Chrysocheir also known as Chrysocheres (Χρυσόχερις) or Chrysoverges, was the last leader of the Paulician state of Tephrike from 863 to 872. He succeeded his uncle, Karbeas

Karbeas

Karbeas was a Paulician leader, founder and ruler of the Paulician principality of Tephrike from ca. 843 until his death in 863.He was initially a protomandator at the service of Theodotos Melissenos, the Byzantine strategos of the Anatolic theme...

, after the latter's death in 863, possibly at the Battle of Lalakaon. He led an expedition to Nicomedia

Nicomedia

Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...

 and Nicaea, and after taking Ephesus

Ephesus

Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...

, turned the church of St. John

John the Apostle

John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...

 into a stable. This raid impelled Basil I

Basil I

Basil I, called the Macedonian was a Byzantine emperor of probable Armenian descent who reigned from 867 to 886. Born a simple peasant in the Byzantine theme of Macedonia, he rose in the imperial court, and usurped the imperial throne from Emperor Michael III...

 to march on Tephrike, but Chrysocheir counterattacked and took Ancyra. In 872, Basil sent his son-in-law and the Domestic of the Schools, Christopher, against the Paulicians. He defeated Chrysocheir at the battle of Bathys Ryax

Battle of Bathys Ryax

The Battle of Bathys Ryax was fought in 872 or 878 between the Byzantine Empire and the Paulicians. The Paulicians were a Christian sect which—persecuted by the Byzantine state—had established a separate principality at Tephrike on Byzantium's eastern border and collaborated with the Muslim...

, beheaded him, and sent his head back to the emperor in 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:...

. Soon after, with the help of an earthquake

Earthquake

An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...

, the Byzantines razed Tephrike and took several other towns including Taranda, putting an end to the Paulician state.