Staurakios
Encyclopedia
Staurakios or Stauracius was Byzantine emperor from July 26 to October 2, 811 in succession to his father, Nikephoros I
, who had fallen at the Battle of Pliska
. His rule was cut short by a severe wound suffered in the same battle, and he was forced into retirement in a monastery by his brother-in-law, Michael I Rangabe
, where he died soon after.
, Staurakios had been crowned as co-emperor by his father in December 803. The chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
, on top of stating that he was completely unfit to become co-emperor also claimed that Staurakios was guilty of rape
, a claim perhaps colored by his hostility to Nikephoros I. On 20 December 807, the Athenian
Theophano
, a relative of the deposed Empress Irene
, was selected by Nikephoros as Staurakios' wife from a company of young ladies, assembled from around the empire in a bride show. The two were married that same day. During his father’s reign, he had been given command of the elite tagma
of the Hikanatoi
.
Staurakios participated in his father's expedition against Krum of Bulgaria
in 811, and barely escaped with his life from the disastrous Battle of Pliska
, in which his father was killed. However, Staurakios was paralyzed by a sword wound near his neck, and was saved by the imperial guard which retreated from the battlefield towards the safety of Adrianople. Fleeing with him were his brother-in-law, the curopalates
Michael Rangabe
, the Domestic of the Schools
Stephen, and the magistros Theoktistos. Gathered around Staurakios’s bedside, they debated the succession. Because of his uncertain condition, he was hastily proclaimed emperor by Stephen, who had the backing of the army. This was the first time an emperor of the Eastern Empire had been crowned outside Constantinople
.
At the same time however, Theoktistos had been pressing Michael Rangabe to claim the imperial throne for himself – given Staurakios’ injuries, and his being the son-in-law of the slain Nikephoros, Theoktistos believed he was best placed to deal with the imminent Bulgar threat. Michael however continued to support his brother-in-law. Meanwhile, to secure his accession to the throne, Staurakios presented himself feebly before the remains of the Byzantine army at Adrianople and sought to reassure them by indulging in some criticism of his now dead father, which met with their approval. Staurakios was soon taken by litter from Adrianople to Constantinople
.
Due to his debilitating wound, paralysis of the legs and constant pain, it was quickly evident that Staurakios would be unable to exercise actual authority. As his condition worsened, the court was split between the factions of his wife Theophano and his sister Prokopia
, who hoped that her husband, Michael Rangabe, would be chosen as the emperor's heir. As he had no children of his own to succeed him, it soon became evident that Staurakios intended to designate Theophano as his successor. Under his wife’s influence, he began to freeze out both the Domestic Stephen and the magistros Theoktistos, and to ensure the transfer of power, he attempted to have Michael blinded on 1 October 811. This act was frustrated by the actions of Stephen. There was also a popular rumor that Staurakios planned to abolish the empire and re-establish a republic. The supporters of Michael, which now included both Stephen and Theoktistos, as well as the Patriarch Nikephoros I, who was alarmed at Staurakios’ plans to pass the throne to Theophano, forced the emperor to abdicate on 2 October. Hearing of the accession of his brother-in-law, Staurakios took Holy Orders
. Before being escorted from the palace, he was visited by his sister Prokopia, brother-in-law Michael, and the Patriarch, all of whom justified their actions by the fact of his severe injuries, while Staurakios reproached them bitterly, in particular the Patriarch.
Staurakios retired to a monastery
where he died from the effects of his wound on January 11, 812. Michael Rangabe became emperor as Michael 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....
, who had fallen at the Battle of Pliska
Battle of Pliska
The Battle of Pliska or Battle of Vărbitsa Pass was a series of battles between troops, gathered from all parts of the Byzantine Empire, led by the Emperor Nicephorus I Genik, and Bulgaria, governed by Khan Krum...
. His rule was cut short by a severe wound suffered in the same battle, and he was forced into retirement in a monastery by his brother-in-law, Michael I Rangabe
Michael I Rangabe
Michael I Rangabes was Byzantine Emperor from 811 to 813.Michael was the son of the patrician Theophylaktos Rangabes, the admiral of the Aegean fleet...
, where he died soon after.
Life
The son of Emperor Nikephoros INikephoros 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....
, Staurakios had been crowned as co-emperor by his father in December 803. The chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, on top of stating that he was completely unfit to become co-emperor also claimed that Staurakios was guilty of rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
, a claim perhaps colored by his hostility to Nikephoros I. On 20 December 807, the Athenian
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
Theophano
Theophano, wife of Staurakios
-Family:According to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, Theophano was a relative of Irene . Both women were from Athens but the nature of their relation to each other is not known.-Empress:...
, a relative of the deposed Empress Irene
Irene (empress)
Irene Sarantapechaina , known as Irene of Athens or Irene the Athenian was a Byzantine empress regnant from 797 to 802, having previously been empress consort from 775 to 780, and empress dowager and regent from 780 to 797. It is often claimed she called herself "basileus" , 'emperor'...
