Roussel de Bailleul

Roussel Phrangopolos or Ursel from Bailleul ( de Ballione ) ( † 1077 ) was a Norman mercenary ( misthophoros ) in the Byzantine army, who tried 1070-1075 to establish their own territory in Anatolia. Its exact origin is unclear, Anna Comnena describes him as Celts (1, i), the Gallic francs.

Life

When he arrived exactly at the Byzantine court, is unclear. He had been in the service of Roger of Calabria and was then a member of the Hetaireia of Master Robert Crispin. He was around 1070 in Armeniakon a fortified farm assigned ( Attaleiates, Historia 199 ), perhaps an imperial stud ( Shepard 1993, 288 ), he had to feed the horses of his followers over the winter. 1071, he was a leader of the Frankish heavy cavalry part of the army, which had Romanus IV Diogenes pulled together for the reconquest of Armenia. When it was attacked unexpectedly on August 19 by the Turks under Alp Arslan, the Normans are not involved in the ensuing Battle of Manzikert. Andronikos Dukas retired with the reserve troops also returned and left the Emperor to his fate, which fell into Turkish captivity.

Then Roussel, in Asia Minor attempted, especially in Lycaonia and Galatia to establish their own territory; among its practitioners include both other Normans and other foreigners. As the following events showed, he must also have had under the provincial population trailer. Roussel's seal bore the inscription " Roussel Phrangopolos " (son of the Franks ) and his title as Imperial VESTES, a title previously, another Norman, Hervé Phrangopoulos, had worn. On the reverse was a picture of Mary as Mother of God, at this time a purely Byzantine motif. Bartikian considered short term to fight under Philaretos Brachamios against the Pahlawani, but this is based on a controversial reading of the Armenian name Rmbaghat and seems unlikely.

From 1073 the increased Turkish invasion of Asia Minor began. Michael VII, who had been released for a ransom, and the evacuation of Armenia, was forced to revert to the services of the treacherous Normans. Under the command of Isaac Komnenos went against the Turks, in the troop, there was also Alexios Komnenos, brother of Isaac. Roussell however, coincided with the Turks, the Byzantines, Isaac fell into Turkish captivity.

Michael sent another army under the command of his uncle John Doukas against him. This, however, was defeated at Amorion far from Sivrihisar and Dukas fell into Norman captivity. Roussel proclaimed his prisoner to the emperor and marched on the capital. 1074 he was with his troops, including 3,000 francs, shortly before Constantine Opel and burned the suburb Chrysopolis ( Üsküdar ) down ( Attaleiates, Historia 188). Michael, promised Suleiman, an Emir of Malik Shah I, who conquered by Roussel Anatolian provinces in exchange for the defeat of the rebel. Due to the Seljuk attacks the Franke now had to retreat back to the east. Suleiman hit him on the mountain in Cappadocia Sophon. Roussel retired with the rest of his army in the Armeniakon, in the area around Amasya back. The historian Michael Attaleiates, a partisan of Nikephoros Botaneiates, who wrote around 1080, is of the opinion that the Emperor should leave it there, but he fought successfully the Turks. He was in any case the title of a Kouropalates offered, but he declined. He allied himself instead with the Seljuks Tutusch, another Emir Malik Shah, who plundered from his base in eastern Anatolia from the remaining Byzantine provinces.

Alexios Komnenos, who now served as general of his brother Isaac Komnenos, 1076 could bring the Seljuks with considerable donations to betray Roussel, after he had put as guarantee for the timely payment of hostages. Tutusch Roussel took actually caught and sent him to Amasya. However, the promised money from Constantinople Opel came on very gradually, and Alexios could not fulfill its obligations. Tutusch demanded urgent money or the return of the prisoners. Alexius appealed to the citizens of Amasya, shall advance him the money, which he calls her " cruel persecution of many citizens," recalled the looting of Roussel in Anatolia and the. However, the inhabitants hissed from him publicly. Some cheered the mob to assault the captive Normans, while others ( the "scum ", aristocratic in Anna's judgment ) were in favor, to free him. Alexios had to realize that he was in a quite embarrassing situation. When he had recovered with difficulty the rest, he gave a thrilling speech in which he accused the advocates Roussel, insert the money of the emperor and Roussel to support only to secure their own possession. In a thinly veiled words, the brother of the emperor threatened citizens with " massacre, glare and mutilation " (I, ii ). In response, the crowd broke up reluctantly. However, Alexios feared for the night an attempt to liberate Roussel. Therefore, he gave the statement, Roussel publicly to dazzle with a hot iron. The glare was only feigned. As he brought the prisoners to play along here, " crying and screaming " to is unclear, presumably with the threat of a real glare. Anyway, brought citizens and resident foreigners in Amasya after the Seljuks owed ​​sum of money on, " like busy bees " (I, iii ). Alexios blocked the Normans in a cage, still with a bandage over his eyes as he subdued the remaining rebellious provinces. After a short rest in his family home in Adrian Opel Kastamouni he brought him to the imperial court. His own nephew Dokeianus accused him of cruelty, when he saw the blind francs. Only now Alexios gave up the deception, and all praised his generosity.

In Constantinople Opel Roussel was tortured and thrown into prison, but soon released to the elderly and Nicephorus to fight under the command of Alexios against the rebellious generals Nikephoros Bryennios Botaneiates. That Bryennios was allied with Suleiman, who had delivered him the Romäern, it sure made ​​even more attractive. Overall, it seems that Roussel possessed a considerable power base even at the imperial court.

Judgment

Anna Comnena describes him, with a certain admiration as extremely ambitious (1, i). Attaleiates praises repeated his martial virtues. Expected of him and Hervé, later go back to Bohemond of Antioch, the reputation of the Franks as disloyal and treacherous.

Literary implementation

The life of Roussel was under the title The Lady for Ransom subject of a 1954 novel by Alfred Duggan.

Swell

• Michaelis Attaliotae, Historia (Bonn 1853).
• Hey synecheia tēs chronographias tou Ioannou Skylitsē: ( Ioannes Skylitzes Continuatus ) ( Edited by ET Tsolakis, Thessaloniki 1968).
• John Zonaras
• Nikephoros Bryennios, history.
• Anna Comnena, Alexiade