Constantine Diogenes
Encyclopedia
Constantine Diogenes was a prominent Byzantine Greek general of the early 11th century, active in the Balkans
.
Constantine Diogenes is the first notable member of the noble Cappadocia
n Diogenes family, which played an important role in 11th-century Byzantium. Constantine began his career as a commander of one of the western tagma
ta during the reign of Basil II
(r. 976–1025), in the latter's campaigns
against Bulgaria
. In 1014, he participated in the decisive Byzantine victory at the Battle of Kleidion
, and he subsequently succeeded Theophylact Botaneiates as commander of Thessalonica with the rank of patrikios, making him the second senior-most general of the Empire in the Balkans after David Arianites
. In 1018, he was charged with mopping up the last remaining centers of Bulgarian resistance. He took Sirmium
and was named its commander (archon
), with his authority extending over the vassal
Serbian statelets of Raška
. His title was possibly that of "strategos
of Serbia" (στρατηγός Σερβίας), which is attested in a seal attributed to him. Diogenes was ordered by Basil II to subdue Sermon of Srem
, a vassal to Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, in order to consolidate Byzantine control of the northern Balkans. Consequently Diogenes invited Sermon to a meeting at the estuary of the river Sava in the Danube
, but it was a trap: Sermon was seized and killed.
Around 1022 or 1025, Constantine succeeded Arianites as overall Byzantine commander (strategos autokrator) of conquered Bulgaria. In this capacity he repelled a large Pecheneg invasion in 1027. In the same year he was withdrawn south to Thessalonica, but retained, at least nominally, his role as overall commander, as attested by another seal naming him "anthypatos
, patrikios and doux
of Thessalonica, Bulgaria and Serbia".
Constantine had been married to an anonymous daughter of Basil Argyros
, brother of the emperor Romanos III Argyros (r. 1028–1034), but in 1029 he was accused, along with other prominent Balkan generals such as Eustathios Daphnomeles
, of conspiring against the emperor with the porphyrogenita Theodora
. He was transferred east as strategos
of the Thracesian theme
, but soon after recalled to Constantinople
where he was imprisoned and later blinded
. Theodora herself was tonsure
d and placed in a convent, but she apparently continued to conspire with Diogenes, who planned to take advantage of Romanos' absence on campaign in the East (in 1032) to escape to the Balkans. The plot was leaked to Romanos by Theophanes, metropolitan of Thessalonica, and the conspirators were arrested. Diogenes was brought to the palace of Blachernae
for interrogation by John the Eunuch
, but he committed suicide rather than confess under torture and implicate his fellow conspirators.
Constantine's son Romanos Diogenes became a successful general and would eventually rise to become Byzantine emperor in 1068–1071.
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
Constantine Diogenes is the first notable member of the noble Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
n Diogenes family, which played an important role in 11th-century Byzantium. Constantine began his career as a commander of one of the western tagma
Tagma (military)
The tagma is a term for a military unit of battalion or regiment size. The best-known and most technical use of the term however refers to the elite regiments formed by Byzantine emperor Constantine V and comprising the central army of the Byzantine Empire in the 8th–11th centuries.-History and...
ta during the reign of Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
(r. 976–1025), in the latter's campaigns
Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria
The Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria lasted from 968 to 1018, and was a military conflict that marked the beginning of the second apogee of the Byzantine Empire, which managed to incorporate most of the Balkan Peninsula, controlled by the First Bulgarian Empire, ridding itself of one of its most...
against Bulgaria
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
. In 1014, he participated in the decisive Byzantine victory at the Battle of Kleidion
Battle of Kleidion
The Battle of Kleidion took place on July 29, 1014 between the Bulgarian Empire and the Byzantine Empire...
, and he subsequently succeeded Theophylact Botaneiates as commander of Thessalonica with the rank of patrikios, making him the second senior-most general of the Empire in the Balkans after David Arianites
David Arianites
David Arianites was a high-ranking Byzantine commander of the early 11th century.He hailed from the noble Arianites family of Constantinople. He initially held the title of patrikios, and became a senior general under Basil II. In 1017 Basil II invaded Bulgaria with a large army including Rus'...
