Theophilos 7 was known as Theophilitzes and Theophilidion (hypocoristic diminutives of his name): Theoph. Cont. V 9 (pp. 224-225). Called Theophilitzes: Leo Gramm., Georg. Mon. Cont., Ps.-Symeon, cf. Zon. XVI 6. 19 (because of his diminutive stature). Also called Theophiliskos: Genesius IV 26. Also known by the nickname of Paideuomenos: Theoph. Cont. V 9 (pp. 224-225). He was related to the emperor Michael III (Michael 11) and the Kaisar Bardas (Bardas 5); described as proud and arrogant, he liked to surround himself with young men who were brave, strong and handsome and to dress them in fine silks and expensive clothes; he often visited the monastery of Hagios Diomedes, near the Golden Gate, and it was to him therefore that the hegoumenos of this monastery introduced the young Basilios 7 who had arrived from Thrace to seek his fortune in Constantinople and who was later to become the emperor Basil I (Basilios 7); Theophilos 7 made a favourite of him and appointed him his chief groom (πρωτοστράτορα αὑτοῦ πεποίηκεν ὁ Θεόφιλος): Theoph. Cont. V 9 (pp. 224-225), cf. Leo Gramm. 234, Georg. Mon. Cont. 820, Ps.-Symeon 656-657 (the account of how Theophilitzes met Basilios 7 in the chronicle tradition derived from Symeon the Logothete tells much the same story as in Theophanes Continuatus but has some variations, viz.: Theophilitzes had in his employ a doctor (name unrecorded) whose brother Nikolaos 6, prosmonarios (not hegoumenos) of the church (not monastery) of Hagios Diomedes, gave Basilios 7 shelter; the doctor learned Basilios 7's story from his brother and later, when Theophilitzes complained that he could find no-one suitable to look after his horses, recommended Basilios 7; Theophilitzes was greatly impressed with Basilios 7 and put him in charge of his horses). A relative of the emperor Michael III (Michael 11) and one of the dignitaries (τῶν πρὸς γένους βασιλικοῦ μεγιστάνων), he was acquainted with the hegoumenos of the monastery of Hagios Diomedes near the Golden Gate at Constantinople (see Nikolaos 6), and used to pay visits there; he was commissioned by the emperor to find strong young men and when Theophilos 7 saw Basilios 7 (the future emperor) he took him into his service: Genesius IV 26.

According to Zonaras, Theophilos 7 was related to the Kaisar Bardas 5 and the emperor Michael 11; he was introduced to Basilios 7 by one of his servants and was so taken with his handsome appearance and his size and physical prowess that he made him protostrator (πρωτοστράτορα) in charge of his horses: Zon. XVI 6. 19-22. At some date after 856 Theophilos 7 was sent by Michael 11 and the Kaisar Bardas 5 on public business to the Peloponnesos (διά τινας τοῦ δημοσίου δουλείας); Basilios 7 accompanied him; Theophilos 7 is attested in Patras, where he went to pray in the Church of Hagios Andreas, accompanied by his bodyguard and a splendid retinue (τὴν περὶ αὐτὸν ... δορυφορίαν καὶ λαμπρότητα): Theoph. Cont. V 11 (p. 226). As a relation of the Kaisar Bardas 5, Theophilos 7 was present with him at a feast at which Bulgar visitors were present; they boasted of the wrestling prowess of one of their men and Theophilos 7 told Bardas 5 that he had a follower capable of beating the Bulgar champion; in the ensuing contest Basilios 7 won: Theoph. Cont. V 12 (pp. 229-230). He recommended Basilios 7 to the emperor Michael 11 when the latter was given a horse that no-one could control; Basilios 7 was successful with it and was then taken by the emperor into his service, leaving that of Theophilitzes: Leo Gramm. 230, 234, Georg. Mon. Cont. 816-817, 820, Ps.-Symeon 655, 656-657, Theoph. Cont. V 13 (p. 231), Zon. XVI 6. 28. According to the unreliable chronology of Pseudo-Symeon (p. 655), the date was in the tenth year of the emperor Michael III (i.e. 851, Michael 11). At the time Theophilos 7 held the posts of Komes of the Noumera and of the Walls: Ps.-Symeon 655 (Θεοφιλίτζης ἐκεῖνος ὁ τῶν νουμέρων τότε καὶ τοῦ τείχους κόμης ὤν). For these two posts (the δομέστικος τῶν νουμέρων, in charge of the prison of the Noumera, and the κόμης τοῦ τειχίου, in charge of the prison of the Chalke and also of the walls of the palace), see Oikonomides, Listes, pp. 336-337, and Haldon, Byzantine Praetorians, pp. 265-266.

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