Bardas Phokas the Elder
Bardas Phokas the Elder ( Greek: Βάρδας Φωκᾶς ) (c. 878; † about 969 ), Caesar, was a Byzantine general, who had initially been in the shadow of his older brother Leo Phocas, in the first half of the 10th century in several campaigns proven and as domestikos ton scholon 944-953 stood at the top of the military hierarchy. He was the father of Nikephoros II Phokas, who until 969 when Emperor reigned from 963 the Byzantine Empire and awarded him the title " Caesar ".
Origin
Bardas Phocas came from the Byzantine magnate family of Phokadai, which was one of the most distinguished representatives of the Byzantine military aristocracy and had extensive land holdings in Anatolia. Bardas was a son of Nikephoros Phokas " the Elder " (* c. 855 † c. 896 ), who was himself a famous general who had distinguished himself as a commander in Italy, by the years 885-886 Taranto and a majority of Calabria conquered and finally scholon to domestikos ton, ie, was the supreme commander of the Byzantine forces in the east, went up. The name and his mother's origins are not known.
Life
Battle against the Bulgarians
The son of a famous generals Bardas chose as his older brother, Leo Phokas a military career, but was long in the shadow of his brother. This was the favorite of the Emperor Leo VI 's widow. " The Wise" ( 886-912 ) from the Macedonian dynasty, Zoe Karvounopsina (Zoe " with the coal-black eyes " ) - in the years 914-919 VII for their minor son, Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus ( 913-959 ), the reign over the Byzantine Empire exercised. Leo Phokas was therefore decisive influence at court and stood as domestikos ton scholon at the top of the military hierarchy.
The first major military use of Bardas Phocas was a general under the command of his brother Leo against the Bulgarians. Relations with Bulgaria had already under Emperor Alexander ( 912-913 ), the brother of Emperor Leo VI. , Deteriorated since he refused, Tsar Simeon I agreed to pay the annual tribute. After the death of Emperor Alexander exacerbated the Empress Dowager Zoe, who had 914 the regency over I. Mystikos by the Patriarch of Constantinople Opel Nikolaos, the location, by announced the existing peace treaty with the Bulgarians, the Czar title of King Simeon I ( 893 -927 ) is no longer recognized and canceled the planned marriage connection between the two dynasties. Tsar Simeon I "the Great" ( 913-927 ) was now determined to destroy Byzantium and even take over the Byzantine imperial crown. In a swift campaign, he succeeded in the years 914/15 the Byzantine provinces of Macedonia, Thessaloniki and Durazzo to conquer.
The command of the troops, who should perform the Byzantine counter-attack on Bulgarian territory, was the brother of Bardas Phocas, the Magistros Leo Phocas as the domestikos ton scholon transmitted, the Bardas acted as General. The Byzantine army was surprised, however, on 20 August 917 by the troops of Tsar Simeon I, after which it was at the mouth of the river Achelous one of the largest battles of the time into the Black Sea. It was the Battle of Anchialos of 20 August 917, in the faced each 30,000 to 60,000 men. The Byzantine troops were there - because of the lack of coordination of the fleet commander Romanos Lekapenos, the transport Petcheneg auxiliary troops over the Danube and the General John Bogas, should this lead to the Danube - trounced. Leo and his brother Bardas were able to escape on the coast of the Black Sea narrowly according Mesembria ( Nessebar in Bulgaria today). The Byzantine historian Leon Diakonos (* c. 950, † 1000) commented that 75 years after this disaster, the fields were strewn on the banks of the Ark Loos with bones of the slain Byzantine soldiers. The troops of Tsar Simeon pushed forward to close Konstantin Opel. And probably also his brother Bardas - - There it Leo Phokas was opposed by a new army, but he was defeated at Katasyrtai / Katasurtas, near Constantine Opel, again and could only save themselves by flight. Empress Zoe was therefore forced to make significant concessions to conclude a new peace treaty, whereupon Tsar Simeon the title of " Tsar of the Bulgarians and the Rhomäer " assumed ( = Eastern Romans / Byzantines ).
Overthrow of his brother Leo Phocas
This defeat against the Bulgarians weakened the reign of the Empress Zoe. At the same time, however, rumors, Leo Phocas could help with their attempt to seize power and oust the young emperor Constantine VII emerged. The wanted the tutor to the Emperor forestall by linking himself with the commander of the fleet, and the young Emperor Romanos Lekapenos to moved, instead of his mother the Patriarch of Constantinople Opel, Nikolaos I. Mystikos ( 901-907 and 912-925 ) again to to appoint regents. This then dismissed Leo Phocas as domestikos and therefore withdrew this his power base.
