Leo Tornikios
Leo Tornikios | |
---|---|
Born | Patrikios, doux |
Battles/wars | Siege of Constantinople, 1047 |
Leo Tornikios (
Biography
Leo Tornikios was born in
Although favoured by his relative,
Rebellion and siege of Constantinople
Taking advantage of this freedom, he fled the capital to Adrianople on September 14, 1047, delaying pursuit by slaughtering the horses at each post station. In Adrianople he gathered supporters, including a number of disgruntled generals. He claimed that Constantine was dead and offered to lead them. The army proclaimed him emperor, its commanders raising him on a shield in the traditional manner. They then marched against the capital and set up camp opposite the walls of Constantinople on September 25, 1047.[5][6]
The Byzantine bureaucracy distrusted the military aristocracy and had been systematically undermining it,[7] for example removing the day-to-day running of the military forces of each province from the traditionally aristocratic strategoi and giving it to the civil magistrates (praetors).[8][9] Emperor Constantine belonged to this bureaucratic faction, and had been actively reducing the size of the army during the five years since he had come to the throne.[10] This was a major cause of the unrest in Thrace and of Tornikios' own dissatisfaction. More importantly, this infighting had devastated the army's effectiveness. The nearest useful, loyal military force was the army of Anatolia, posted to Iberia to guard the frontier. Constantine was therefore forced to rely on Saracen mercenaries, civilians and paroled convicts to defend the city.[9]
A force of armed citizens sallied out to meet Tornikios but was easily defeated. This spread panic among the capital's defenders, who abandoned their posts on the walls and their gates. Tornikios, however, instead of storming the unmanned walls, hesitated.[11] Contemporary historian, Psellus, wrote: "He was confidently awaiting our invitation to assume the throne: he assumed that he would be led to the palace by flaming torches, in a procession worthy of a sovereign."[12] Modern historian Norwich speculates: "Perhaps he wanted to spare a city he believed soon to be his from pillage".[12] Whatever his reasons, he lost his opportunity to take the city, for that night, Emperor Constantine managed to restore order and re-occupy the walls, to await the arrival of the Anatolian army. The next morning, Constantine, dressed in full imperial regalia, installed himself in a position where all of the besieging army could see him, giving the lie to Tornikios' claim that he was dead.[12]
The siege lasted from September 25 to 28. Two assaults by Tornikios' men were turned back by the defenders on the walls under the personal leadership of Emperor Constantine, who, despite suffering from severe gout and arthritis, and having no military experience, showed courage and energy in defence of the city.[5][12] On one occasion an arrow struck and killed a lieutenant standing by his side and his attendants pulled him away. Following the failure of their assaults Tornikios' men were disillusioned, having expected an easy victory. Constantine sent agents to their camps to bribe them to desert, and they met with some success. In desperation Tornikios approached the walls himself to appeal directly to the defenders. He was met by a hail of missiles. Thwarted, he withdrew his army westwards in early October.[13]
Defeat
Hoping to retrieve the situation, he attacked the town of
At Christmas 1047, in Constantinople, he suffered the traditional fate of Byzantine rebels and was publicly blinded, along with Vatatzes. Nothing further is known about him.[3][14]
Consequences
The revolt weakened Byzantine defences in the Balkans and, in 1048, the area was raided by the
References
- ^ Kurkjian 1964, p. 200.
- ^ ODB, "Tornikios" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 2096–2097.
- ^ a b c d e ODB, "Tornikios, Leo" (C. M. Brand), pp. 2097–2098.
- ^ a b Norwich 1991, p. 311.
- ^ a b c Bréhier 1946, p. 245.
- ^ a b Norwich 1991, p. 312.
- ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, pp. 284, 293.
- ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 293.
- ^ a b Norwich 1991, pp. 312–313.
- ^ Encyclopædia Britannica, p. 387.
- ^ Ostrogorsky 1957, p. 294.
- ^ a b c d Norwich 1991, p. 313.
- ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 313–314.
- ^ a b Norwich 1991, p. 314.
- ^ Finlay 1906, p. 515.
- ^ a b Kurkjian 1964, p. 207.
- ^ Norwich 1991, p. 341.
- ^ Haldon 2001, pp. 46, 180.
- ^ Norwich 1991, pp. 338–358.
Sources
- OCLC 490176081.
- OCLC 14609512.
- Finlay, George (1906) [1853]. History of the Byzantine Empire from 716–1057. London: William Blackwood & Sons. OCLC 459585297.
- ISBN 978-0-7524-1795-0.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Kurkjian, Vahan M. (1964) [1958]. A History of Armenia. New York: Armenian General Benevolent Union of America. OCLC 889896040.
- Norwich, John (1991). Byzantium: the Apogee. London: Penguin. ISBN 978-0-670-80252-4.
- OCLC 422217218.