Romanos IV Diogenes
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Romanos IV Diogenes | |
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Byzantine emperor | |
Reign | 1 January 1068 – 1 October 1071 |
Predecessor | Constantine X Eudokia (regent) |
Successor | Michael VII |
Co-emperors | See list
|
Born | c. 1030 Cappadocia |
Died | 1072 (aged 42) Prote |
Spouse | Anne Alusiane of Bulgaria Eudokia Makrembolitissa |
Issue | By Anne: Constantine Diogenes By Eudocia: Nikephoros Diogenes Leo Diogenes |
House | Diogenoi |
Father | Constantine Diogenes |
Mother | Argyrosa |
Romanos IV Diogenes (
Having been betrayed by members of the Doukas family, while still captive he was overthrown in a palace coup, and when released he was ultimately defeated and detained. In 1072, he was blinded and sent to a monastery, where he died of his wounds.
Accession to the throne
Romanos Diogenes was the son of
After a written oath promising never to remarry, extracted from Eudokia by Constantine X, had been set aside by the
Physical appearance and personality
Byzantine Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa was infatuated with Romanos; for according to Attaleiates, “The man not only surpassed others in his good qualities but he was also pleasant to look at in all respects.”.[7] He was, however, “very harsh and violent in his judgments,” says Michael the Syrian, and he once ordered the nose of a soldier to be cut off for stealing the donkey of a Muslim after the emperor had given his peace.[8] "One thing alone satisfied him: that he marched against his foes".[9] He was said to have been very brave, and would often go unarmed and without escort to fight with his enemies which would cause his worried generals to complain. Psellus confirms that Romanus “exposed himself to danger without a thought of the consequences”.[10]
I who was present [during an enemy surrender] did not approve of the simplicity of the emperor who mingled without body armour among murderous men who pass their lives in recklessness and madness
— Michael Attaleiates[11]
Romanos grew Contemptuous of the empress Eudokia for trying to control him.
The more she tried to dominate him, to treat him, who was really her master, like a lion in a cage, the more he fretted at her restraining influence and glared at the hand that kept him in check,” writes Psellus, who knew them both. “To begin with, he growled inwardly, but as time passed his disgust became obvious to everyone[12]
Campaigns against the Turks
Romanos IV was now the senior emperor and guardian of his stepsons and junior co-emperors,
By 1067, the Turks had been making incursions at will into
Campaign of 1068
The first military operations of Romanos did achieve a measure of success, reinforcing his opinions about the outcome of the war.
Returning south, Romanos rejoined the main army, and they continued their advance through the passes of
Campaign of 1069
Plans for the following year's campaigning were initially thrown into chaos by a rebellion by one of Romanos'
Romanos placed himself at the head of a substantial body of troops and began his march towards Akhlat, leaving the bulk of the army under the command of Philaretos Brachamios with orders to defend the Mesopotamian frontier.[21] Philaretos was soon defeated by the Turks, whose sack of Iconium[4] forced Romanos to abandon his plans and return to Sebaste. He sent orders to the Dux of Antioch to secure the passes at Mopsuestia, while he attempted to run down the Turks at Heracleia.[21] The Turks were soon hemmed in in the mountains of Cilicia, but they managed to escape to Aleppo after abandoning their plunder. Romanos once again returned to Constantinople without the great victory he was hoping for.[21]
Affairs at Constantinople
Romanos was detained at Constantinople
Meanwhile, Romanos was undertaking a number of unpopular reforms at home.[17] He reduced a great deal of unnecessary public expenditure on court ceremonials and beautifying the capital.[24] He reduced the public salaries paid to much of the court nobility, as well as reducing the profits of tradesmen. His preoccupation with the military had also made him unpopular with the provincial governors and the military hierarchy, as he was determined to ensure they could not abuse their positions, especially through corrupt practices.[24] He incurred the displeasure of the mercenaries by enforcing much needed discipline. Romanos was also deeply unpopular with the common people, as he neglected to entertain them with games at the hippodrome, nor did he alleviate the burdens of the peasants in the provinces.[24]
Nevertheless, he did not forget his principal target, the Turks. Being unable to go on campaign himself,
Battle of Manzikert and capture by Alp Arslan
Early in the spring of 1071, whilst conducting negotiations with Alp Arslan over Manzikert,[26] Romanos marched at the head of a large army with the intent of recovering the fortress.[28] It was soon evident that the army had a serious discipline problem, with soldiers regularly pillaging the area around their nightly camps. When Romanos attempted to enforce some stricter discipline, a whole regiment of German mercenaries mutinied, which the emperor only managed to control with the greatest difficulty.[29]
Believing that Alp Arslan was nowhere near Manzikert, he decided to divide his army. One part of the army he dispatched to attack Akhlat, at that time in possession of the Turks.[30] Romanos himself advanced with the main body of the army on Manzikert, which he soon recaptured.[30] At this point his advance guard met the Seljuk army, which was rapidly approaching Manzikert. Romanos ordered the forces attacking Akhlat to rejoin the army, but their portion of the army unexpectedly came across another large Turkish army, so Romanos' troops retreated toward Mesopotamia.[30] Already understrength, Romanos' army was further weakened when his Uzes mercenaries deserted to the Turks.[31]
Arslan had no desire to take on the Byzantine army, so he proposed a peace treaty with favourable terms for Romanos.[31] The emperor, eager for a decisive military victory, rejected the offer, and both armies lined up for a battle, which took place on 26 August 1071.[32] The battle lasted all day without either side gaining any decisive advantage, until the emperor ordered a part of his centre to return to camp. The order was misunderstood by the right wing,[33] however, and Andronikos Doukas, who commanded the reserves, and was the son of Caesar John Doukas, took advantage of the confusion to betray Romanos. Claiming that Romanos was dead, he marched away from the battle with some 30,000 men, instead of covering the emperor's retreat.[34]
When Romanos discovered what had happened, he tried to recover the situation by making a defiant stand. He fought on valiantly after his horse was killed under him, killing many enemies and causing others to flee, but he received a wound in the hand, which prevented him from wielding a sword, and he was soon taken prisoner.[35]
A number of other sources speak of the valor shown by Romanos at Manzikert: Romanos “launched himself into the thick of the battle. He knocked down several very valiant Persian fighters and caused disarray in their ranks,” according to a contemporary Armenian account.