Leo tried to hold on to power initially through an alliance with Romanos Lekapenos but it had its own plans. He obtained on 25 March 919 access in the imperial palace, occupied it, had himself appointed commander of the bodyguard, married his daughter Helena 919 Lekapene with the young emperor Constantine VII and himself took the title " Basileopater " (father of the Emperor ) to. Romanos was thus de facto Lord of the Byzantine Empire and took the title of Mitkaisers to 920. Leo Phokas then tried to come up with the support of his brother Bardas by a revolt itself to power, but was abandoned by his troops, was forced to flee, was captured in Bithynia, and finally dazzled. When a few months later, a conspiracy of his friends was uncovered, Leo was condemned to ride to shame on a donkey through the streets of Constantinople Opel. His fate is unknown.
The fall of his older brother, abruptly ended the career of Bardas Phokas, who disappeared for a long time from the political scene.
Save The Kyiv fleet
Only many years later Bardas is again mentioned in a leading military role. In the year 941 he appears as a governor of the theme (military Province) Armeniakon, which lay in the north- eastern Anatolia Black Sea and about the ancient province of Paphlagonia corresponded.
At this time appeared Igor, son of Rurik, Grand Prince of Kiev ( 912-945 ) with a large fleet before Constantine Opel, but could do nothing against the walls, which is why he ravaged the countryside.
This fleet was however provided by a hastily assembled Byzantine Armada on 11 June 941 at the northern end of the Bosphorus and by the Byzantines - are struck by the use of the Russians completely unknown " Greek fire" on the run - despite massive numerical inferiority. The largely undamaged rest of the Kievan fleet sailed then the Black Sea coast and let her anger with unheard of cruelty at the local Byzantine population. Bardas Phokas hurried quickly recruited local troops brought about, engaged the looters in battles and drew the Kievan fleet off until the Byzantine main army under John Kurukas and the Byzantine fleet einlangte that circled the Russian squadron from the sea and by the Greek fire completely destroyed.
Domestikos ton scholon 944-953
The basis for the further rise of the House Phocas were the brilliant military successes of the eldest son of Bardas, Nikephoros Phokas. This had managed the expansive emir of Aleppo from the House of Hamdanids, Ali Saif ad-Daula ( 945-967 ) to defeat several times and even conquer the capital of Aleppo after a long siege. Due to this success, the constant threat of the eastern border of the empire banned by the Islamic expansion and the prerequisite for the subsequent renewed expansion of the Byzantine Empire could be established in the East.
A chance for a gain in power of the House of Phokadai, resulted after the collapse of the rule of the usurper, Emperor Romanus I Lekapenos - who was overthrown by his own sons in the year 944, as these feared the repentant ruler could not have the power to them but pass on to the displaced legitimate emperor Constantine VII of the Macedonian dynasty. Although this coup was initially successful but failed because of the fierce resistance of the population that eventually the legitimate emperor, Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus helped to the throne. For the family Phocas, who counted I. Lekapenos to the bitter enemies of the Emperor Romanos, this change of government brought a significant gain in power. Emperor Constantine VII sat John Kurukas as domestikos ton scholon from and transferred the command of the troops in the east of the Empire Pokas Bardas, who thus reached the highest level of the military hierarchy. At the same time, his sons Leo Phokas Nikephoros Phokas and " the Younger " were used as military governors in the major provinces of Anatolia and Cappadocia.
Bardas Pholas kept this important military function to 953, with the focus of the military effort in the east of the empire was. In the year 949 was made an expedition against the major, standing under Saracen control island of Crete, but failed due to the inability of the commander of the fleet Konstantinos Gongylas.
With varying success, ran the fighting against the Saracens. In 949 Bardas succeeded several victories against Sayf al - Dawla to achieve, the city Germanikeia (now in Turkey Kahramanmaras ) to conquer the southern coast of Anatolia and 952 to cross the Euphrates. Shortly after, the tide turned, Sayf al - Dawla conquered Germanikeia back, penetrated into the territory of the Reich, where Bardas a serious wound suffered in battle in the year 953 of the face, and his son Constantine Phocas was captured. Because of his injury Bardas resigned as domestikos and renounced 954 on the high command of the Eastern Army in favor of his eldest son Nikephoros Phokas.