. In 1018, he was charged with mopping up the last remaining centers of Bulgarian resistance. He took Sirmium
Sirmium
Sirmium was a city in ancient Roman Pannonia. Firstly mentioned in the 4th century BC and originally inhabited by the Illyrians and Celts, it was conquered by the Romans in the 1st century BC and subsequently became the capital of the Roman province of Lower Pannonia. In 294 AD, Sirmium was...
and was named its commander (archon
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
), with his authority extending over the vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
Serbian statelets of Raška
Raška (state)
Principality of Serbia or Serbian Principality was an early medieval state of the Serbs ruled by the Vlastimirović dynasty, that existed from ca 768 to 969 in Southeastern Europe. It was established through an unification of several provincial chiefs under the supreme rule of a certain Višeslav,...
. His title was possibly that of "strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of Serbia" (στρατηγός Σερβίας), which is attested in a seal attributed to him. Diogenes was ordered by Basil II to subdue Sermon of Srem
Sermon (ruler)
Sermon was an 11th century voivode of Syrmia and a local governor in the First Bulgarian Empire, vassal of Bulgarian emperor Samuil...
, a vassal to Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, in order to consolidate Byzantine control of the northern Balkans. Consequently Diogenes invited Sermon to a meeting at the estuary of the river Sava in the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
, but it was a trap: Sermon was seized and killed.
Around 1022 or 1025, Constantine succeeded Arianites as overall Byzantine commander (strategos autokrator) of conquered Bulgaria. In this capacity he repelled a large Pecheneg invasion in 1027. In the same year he was withdrawn south to Thessalonica, but retained, at least nominally, his role as overall commander, as attested by another seal naming him "anthypatos
Anthypatos
Anthypatos is the translation in Greek of the Latin proconsul. In the Greek-speaking East, it was used to denote this office in Roman and early Byzantine times, surviving as an administrative office until the 9th century...
, patrikios and doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Thessalonica, Bulgaria and Serbia".
Constantine had been married to an anonymous daughter of Basil Argyros
Basil Argyros
Agent of Byzantium is a collection of short stories by Harry Turtledove, centred around the exploits of the eponymous Basil Argyros, a Byzantine secret agent...
, brother of the emperor Romanos III Argyros (r. 1028–1034), but in 1029 he was accused, along with other prominent Balkan generals such as Eustathios Daphnomeles
Eustathios Daphnomeles
Eustathios Daphnomeles was a Byzantine strategos and patrician who distinguished himself in the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria. Along with Nikephoros Ouranos and Nikephoros Xiphias, he ranks as one of the most prominent and successful generals of Emperor Basil II against Samuel of Bulgaria,...
, of conspiring against the emperor with the porphyrogenita Theodora
Theodora (11th century)
Theodora was a Byzantine Empress. Born into the Macedonian dynasty that had ruled the Byzantine Empire for almost two hundred years, she was co-empress with her sister Zoe for two months in 1042 and sole empress from 11 January 1055 to after 31 August 1056...
. He was transferred east as strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of the Thracesian theme
Thracesian Theme
The Thracesian Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Thracesians , was a Byzantine theme in western Asia Minor , comprising the ancient regions of Ionia, Lydia and parts of Phrygia and Caria....
, but soon after recalled 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 imprisoned and later blinded
Political mutilation in Byzantine culture
Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a...
. Theodora herself was tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
d and placed in a convent, but she apparently continued to conspire with Diogenes, who planned to take advantage of Romanos' absence on campaign in the East (in 1032) to escape to the Balkans. The plot was leaked to Romanos by Theophanes, metropolitan of Thessalonica, and the conspirators were arrested. Diogenes was brought to the palace of Blachernae
Palace of Blachernae
The Palace of Blachernae was an imperial Byzantine residence in the suburb of Blachernae, located in the northwestern section of Constantinople...
for interrogation by John the Eunuch
John the Eunuch
John the Eunuch, also known as the Orphanotrophos , was the chief court eunuch during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Romanus III . Being unable to father children himself, he sought to found a dynasty for his family through his brother Michael, to which end he introduced him to the reigning...
, but he committed suicide rather than confess under torture and implicate his fellow conspirators.
Constantine's son Romanos Diogenes became a successful general and would eventually rise to become Byzantine emperor in 1068–1071.