Nikephoros I
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Nikephoros I (Greek: Νικηφόρος; 750 – 26 July 811), also known as Nicephorus I, was the Byzantine emperor from 802 to 811. He began his career as genikos logothetēs under Empress Irene, but later overthrew her to seize the throne. Prior to becoming emperor, he was sometimes referred to as "the Logothete" (Greek: ὁ Λογοθέτης) and "Genikos" or "Genicus" (ὁ Γενικός), in recognition of his previous role.
During his reign, Nikephoros engaged in military campaigns against both the Arabs and the Bulgarians, although the outcomes were varied. While leading an invasion into Bulgaria, he suffered a defeat and was killed at the Battle of Pliska.
Background
According to several sources outside the Byzantine context, such as
Reign
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Nikephoros, a
During his reign, Nikephoros undertook a comprehensive reorganization of the Roman Empire and made efforts to strengthen its borders. He established new administrative divisions, known as themes, in the Balkans and resettled Greeks from Anatolia in these regions. To fund the expansion of his military forces, he managed the empire's finances with strict discipline, which led to the displeasure and hostility of his subjects. According to later accounts by Theophanes Continuatus in the 10th century and Synopsis Chronike in the 13th century, the rebellion of General Bardanes Tourkos in 803 may have been triggered by dissatisfaction with Nikephoros' handling of army salaries. Nikephoros secretly negotiated with two influential supporters of Bardanes, Generals Leo and Michael, who convinced the rebel army to disband. Bardanes was subsequently captured, blinded, and sent to a monastery. A conspiracy led by the patrician Arsaber had a similar outcome.
Nikephoros' imposition of taxes and his attempts to exert control over the church created a rift between him and the clergy. Although he appointed an
In 803, Nikephoros concluded a treaty known as the "Pax Nicephori" with Charlemagne but refused to acknowledge Charlemagne's imperial status. Relations between the two deteriorated, leading to a war over Venice between 806 and 810. While Nikephoros managed to suppress a rebellion in Venice in 807, he suffered significant losses to the Franks. The conflict was ultimately resolved after Nikephoros' death, resulting in the assignment of Venice, Istria, the Dalmatian coast, and Southern Italy to the Eastern realm, while Rome, Ravenna, and the Pentapolis were included in the Western realm.
By withholding the tribute that Irene had agreed to pay to the caliph
In 811, Nikephoros launched an invasion of Bulgaria, achieved victory over Krum twice, and sacked the Bulgarian capital, Pliska. The Chronicle of Michael the Syrian, a 12th-century patriarch of the Syrian Jacobites, describes the brutality and atrocities committed by Nikephoros: "Nikephoros, emperor of the Roman Empire, walked into the Bulgarians' land: he was victorious and killed great number of them. He reached their capital, seized it and devastated it. His savagery went to the point that he ordered to bring their small children, got them tied down on earth and made thresh grain stones to smash them." During the retreat of Nikephoros' forces, the imperial army was ambushed and annihilated in the Varbishki mountain passes at the Battle of Pliska by Krum. Nikephoros perished in the battle, and Krum is said to have had his head severed and used his skull as a drinking cup.
Family
By an unknown wife Nikephoros I had at least two children:
- Staurakios, who succeeded as emperor.
- Prokopia, who married Michael I Rangabe, emperor 811–813.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 978-9042919730.
- ISBN 978-1137029645.
- ISBN 978-9004254381.
- ^ ISBN 978-0520049987.
- ISBN 978-0-932885-30-2.
- ^ a b Mikaberidze 2011, p. 222.
Sources
- Mikaberidze, Alexander, ed. (2011). Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. ABC-CLIO.
- The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, ed. by Alexander Kazhdan, Oxford University Press, 1991.
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Nicephorus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 19 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 647–648.
- Norwich, John J. (1991). Byzantium: The Apogee. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. ISBN 0-394-53779-3.