Father of the Emperor Nikephoros II
Despite the release of his command Bardas Phocas had opportunity to the reign of Emperor Constantine VII to play while at least of protocol role, such as when you visit the embassies of Omajadenkalifen, Abd ar -Rahman III. , The Western Emperor or visiting the Russian Grand Duchess Olga - of the fighting of Bardas Grand Prince Igor, who was baptized in 955 Constantine Opel and stayed a long time at the imperial court in the autumn of 957 widow.
Emperor Constantine VII, the sponsor of the Phokas family, who is also a distinguished scholar and writer, was also, among other things, a guide to the exercise of the rule of his son: had " De Imperio administrando " written, passed away on November 9, 959 in Constantinople Opel. In him his son Romanos II succeeded as Emperor of Byzantium ( 959-963 ). ( † 976 * to 941) on 15 March 963 the regency for their minor sons, the future Emperor Basil II (* 958, † 1025) As this died very soon, his widow, Empress Theophano took over and Constantine VIII ( * c. 960, † 1028 ).
Mindful of the fact that her reign without the support of a respected general would be a little more durable, they chose the three most important generals of the Empire - the two sons of Bardas Phocas, Nicholas II and Leo Phocas and John Kurukas - Nicholas II Phocas as support of her reign.
Nikephoros Phokas met in April 963 in Constantinople Opel, however there saw the bitter enmity of the highly intelligent and scheming eunuch Joseph Bringas against. This had exercised the supreme command of the fleet under Emperor Constantine VII and as Parakoimomenos (about: Oberstkämmerer ) won II under Emperor Romanos decisive influence on the government. Not without reason he now feared for his position and declared, therefore, Nikephoros was a public danger, must therefore be arrested.
As a successful general, however, sat down by Nicephorus, was not arrested, but honored for his victory with a triumphal procession, and again entrusted by the Senate with the supreme command in the East. He traveled to his troops from Anatolia, however, had agreed with the Empress Theophano, that he should be proclaimed co-emperor. Bringas tried to prevent this. He invited rival generals, to oppose the and took the father of Nicephorus, the octogenarian over Bardas Phocas, hostage in prison. However, this attempt also was in vain, as the troops Nikephoros lifted on July 3, 963 in Anatolia on the shield and proclaimed it with the name Nikephoros II as Emperor of the Roman people.
In Constantinople Opel Bardas Phocas succeeded - despite his respectable age - to escape from his guards, and to see the Hagia Sophia asylum. Bringas sent soldiers to capture Bardas in the church again, but these were from the outraged crowd that appreciated the deserved General pushed back. Even a speech by Bringas in the Hagia Sophia was unsuccessful. Finally Bringas found a way to lure the old general of the Church, by appearing with the two child emperors in the Hagia Sophia and threatened that they would pay any further resistance of Bardas with life. Bardas therefore went out with him from the Hagia Sophia. When the people came back in the afternoon in the church and Bardas no longer vorfanden, they fanned out under the leadership of the Patriarch, to look for him. He was found unharmed in the palace and brought him in triumph back to the Hagia Sophia. As Bringas appeared there with soldiers, there was an angry popular revolt. Bringas was driven from the city and his palace burned down, whereupon the mob used the occasion to plunder the city for weeks and half to destroy Konstantin Opel.
On August 14, 963 Bardas Phocas had the satisfaction to be there when his son Nicephorus Phocas held his solemn entry into Constantinople Opel, the resistance of the Bringas in bloody street fighting broke out, and on 16 August 963 and in the Hagia Sophia by the Patriarch of Constantinople Opel, Polyeuctos ( 956-970 ) was crowned in the presence of the child Emperor Nikephoros II as Emperor of the Byzantine Empire.
Appointment as Caesar
As thanks, Emperor Nikephoros his aged father the title of Caesar, after the title of emperor was the highest in the Byzantine hierarchy. Bringas was treated mercy and exiled to his native Paphlagonia. His brother Leo Phocas appointed by the emperor to Kuropalates (about: Imperial High Steward ), transferred the civil administration of the eunuch Basil ( an illegitimate son of Emperor Romanos I. Lekapenos ) and confirmed his nephew, John Tzimiskes - the future Emperor of Byzantium - as commander in chief of the land forces and the army in Anatolia. Little did he know at the time that this him - in cooperation with his own wife Theophano 969, ie, would six years later, murder.
