Political mutilation in Byzantine culture

Mutilation or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or function of any living body, usually without causing death.- Usage :...

in the Byzantine Empire

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...

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

Emperor

An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...

was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a threat. In Byzantine culture the Emperor was a reflection of heavenly authority

Divine Right of Kings

The divine right of kings or divine-right theory of kingship is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God...

. Since God

God

God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....

was perfect the Emperor also had to be unblemished; any mutilation, especially facial wounds, would disqualify an individual from taking the throne. An exception was Justinian II

Justinian II

Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711...

who had his nose cut off (Greek - rhinokopia) when he was overthrown in 695 but was able to become Emperor again in 705.

Some disfigurements practised bore a secondary practical rationale as well. This can be seen in a common method of maiming, blinding. By blinding a rival one would not only restrict their mobility but make it almost impossible for them to lead an army into battle, then an important part of taking control of the Empire. Castration

Castration

Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...

was also used to eliminate potential opponents. In the Byzantine Empire, for a man to be castrated meant that he was no longer a man, half-dead, "life that was half death". Castration also eliminated any chance of heirs being born to threaten either the Emperor or the Emperor's children's place at the throne.

Blinding as a punishment for political rivals and a recognized penalty for treachery was established in 705, although Emperor Phocas

Phocas

Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...

used it earlier during his rule as well. Castration as a punishment for political rivals did not come into use until much later, becoming popular in the 10th and 11th centuries. Castrated men weren't seen as a threat, as no matter how much power they gained they could never take the throne, and numerous eunuchs were entrusted with high and confidential offices in the Byzantine court and administration. A good example is that of 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....

, the illegitimate son of the Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos, who was castrated when young. He gained enough power to become 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:...

and effective prime minister for three successive emperors, but could not assume the throne himself. Other mutilations were the severing of the nose or the amputating of limbs.

Cases of disfigurement

Victim	Date	Disfigurement	\| Details	\|Reference

}
|1295
|Blinded
|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....

, he rose up against Andronikos III Palaiologos

Andronikos III Palaiologos

Andronikos III Palaiologos, Latinized as Andronicus III Palaeologus was Byzantine emperor from 1328 to 1341, after being rival emperor since 1321. Andronikos III was the son of Michael IX Palaiologos and Rita of Armenia...

Artabasdos

Artavasdos, Latinized as Artabasdos or Artabasdus , was Byzantine Emperor of Armenian descent from June 741 or 742 until November 743...

's failed insurrection against Constantine V

Constantine V

Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...

Niketas (son of Artabasdos)

Niketas was the eldest son of the Byzantine general and usurper Artabasdos . He served as a general during his father's usurpation against Constantine V .He was the eldest son of Artabasdos...

were blinded for his failed insurrection against Constantine V

Constantine V

Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...

during the Iconoclasm crisis
|
|-
|
|637
|
|Amputation carried out after he tried to overthrow his father, Heraclius

Heraclius

Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...

|
|-
|
|803/804
|Blinded
|Led an unsuccessful revolt against Nikephoros I

Nikephoros I

Nikephoros I or Nicephorus I, Logothetes or Genikos was Byzantine emperor from 802 to 811, when he was killed in the Battle of Pliska....

Constantine VIII

Constantine VIII was reigning Byzantine emperor from December 15, 1025 until his death. He was the son of the Emperor Romanos II and Theophano, and the younger brother of the eminent Basil II, who died childless and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire in his hands.-Family:As...

|
|-
|
|713
|Blinded
|A rebellion of Opsikian troops

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...

Justinian II

Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711...

and was blinded when he came back to power in 705
|
|-
|-
|, Basil, Gregory and Theodosios
|820
|Castrated
|The sons of Leo V the Armenian

Leo V the Armenian

Leo V the Armenian was emperor of the Byzantine Empire from 813 to 820. A senior general, he forced his predecessor, Michael I Rangabe, to abdicate and assumed the throne. He ended the decade-long war with the Bulgars, and initiated the second period of Byzantine Iconoclasm...