According to a number of Byzantine historians, including
It is reported that upon seeing the Roman emperor, the sultan leapt from his throne like a mad man, commanded Romanos to kiss the ground, and stepped on his neck. He repeatedly berated the emperor, including for spurning his emissaries and offers of peace. The unrepentant Romanos was laconic, and deigned only to offer the curtest responses to his captor’s fiery upbraiding. He merely had done what was “possible for a man, and which kings are bound to do, and I have fallen short in nothing. But God has fulfilled his will. And now, do what you wish and abandon recriminations.”[39]
Other muslim sources claim Alp Arslan treated Romanos in a harsh and petty way. “You are too trivial in my view for me to kill you,” the sultan is said to have declared before his Turks in Muslim sources. “Take him to the person who pays most.” When no one reportedly wanted to purchase the “Dog of the Romans,” Alp Arslan scoffed that that was “because the dog is better than he is!” “He struck him three or four blows with his hand and when Romanos collapsed he kicked him a similar number of times”; he “put him in chains and fettered his hand to his neck”; he pulled his hair and put his face to the ground, while informing him, “your troops are food for the Muslims.” [36]
Wanting to test the Roman, Alp Arslan then asked Romanos what he would do to him if he was his prisoner, Romanos frankly answered "the worst!". The answer impressed Alp Arslan and he said "Ah! by Allah! He has spoken the truth! If he had spoken otherwise, he would be lying. This is an intelligent, tough man. It is not permissible that he should be killed." After agreeing on a ransom, Alp Arslan then sent emperor Romanos back to Constantinople with a Turkish escort that carried a banner above the disgraced emperor that read: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger".[40][41][42]
Betrayal
In the meantime, the opposition faction scheming against Romanos IV decided to exploit the situation. Michael VII was proclaimed sole ruler on 1 October 1071, declaring Romanos as deposed.[43] A month later, the caesar John Doukas and Michael Psellos forced Eudokia to retire to a monastery.[23] They then refused to honor the agreement made between Arslan and the former emperor.[44] Romanos soon returned, and he and the Doukas family gathered troops. A battle was fought between Constantine, Andronikos Doukas and Romanos. Romanos was defeated and retreated to the fortress of Tyropoion, and from there to Adana in Cilicia. Pursued by Andronikos, he was eventually forced to surrender by the garrison at Adana upon receiving assurances of his personal safety.[45] Before leaving the fortress, he collected all the money he could lay his hands on and sent it to the Sultan as proof of his good faith, along with a message: "As emperor, I promised you a ransom of a million and a half. Dethroned, and about to become dependent upon others, I send you all I possess as proof of my gratitude".[46]
Andronikos stipulated that his life would be spared if he resigned the purple and retired into a monastery. Romanos agreed, and this agreement was ratified at Constantinople.[46] However, John Doukas reneged on the agreement and sent men to ambush and have Romanos cruelly blinded on 29 June 1072 in Kotyaion.[4] According to Attaleiates, the emperor was led away, pleading for mercy. Per Attaleiates, "when he arose, his eyes were drenched with blood, a pathetic and pitiable sight that made everyone who saw it cry uncontrollably." He was then sent into exile to Prote in the Sea of Marmara. Without medical assistance, his wound became infected, and he soon endured a painfully lingering death.[citation needed] The final insult was given a few days before his death, when Romanos received a letter from Michael Psellos, congratulating him on the loss of his eyes.[47] He finally died, praying for the forgiveness of his sins, and his widow Eudokia was permitted to honor his remains with a magnificent funeral.[46]
Family
By his first wife, Anne, daughter of Alusian of Bulgaria, Romanos IV Diogenes had at least one son:
By his second wife, the Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa, he had:
- Alexius I, he was taken into the imperial palace and given various high commands. He died in Alexius's campaigns against the Pechenegs in 1087.[52]
- Nikephoros Diogenes – born in 1069, made Co-emperor upon his birth.