Marriage of his son Nikephor II
On September 20, 963 Bardas had the joy in the palace chapel of the " Nea " - to take part in the ceremonial marriage of his son Nicephorus II with the Empress Theophano, which legitimized the power of his house in the eyes of the world - the New Palace. However, the joy was not quite unclouded, as the Patriarch of Constantinople, Emperor Nikephoros II forbade Opel Polyeuctus to kiss the Holy Altar, as long as it (which is not desirable in the Orthodox Church ) would have done penance for not entering into a second marriage. At the same time he found out that Nikephoros godfather of one or more children of Theophano was, therefore, was to Theodora in a banned spiritual kinship, therefore, demanded that Nikephoros should be separated by Theodora.
In the opinion of his son Emperor Nikephoros II to help by Bardas Phokas testified that Nikephoros had exercised a sponsor function, none of the children of Theodora. He could not know that he had thus laid the foundation for the murder of his son Emperor Nikephoros II, the Theodora could be conducted on 11 December 969, together with her lover, the later Emperor John Tzimiskes in the night of 10. Tzimiskes followed as John I as Emperor of Byzantium ( 969-976 ) during Theophanu was banished to the monastery.
Liutprand of Cremona encounter with
On June 4, 968 met in Constantinople Opel an embassy of Emperor Otto II under the direction of Bishop Liutprand of Cremona, in order for this one " purple -born " - born ie in the space reserved for imperial births with red porphyry designed hall of the imperial palace - to find Byzantine princess as a wife. In the - well worth reading - report on his diplomatic mission Liutprand describes his encounter with Bardas Phocas, the aged father of the Emperor Nikephoros II, at a dinner with the Emperor.:
"His ( Emperor Nikephoros II ) father sat with him, the - so it seemed to me - was one hundred and fifty years old. In front of him as his son sang the praises Greeks and wished him that God would multiply his years. From this we can see how stupid are the Greeks, how satisfied with such glory as flatteringly as greedy they are. For it is not an old man but a completely emaciated old man they want something that they know for sure that it is not giving him the nature. And the gaunt old man would be more about the fact that he so desired, although he knows that even God will not give it to him and that even if he did, this would not be for his benefit, but to his detriment. "
Liutprand could not know at that time that he thereby the great-grandfather of the future Roman Empress Theophano Skleraina described that he would bring to Germany finally took the " Purple -born " daughter of Emperor Romanos II as a bride for his master, Emperor Otto II.
Bardas Phokas died after a fulfilling life, one year after the visit of the imperial legation of Liutprand of Cremona, in his nineties in 969 in Constantinople Opel.
Marriage and issue
Bardas Phocas was married to an unnamed sister of Manuel Maleinos. This was monk, founder and abbot of the monastery on the mountain Kymnias Olmyp in Bithynia (now Uludağ ) - revered mountain in the Turkish province of Bursa and is a saint of the Orthodox Church † 961 /62. She was a daughter of the Eudokimus Maleinos (* c. 865, † c. 915) and the Anastaso Adralestina (* c. 870 ), a daughter of Adralestos, the ton 920/21 Domesikos was scholon. The Maleinos were a magnate family of Greek origin, who had extensive possessions in Cappadocia and whose members had often exercised high command and administrative functions since the 9th century. Children:
Bardas Phokas had by Christian Settipani three sons and three daughters:
- Nikephoros II Phokas (* 912 in Constantinople Opel, † 969 ), Emperor of Byzantium ( 963-969 ) ∞ 1 ) Ne, ∞ 2 ) Theophano, widow of the Emperor Romanos II, mother of the future Emperor Basil II and Constantine VIII and Princess Anna, who I " the Great " of Kiev married the Grand Duke Vladimir. Ne Phokaina ( from 1st marriage ) ∞ Michael Botaneiates (* c. 945), Protonotarios. Its great-grandchildren Nikephoros III. Botaneiates was Emperor of Byzantium ( 1078-1081 ). About his niece, the c. 1065 Géza I. King of Hungary ( 1074-1077 ) married, there remains today a thriving offspring.
- Nicephorus Phocas " the blind man " (* c. 940, † AD 972), Patrikios
- Bardas Phokas the Younger ( * c. 940/45, † April 13 989), against Emperor of Byzantium ( 971, 987-989 )
- Sophia Phokaina (* 945, † AD 960) ∞ Konstantinos Sclerosis (* c. 930 † March 11 991 ), Patrikios, Theophano Skleraina (* c. 960 in Constantinople, Opel, † June 15 991 in Nijmegen ), ∞ April 14 972 in Rome, Otto II, Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire ( 967-983 ) ( offspring)
- John Tzimiskes, Emperor of Byzantium ( 969-976 ), † January 10 976
- Diogenes Adralestos († AD 970)