Bardas

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For other uses, see Bardas (disambiguation).

Amorian dynasty
Chronology
Succession
Preceded by
Nikephorian dynasty
 Followed by
Macedonian dynasty

Bardas (

Basil the Macedonian, who a year later would usurp the throne for himself and install his own dynasty
on the Byzantine throne.

Caesar Bardas and his nephew in the Hagia Sophia.

Biography

Early life

Bardas was born to the droungarios Marinos and Theoktiste, and was the elder brother of Empress Theodora, the wife of Emperor Theophilos, and of Petronas.[1] Three other sisters, Maria, Sophia and Irene, are recorded by Theophanes Continuatus.[1] The family was of Armenian origin and had settled in Paphlagonia.[2] Some modern genealogists, including Cyril Toumanoff and Nicholas Adontz, have suggested a link of Bardas's family with the Armenian noble clan of the Mamikonian. According to Nina Garsoïan in the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, however, "[a]ttractive though it is, this thesis cannot be proven for want of sources."[3]

Michael III with Theodora and Theoktistos, from the Madrid Skylitzes

In 837, Theophilos raised him to the rank of

Abbasids in 844, even though the logothete himself had led the Byzantine army. As a result of these accusations, Bardas was exiled from Constantinople for an undetermined period of time.[1][5]

Following Bardas's exile and the death of Sergios, Theoktistos ruled supreme alongside Theodora for a decade.

bride show and selected Eudokia Dekapolitissa as his bride, disregarding Michael's attachment to his mistress, Eudokia Ingerina.[7] Bardas used Michael's resentment for the high-handed manner in which he was treated, and began to turn him against the regency. With Michael's backing, Bardas was allowed to return to the capital, and on 20 November 855, Theoktistos was murdered.[1][7] This was possibly done at the emperor's behest, for Bardas is said to have favoured a more "elegant" removal of his rival.[1]

Ascendancy and fall

With the death of Theoktistos, the regency was at an end; in early 856, Michael proclaimed his assumption of full imperial power, and in 857 Theodora was forced to retire to the

chartoularios tou kanikleiou), followed by his promotion to kouropalates—according to Symeon the Logothete, this happened after a failed assassination attempt masterminded by Theodora—and finally, on Holy Wednesday (22 April 862), to caesar.[1] The dominance of Bardas is corroborated by non-Byzantine sources: al-Tabari records that Arab envoys negotiated with Bardas, rather than the emperor, and Bar Hebraeus writes that during an audience with an Arab embassy, Michael did not utter a single word, with his "cousin" (most likely Bardas) speaking on his behalf.[1] Petronas also emerged from obscurity at the same time, becoming strategos of the Thracesian Theme and leading a series of successful raids against the Arabs.[8]

Although later sources are critical of his character, describing him as vain, avaricious and power-hungry, his capabilities as an administrator are widely acknowledged.

Basil I the Macedonian (r. 867–886).[1]

In 858, Bardas deposed patriarch

Photios, well-educated but a layman, in his stead. Later chronicles report that Ignatios had excluded Bardas from communion because he maintained an incestuous relationship with one of his daughters-in-law, but the real reason for Ignatios's deposition was probably the patriarch's staunch refusal to tonsure Empress Theodora against her will, as demanded by Bardas.[1] The irregular elevation of Photios, however, alienated Pope Nicholas I, who refused to recognize it. Coupled with competition between Rome and Constantinople over their missionary activities in and jurisdiction over Moravia and Bulgaria, relations with the papacy remained tense.[10]

The assassination of Bardas, with Michael looking on, from the Madrid Skylitzes

Despite his great authority, Bardas's control over his nephew was not absolute: after he managed to persuade him to dismiss his old chamberlain (parakoimomenos), Damian, Michael appointed to the post not one of Bardas's own protégés, but his favourite companion, the ruthlessly ambitious Basil the Macedonian.[1][11] Bardas's own position was further weakened in early 866, when Michael learned that Eudokia Ingerina was pregnant with the future Leo VI: hitherto Bardas stood to succeed to the throne if anything should happen to the emperor, but now Michael had a direct heir. Instead of divorcing his wife and marrying his long-time mistress, however, Michael married off Ingerina to Basil instead, who divorced his own wife first.[11] In spring of the same year, Bardas began assembling a large-scale expedition against the Saracen stronghold of Crete. Accompanied by Michael, Basil and the court, Bardas made for Miletus, where the army was assembling. There, on 21 April 866, he was murdered by Basil, ostensibly for plotting against the emperor.[1][11]

The campaign was abandoned while Michael and Basil returned to Constantinople, where Michael adopted his friend and made him co-emperor. In September 867, Basil had Michael III assassinated as well, ending the

Macedonian period of Byzantine history.[12]

Family

Bardas was married twice. From his unknown first wife, who must have died before 855, he had a son named Antigonos, a daughter named Irene, an unnamed son, and another daughter who married the logothete

monostrategos ("single-general") of the Empire's European themes.[1] Bardas's second daughter was married to the patrikios and logothete Symbatios. Symbatios participated in the plot to assassinate Bardas, hoping to succeed him. He rose in revolt when Basil became co-emperor, but was defeated, mutilated and exiled.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r PmbZ, Bardas (#791/corr.).
  2. ^ a b c d ODB, "Bardas" (P. A. Hollongsworth, A. Cutler), pp. 255–256.
  3. ^ ODB, "Mamikonean" (N. G. Garsoïan), pp. 1278–1279.
  4. ^ Treadgold 1997, p. 446.
  5. ^ a b Treadgold 1997, p. 447.
  6. ^ Treadgold 1997, pp. 447–450.
  7. ^ a b Treadgold 1997, p. 450.
  8. ^ a b Treadgold 1997, pp. 450–451.
  9. ^ Treadgold 1997, pp. 451–453.
  10. ^ Treadgold 1997, pp. 451–454.
  11. ^ a b c Treadgold 1997, p. 453.
  12. ^ Treadgold 1997, pp. 453–455.
  13. ^ PmbZ, Antigonos (#503).
  14. ^ PmbZ, Symbatios (#7169).

Sources

  • ISBN 0-19-504652-8
    .
  • Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Pratsch, Thomas; Zielke, Beate (2013). Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Nach Vorarbeiten F. Winkelmanns erstellt (in German). Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter.
  • ISBN 0-8047-2630-2
    .

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