Basil the Copper Hand
Encyclopedia
Basil the Copper Hand was a Byzantine
rebel leader active in Bithynia
in the 920s and early 930s.
Basil was born in Macedonia
. In the 920s, in the theme of Opsikion
in Bithynia
, he assumed the name of the general Constantine Doukas
, who had been killed during an attempted coup in 913, and assembled a large following. He was arrested by the local tourmarches, however, and brought to Constantinople
, where he was tried by the Eparch and his hand cut off.
Upon returning to Opsikion, he fashioned for himself a copper
hand holding a large sword
, gathered poor and destitute people and began a rebellion. With his followers, he seized the stronghold of Plateia Petra and made it his base. The rebels raided the surrounding countryside indiscriminately, and returned with their plunder to Plateia Petra. The revolt was finally subdued by the imperial army, and Basil was brought back to Constantinople. There, he accused several magnates of being involved in the revolt, but an enquiry proved these claims false, and he was burned at the stake
in the city's Forum Amastrianum. The revolt, dated to between 928 and circa 932, is often seen as a popular revolt expressing peasant discontent, and a major incentive for Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos's (r. 920–944) agrarian legislation of 934.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
rebel leader active in Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
in the 920s and early 930s.
Basil was born in Macedonia
Macedonia (region)
Macedonia is a geographical and historical region of the Balkan peninsula in southeastern Europe. Its boundaries have changed considerably over time, but nowadays the region is considered to include parts of five Balkan countries: Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgaria, Albania, Serbia, as...
. In the 920s, in the theme of Opsikion
Opsikion
The Opsician Theme or simply Opsikion was a Byzantine theme located in northwestern Asia Minor . Created from the imperial retinue army, the Opsikion was the largest and most prestigious of the early themes, being located closest to Constantinople...
in Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, he assumed the name of the general Constantine Doukas
Constantine Doukas (usurper)
Constantine Doukas was a prominent Byzantine general. In 904, he stopped the influential eunuch court official Samonas from defecting to the Arabs. In return, Samonas manipulated his father, Andronikos Doukas, into rebelling and fleeing to the Abbasid court in 906/907...
, who had been killed during an attempted coup in 913, and assembled a large following. He was arrested by the local tourmarches, however, and brought to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, where he was tried by the Eparch and his hand cut off.
Upon returning to Opsikion, he fashioned for himself a copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
hand holding a large sword
Sword
A sword is a bladed weapon used primarily for cutting or thrusting. The precise definition of the term varies with the historical epoch or the geographical region under consideration...
, gathered poor and destitute people and began a rebellion. With his followers, he seized the stronghold of Plateia Petra and made it his base. The rebels raided the surrounding countryside indiscriminately, and returned with their plunder to Plateia Petra. The revolt was finally subdued by the imperial army, and Basil was brought back to Constantinople. There, he accused several magnates of being involved in the revolt, but an enquiry proved these claims false, and he was burned at the stake
Burned at the Stake
Burned at the Stake is a 1981 film directed by Bert I. Gordon. It stars Susan Swift and Albert Salmi.-Cast:*Susan Swift as Loreen Graham / Ann Putnam*Albert Salmi as Captaiin Billingham*Guy Stockwell as Dr. Grossinger*Tisha Sterling as Karen Graham...
in the city's Forum Amastrianum. The revolt, dated to between 928 and circa 932, is often seen as a popular revolt expressing peasant discontent, and a major incentive for Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos's (r. 920–944) agrarian legislation of 934.