Alexios Mosele (Caesar)

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Alexios Mosele (Greek: Ἀλέξιος Μωσηλέ) or Musele/Mousele (Μουσελέ) was a Byzantine aristocrat and general, chosen by Emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842) for a time as his heir, betrothed to his daughter Maria and raised to the supreme dignity of Caesar. He campaigned in the Balkans, recovering territory from the Slavs, and fought with some success in Sicily against the Arabs. Recalled to Constantinople on suspicion of plotting to usurp the throne, he was imprisoned but later pardoned and allowed to retire to a monastery, where he spent the remainder of his days.

Biography

Copper follis minted in celebration of Emperor Theophilos' (r. 829–842) victories against the Arabs from circa 835 on.

Alexios was possibly the son or the grandson of the general

patrikios, is also recorded.[1][2][3]

Sometime between 838 and 839, Alexios was engaged to the princess Maria, Emperor Theophilos's youngest and favourite daughter, despite the fact that she was an

magistros and eventually to Caesar.[2][4][5] He was the only person known to have been promoted to the rank during Theophilos's reign, and may indeed have been raised to it as early as 831, when the presence of an unnamed Caesar is attested at an imperial triumph. Alternatively, it may be a reference to another, otherwise unknown, holder of the title, who probably died shortly after.[6]

In summer 836, Mosele was dispatched with an army against the

Thessalonica, the Empire's major Balkan city. After founding a new city, named Caesaropolis after himself, he returned to Constantinople.[7]

Alexios may have participated in Theophilos's successful campaign against

Cephaloedium, and inflicted several defeats upon their forces. His forces, however, were insufficient to evict the Arabs altogether from their holdings in the western part of the island, and in late 838 he suffered a defeat at the hands of fresh Arab reinforcements.[9]

In 842 he was accused by some Sicilians of colluding with the Arabs and planning to become emperor himself. To avoid forcing his Caesar into a corner, Theophilos sent Theodore Crithinus,

John the Grammarian too publicly berated Theophilos. The emperor relented, released both Theodore and Alexios, and restored the latter to his rank and property.[2][11]

His relations with the emperor, however, cooled considerably, particularly after the birth, in 840, of Theophilos's son, Michael III (r. 842–867). By 842, Mosele had retired to a monastery at the quarter of ta Anthemiou in Chrysopolis, which he himself had founded. Nothing is known of him thereafter.[1][2][5][12]

References

  1. ^ a b Charanis 1963, p. 25.
  2. ^ a b c d e Lilie et al. 1999, p. 59
  3. ^ Treadgold 1988, pp. 289, 368.
  4. ^ Treadgold 1988, pp. 289–290, 292.
  5. ^ a b Kazhdan 1991, p. 1416.
  6. ^ Lilie et al. 1999, pp. 59–60.
  7. ^ Treadgold 1988, p. 292.
  8. ^ Treadgold 1988, pp. 293–295, 434 (Note #380).
  9. ^ Treadgold 1988, pp. 296, 306, 312.
  10. ^ Treadgold 1988, pp. 312–313.
  11. ^ Treadgold 1988, p. 313.
  12. ^ Treadgold 1988, p. 319.

Sources

  • OCLC 17186882
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