Peter Phokas
Encyclopedia
Peter Phokas was a Byzantine
eunuch
general. Originally a slave of the powerful Cappadocian
Phokas family
, he was raised to high military office (stratopedarches
of the East) and the rank of patrikios by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969).
writes that he "abounded in bodily strength" and records that he once defeated in single combat the leader of a large "Scythian" (Rus'
or Magyar) raid into Thrace
. In 967, following the dismissal of John Tzimiskes from the high command of the Byzantine Empire's eastern forces, Nikephoros appointed Peter to the new post of stratopedarches
, and gave him overall command of the eastern army. This new post is most likely explained by the fact that, being a eunuch, Peter could not occupy the traditional office of Domestic of the Schools
which designated the Byzantine commanders-in-chief. In this capacity, he participated in Nikephoros's 968 invasion of Syria
and the subsequent prolonged siege of Antioch
, which culminated in the fall of the city in late autumn 969. In this operation, the strategos
Michael Bourtzes
had the initiative, seizing one of the city's main towers in a coup de main
on October 28 and holding out for three days until Phokas, who was marching with his forces towards Aleppo
, could come to his relief. Subsequently, Phokas resumed his advance against Aleppo, forcing its commander, Kargouyah, to capitulate and sign a document making him and the city an imperial vassal.
After Emperor Nikephoros's assassination by John Tzimiskes in December 969, Peter, despite his close association with the murdered Byzantine emperor, continued in active service during Emperor Tzimiskes's reign (r. 969–976), when he participated in the war against the Rus' in Bulgaria as leader of the tagmata
of Macedonia and Thrace. In 976, Tzimiskes died, and the throne reverted to the legitimate emperors of the Macedonian dynasty
, under the tutelage of the parakoimomenos
Basil Lekapenos
. At that point, one of Tzimiskes's leading supporters, Bardas Skleros
, rose in revolt to claim the imperial throne for himself. Peter Phokas was sent out, together with the patrikios Eustathios Maleinos
, against the rebel's stronghold, the region around Melitene. During the siege of the rebel fortress of Lapara, however, sometime in the summer of 976, Skleros's army attacked unexpectedly, routing the loyalist army. Withdrawing to Kotyaion in western Anatolia
, the remains of this army were joined by new forces and managed to score a success against Skleros's subordinates, Michael Bourtzes
and Romanos Taronites in autumn 977. Subsequently, however, in a pitched battle at Rageai near Iconium, they were decisively defeated by Skleros himself. Among many others, Peter Phokas too fell on the battlefield.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
general. Originally a slave of the powerful Cappadocian
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...
Phokas family
Phokas (Byzantine family)
Phokas or Phocas , feminine form Phokaina , was the name of a Byzantine aristocratic clan from Cappadocia, which in the 9th and 10th centuries provided a series of high-ranking generals and an emperor, Nikephoros II Phokas...
, he was raised to high military office (stratopedarches
Stratopedarches
Stratopedarchēs , sometimes Anglicized as stratopedarch, was a Greek term used with regard to high-ranking military commanders from the 1st century BC on, becoming a proper office and later an honorary title during the Byzantine Empire.-History:...
of the East) and the rank of patrikios by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969).
Life and career
According to Georgios Kedrenos, he was originally a slave and a member of Nikephoros's personal retinue. Peter proved himself a strong warrior, and his abilities as a general are uniformly praised in contemporary accounts. The historian Leo the DeaconLeo the Deacon
Leo the Deacon was a Byzantine Roman historian and chronicler.He was born around 950 at Kaloe in Asia Minor, and was educated in Constantinople, where he became a deacon in the imperial palace. While in Constantinople he wrote a history covering the reigns of Romanus II, Nicepheros II, John...
writes that he "abounded in bodily strength" and records that he once defeated in single combat the leader of a large "Scythian" (Rus'
Rus' (people)
The Rus' were a group of Varangians . According to the Primary Chronicle of Rus, compiled in about 1113 AD, the Rus had relocated from the Baltic region , first to Northeastern Europe, creating an early polity which finally came under the leadership of Rurik...
or Magyar) raid into Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
. In 967, following the dismissal of John Tzimiskes from the high command of the Byzantine Empire's eastern forces, Nikephoros appointed Peter to the new post of stratopedarches
Stratopedarches
Stratopedarchēs , sometimes Anglicized as stratopedarch, was a Greek term used with regard to high-ranking military commanders from the 1st century BC on, becoming a proper office and later an honorary title during the Byzantine Empire.-History:...