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d Norwich 1993, p. 344
- ^ a b Finlay 1854, p. 30
- ^ Cheynet & Vannier 2003, p. 78.
- ^ a b c Kazhdan 1991, p. 1807
- ^ Alexandru Madgearu, Ruled indeed Basil Apokapes the Paradunavon Theme?, "Acta Musei Varnensis", 3 (The Bulgarian Lands in the Middle Ages, 7th–18th Centuries. International Conference. A tribute to Prof. Alexander Kuzev's 70th anniversary, Varna, 12–14 September 2002), Varna, 2005, pp. 273–282.
- ^ Finlay 1854, p. 29
- ISBN 9780091435707.
- ISBN 9780748625734.
- ^ 14 Byzantine Rulers. p. 352.
- ^ 14 Byzantine Rulers. p. 355.
- ISBN 9780748625734.
- ^ 14 Byzantine Rulers. p. 350.
- ^ Dumbarton Oaks 1973, p. 785.
- ^ a b Finlay 1854, p. 31
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 343
- ^ a b Finlay 1854, p. 32
- ^ a b c d e Norwich 1993, p. 345
- ^ Finlay 1854, p. 33
- ^ a b c d e Finlay 1854, p. 34
- ^ Soloviev 1935, pp. 156–158
- ^ a b c d e f g h Finlay 1854, p. 35
- ^ a b Finlay 1854, p. 45
- ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 355
- ^ a b c d Finlay 1854, p. 42
- ^ a b Finlay 1854, p. 36
- ^ a b c Norwich 1993, p. 347
- ^ Çoban 2020, p. 51
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 346
- ^ Finlay 1854, p. 38
- ^ a b c Norwich 1993, p. 348
- ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 349
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 351
- ^ Finlay 1854, p. 41
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 352
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 353
- ^ ISBN 978-0306825552.
- ^ Norwich 1993b, p. 353
- ^ a b Norwich 1993, p. 354
- ISBN 978-0306825552.
- ISBN 978-0306825569.
- ISBN 978-0819189530.
- JSTOR 25472048.
- Michael VII reigned "6 years and 6 months" reckoning inclusively from his abdication on 24 March 1078 (cf. P. Schreiner, Kleinchroniken I 161; Kleinchroniken II 156)
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 358
- ^ Norwich 1993, p. 356
- ^ a b c Finlay 1854, p. 44
- ^ Norwich 1993b, p. 357
- ^ Finlay 1854, p. 74
- ^ Garland 2007.
- ^ Kazhdan 1991, p. 627
- ^ Comnena, Book 9, Chapter 6.
- ^ Meško, Marek (1 January 2012). M. Meško, Obnova byzantskej moci na Balkáne za vlády Alexia I. Komnéna. Druhá byzantsko-pečenežská vojna (1083-1091) (The Renewal of the Byzantine Power in the Balkans During the Reign of Alexios I Komnenos. Second Byzantino-Pecheneg War (1083-1091)). Nitra 2012. pp. 155–175.
References
Primary sources
- The Alexiad
Secondary sources
- Cheynet, J.C.; Vannier, J.F. (2003), "Les Argyroi", Zbornik Radova Vizantološkog Instituta (in French), vol. 40, pp. 57–90
- Çoban, R. V. (2020). The Manzikert Battle and Sultan Alp Arslan with European Perspective in the 15st Century in the Miniatures of Giovanni Boccaccio's "De Casibus Virorum Illustrium"s 226 and 232. French Manuscripts in Bibliothèque Nationale de France. S. Karakaya ve V. Baydar (Ed.), in 2nd International Muş Symposium Articles Book (pp. 48–64). Muş: Muş Alparslan University. Source
- Dumbarton Oaks (1973), Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection and in the Whittemore Collection: Leo III to Nicephorus III, 717–1081, p. 785
- Finlay, George (1854), History of the Byzantine and Greek Empires from 1057 to 1453, vol. 2, William Blackwood & Sons
- Garland, Lynda (25 May 2007), Anna Dalassena, Mother of Alexius I Comnenus (1081–1118), De Imperatoribus Romanis
- Jeffreys, C., ed. (2016). Romanos 4. )
- ISBN 978-0195046526
- Norwich, John Julius (1993), Byzantium: The Apogee, Penguin, ISBN 0140114483
- Norwich, John Julius (1993b) [1992], Byzantium: The Apogee, vol. II
- Soloviev, A.V. (1935), "Les emblèmes héraldiques de Byzance et les Slaves", Seminarium Kondakovianum (in French), 7: 119–164
Further reading
- Chronographia
- Attaleiates, Michael, The History