and Manes 2; Theophanes writes that their crimes against the emperor's opponents could not be contained in all the books in the world: Theoph. AM 6258 (στρατηγοὺς ὁμοφρόνας αὐτοῦ καὶ τῆς κακίας αὐτοῦ ἐπαξίους ἐργάτας, Μιχαὴλ μὲν τὸν Μελισσηνὸν ἐν τῷ θέματι τῶν ἀνατολικῶν). In 772 he was still strategos of the Anatolikoi (τὸν στρατηγὸν τῶν Ἀνατολικῶν); he, with Manes 2 and Bardanes 2, marched on the emperor's orders to oppose Banakas 1 in Isauria; they occupied the narrow passes on his route home, but were heavily defeated by him and routed with heavy losses: Theoph. AM 6263. He was a patrikios: Scriptor Incertus 359, Genesius I 9 (Μιχαὴλ πατρικίου τοῦ πρὸς γένους Μελισσηνοῦ, οὗ τὸ εὔφημον Κασσιτηρᾶς διηκούετο). See Rochow, Konstantin V, pp. 227-228.

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