, was selected by Nikephoros as Staurakios' wife from a company of young ladies, assembled from around the empire in a bride show. The two were married that same day. During his father’s reign, he had been given command of the elite 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...
of the Hikanatoi
Hikanatoi
The Hikanatoi , sometimes Latinized as Hicanati, were one of the Byzantine tagmata, the elite guard units based near the imperial capital of Constantinople...
.
Staurakios participated in his father's expedition against Krum of Bulgaria
Krum of Bulgaria
Krum the Horrible was Khan of Bulgaria, from after 796, but before 803, to 814 AD. During his reign the Bulgarian territory doubled in size, spreading from the middle Danube to the Dnieper and from Odrin to the Tatra Mountains. His able and energetic rule brought law and order to Bulgaria and...
in 811, and barely escaped with his life from the disastrous Battle of Pliska
Battle of Pliska
The Battle of Pliska or Battle of Vărbitsa Pass was a series of battles between troops, gathered from all parts of the Byzantine Empire, led by the Emperor Nicephorus I Genik, and Bulgaria, governed by Khan Krum...
, in which his father was killed. However, Staurakios was paralyzed by a sword wound near his neck, and was saved by the imperial guard which retreated from the battlefield towards the safety of Adrianople. Fleeing with him were his brother-in-law, the curopalates
Curopalates
Kouropalatēs, Latinized as curopalates or curopalata and Anglicized as curopalate, was a Byzantine court title, one of the highest from the time of Emperor Justinian I to that of the Komnenoi in the 12th century...
Michael Rangabe
Michael I Rangabe
Michael I Rangabes was Byzantine Emperor from 811 to 813.Michael was the son of the patrician Theophylaktos Rangabes, the admiral of the Aegean fleet...
, the 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...
Stephen, and the magistros Theoktistos. Gathered around Staurakios’s bedside, they debated the succession. Because of his uncertain condition, he was hastily proclaimed emperor by Stephen, who had the backing of the army. This was the first time an emperor of the Eastern Empire had been crowned outside 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:...
.
At the same time however, Theoktistos had been pressing Michael Rangabe to claim the imperial throne for himself – given Staurakios’ injuries, and his being the son-in-law of the slain Nikephoros, Theoktistos believed he was best placed to deal with the imminent Bulgar threat. Michael however continued to support his brother-in-law. Meanwhile, to secure his accession to the throne, Staurakios presented himself feebly before the remains of the Byzantine army at Adrianople and sought to reassure them by indulging in some criticism of his now dead father, which met with their approval. Staurakios was soon taken by litter from Adrianople 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:...
.
Due to his debilitating wound, paralysis of the legs and constant pain, it was quickly evident that Staurakios would be unable to exercise actual authority. As his condition worsened, the court was split between the factions of his wife Theophano and his sister Prokopia
Prokopia
Prokopia was the Empress consort of Michael I Rangabe of the Byzantine Empire.-Family:She was a daughter of Nikephoros I. The name of her mother is not known. Her only known sibling is Staurakios.-Marriage:...
, who hoped that her husband, Michael Rangabe, would be chosen as the emperor's heir. As he had no children of his own to succeed him, it soon became evident that Staurakios intended to designate Theophano as his successor. Under his wife’s influence, he began to freeze out both the Domestic Stephen and the magistros Theoktistos, and to ensure the transfer of power, he attempted to have Michael blinded on 1 October 811. This act was frustrated by the actions of Stephen. There was also a popular rumor that Staurakios planned to abolish the empire and re-establish a republic. The supporters of Michael, which now included both Stephen and Theoktistos, as well as the Patriarch Nikephoros I, who was alarmed at Staurakios’ plans to pass the throne to Theophano, forced the emperor to abdicate on 2 October. Hearing of the accession of his brother-in-law, Staurakios took Holy Orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
. Before being escorted from the palace, he was visited by his sister Prokopia, brother-in-law Michael, and the Patriarch, all of whom justified their actions by the fact of his severe injuries, while Staurakios reproached them bitterly, in particular the Patriarch.
Staurakios retired to a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
where he died from the effects of his wound on January 11, 812. Michael Rangabe became emperor as Michael I
Michael I Rangabe
Michael I Rangabes was Byzantine Emperor from 811 to 813.Michael was the son of the patrician Theophylaktos Rangabes, the admiral of the Aegean fleet...
.
Secondary Sources
- Warren Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society (Stanford University Press, 1997) ISBN 08047 26302
- Whittow, Mark, The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 (University of California Press, 1996) ISBN 0-520-20497-2
- Vasiliev, A. A., History of the Byzantine Empire, 1952
- Bury, J. B., A History of the Eastern Roman Empire, from the Fall of Irene to the Accession of Basil I, 1912
- George Finlay, History of the Byzantine Empire from 716 – 1057, William Blackwood & Sons, 1853