John I Tzimiskes

John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, was Byzantine Emperor from December 11, 969 to January 10, 976. A brilliant and intuitive general, John's short reign saw the expansion of the empire's borders and the strengthening of Byzantium itself.- Background :...

|
|-
|
|792
|Blinded
|Uncle of Constantine VI, blinded, while his four brothers had their tongues cut, after the 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 conspired to put him on the throne in the aftermath of the Battle of Marcellae.
|
|-
|
|792
|Blinded
|General of the Armeniacs, blinded because of their refusal to acknowledge Irene of Athens as empress and co-ruler of Constantine VI.
|
|-
|
|1028–1034
|Blinded
|The popular general was blinded because of a supposed plot against Romanos III Argyros
|
|-
|
|1078
|Blinded
|Nikephoros had rebelled against Michael VII

Michael VII

Michael VII Doukas or Ducas , nicknamed Parapinakēs , was Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078.- Life :...

in 1077, and continued his rebellion against Nikephoros III Botaneiates. Defeated and captured by Alexios Komnenos

Alexios I Komnenos

Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...

Eudokia Makrembolitissa

Eudokia Makrembolitissa was the second wife of the Byzantine emperor Constantine X Doukas. After his death she acted as regent and became the wife of Romanos IV Diogenes...

; Emperor Alexios I Komnenos

Alexios I Komnenos

had him blinded after charging him with treason
|
|-
|
|1072
|Blinded
|Andronikos Doukas had Romanos IV Diogenes blinded after tricking him into stepping down as Emperor
|
|-
|Heraklonas

Heraklonas

Constantinus Heraclius , known in English as Heraklonas, Heraclonas, or Heracleonas , was the son of Heraclius and his niece Martina, and was Byzantine Emperor briefly between February and September 641....

|641
|
|Overthrown, disfigured and exiled by supporters of Constans II
|
|-
|
|811
|Castrated
|Castrated to prevent him becoming Emperor
|
|-
|Justinian II

Justinian II

Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711...

|695
|
|Overthrown, disfigured and exiled by supporters of Leontios

Leontios

Leontios was Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698. He came to power by overthrowing the Emperor Justinian II, but was overthrown in his turn by Tiberios III. His actual and official name was Leo , but he is known by the name used for him in Byzantine chronicles.- Early life :Leontios was born in...

|
|-
|
|1261
|Blinded
|Made Emperor at seven years old, he was overthrown and blinded when he was just eleven years old.
|
|-
|
|
|Castrated
|As an infant he was castrated for being born an illegitimate son to Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos
|
|-
|Martina
|641
|Tongue cut out
|Overthrown, disfigured and exiled by supporters of Constans II
|
|-
|
|1041
|Castrated
|Michael V

Michael V

Michael V "the Caulker" or Kalaphates , , was Byzantine emperor for 4 months in 1041–1042, as the nephew and successor of Michael IV and the adoptive son of his wife, the Empress Zoe.Michael V was the son of Stephen by Maria, a sister of Emperor Michael IV...

castrated all male members of John the Orphanotrophos'

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...

Patriarch of Constantinople

The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....

Michael Cerularius
|
|-
|Prousianos

Presian II of Bulgaria

Presian II was emperor of Bulgaria for a short time in 1018. The year of his birth may have been 996/997; he may have died in exile in 1060/1061...

|1029
|Blinded
|After a supposed plot against Romanos III Argyros he was blinded
|
|-
|Theodorus
|637
||
|Mutilated for being a co-planner in Athalarichos' attempt to overthrow Heraclius

Heraclius

|
|-
|Isaac II Angelos

Isaac II Angelos

Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....

|1195
|Blinded
|He was blinded and deposed by his brother Alexios III Angelos

Alexios III Angelos

Alexios III Angelos was Byzantine Emperor from 1195 to 1203.- Early life:Alexios III Angelos was the second son of Andronikos Angelos and Euphrosyne Kastamonitissa. Andronicus was himself a son of Theodora Komnene, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina. Thus...

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|}

Sources

- Total pages: 343 - Total pages: 226 - Total pages: 245 - Total pages: 625 - Total pages: 207 - Total pages: 728 - Total pages: 256 ("The revolt of Bardanes Tourkos") | url=http://www.byzsym.org/index.php/bz/article/view/685/603 | journal=Byzantine Symmeikta | issue=5 | year=1983 | pages=203–215 | issn=1105-1639 | language=Greek}} - Total pages: 352 - Total pages: 443

- Total pages: 247 - Total pages: 548 - Total pages: 389 - Total pages: 342 - Total pages: 295 - Total pages: 373 - Total pages: 264
- Total pages: 201
- Total pages: 441

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