, and gave him overall command of the eastern army. This new post is most likely explained by the fact that, being a eunuch, Peter could not occupy the traditional office of Domestic of the Schools
Domestic of the Schools
The Domestic of the Schools was a senior Byzantine military office, extant from the 8th century until at least the early 14th century. Originally simply the commander of the Scholai, the senior of the elite tagmata regiments, the Domestic quickly rose in prominence: by the mid-9th century, its...
which designated the Byzantine commanders-in-chief. In this capacity, he participated in Nikephoros's 968 invasion of Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
and the subsequent prolonged siege of Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
, which culminated in the fall of the city in late autumn 969. In this operation, the 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...
Michael Bourtzes
Michael Bourtzes
Michael Bourtzes was a leading Byzantine general of the latter 10th century. He became notable for his capture of Antioch in 969, but fell into disgrace by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas . Resentful at the slight, Bourtzes joined forces with the conspirators who assassinated Phokas a few weeks...
had the initiative, seizing one of the city's main towers in a coup de main
Coup de main
A coup de main is a swift attack that relies on speed and surprise to accomplish its objectives in a single blow. The United States Department of Defense defines it as:The literal translation from French means a stroke or blow of the hand...
on October 28 and holding out for three days until Phokas, who was marching with his forces towards Aleppo
Aleppo
Aleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
, could come to his relief. Subsequently, Phokas resumed his advance against Aleppo, forcing its commander, Kargouyah, to capitulate and sign a document making him and the city an imperial vassal.
After Emperor Nikephoros's assassination by John Tzimiskes in December 969, Peter, despite his close association with the murdered Byzantine emperor, continued in active service during Emperor Tzimiskes's reign (r. 969–976), when he participated in the war against the Rus' in Bulgaria as leader of the tagmata
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...
of Macedonia and Thrace. In 976, Tzimiskes died, and the throne reverted to the legitimate emperors of the Macedonian dynasty
Macedonian dynasty
The Macedonian dynasty ruled the Byzantine Empire from 867 to 1056, following the Amorian dynasty. During this period, the Byzantine state reached its greatest expanse since the Muslim conquests, and the Macedonian Renaissance in letters and arts began. The dynasty was named after its founder,...
, under the tutelage of the parakoimomenos
Parakoimomenos
The parakoimōmenos was a Byzantine court position, usually reserved for eunuchs. Many of its holders, especially in the 9th and 10th centuries, functioned as the Byzantine Empire's chief ministers.-History and functions:...
Basil Lekapenos
Basil Lekapenos
Basil Lekapenos was the chief administrator of the Byzantine Empire from 945 until 985.An illegitimate son of the emperor Romanos I Lekapenos, he was castrated when young....
. At that point, one of Tzimiskes's leading supporters, Bardas Skleros
Bardas Skleros
Bardas Skleros or Sclerus was a Byzantine general who led a wide-scale Asian rebellion against Emperor Basil II in 976–979.-Background:...
, rose in revolt to claim the imperial throne for himself. Peter Phokas was sent out, together with the patrikios Eustathios Maleinos
Eustathios Maleinos
Eustathios Maleinos was a leading Byzantine general and one of the wealthiest and most influential members of the Anatolian military aristocracy during the late 10th century. He held senior administrative and military posts in the East, and was involved in the aristocratic rebellions against...
, against the rebel's stronghold, the region around Melitene. During the siege of the rebel fortress of Lapara, however, sometime in the summer of 976, Skleros's army attacked unexpectedly, routing the loyalist army. Withdrawing to Kotyaion in western Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
, the remains of this army were joined by new forces and managed to score a success against Skleros's subordinates, Michael Bourtzes
Michael Bourtzes
Michael Bourtzes was a leading Byzantine general of the latter 10th century. He became notable for his capture of Antioch in 969, but fell into disgrace by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas . Resentful at the slight, Bourtzes joined forces with the conspirators who assassinated Phokas a few weeks...
and Romanos Taronites in autumn 977. Subsequently, however, in a pitched battle at Rageai near Iconium, they were decisively defeated by Skleros himself. Among many others, Peter Phokas too fell on the battlefield.