Stephen Hagiochristophorites
Encyclopedia
Stephen Hagiochristophorites (in Greek: Στέφανος Ἁγιοχριστοφορίτης, Stephanos Hagiochristophorites) (died 11 September 1185) first appears as a courtier under the Byzantine emperor Manuel I Komnenos
.
Stephen had his nose cut off and was expelled from court as punishment for attempting to seduce a noblewoman. He returned to favour under Andronikos I Komnenos
; according to Niketas Choniates he was nicknamed
Ἀντιχριστοφορίτης, Antichristophorites (literally meaning "bearer of Antichrist
"), implying that he was a bringer of evil
.
Along with Constantine Tripsychos and Theodore Dadibrenos, Hagiochristophorites strangled Alexios II Komnenos
with a bowstring in 1183, leaving Andronikos sole Emperor. In 1184, when Constantine Makrodoukas and Andronikos Doukas fell from favour because of their earlier support for Isaac Komnenos, who subsequently rebelled in Cyprus
, Hagiochristophorites led the public stoning which preceded their impalement. On 11 September 1185, he undertook to arrest Isaac Angelos
. Isaac was lucky enough to kill him first, and went on to depose Andronikos.
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
.
Stephen had his nose cut off and was expelled from court as punishment for attempting to seduce a noblewoman. He returned to favour under Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1183 to 1185). He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and grandson of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.-Early years:...
; according to Niketas Choniates he was nicknamed
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
Ἀντιχριστοφορίτης, Antichristophorites (literally meaning "bearer of Antichrist
Antichrist
The term or title antichrist, in Christian theology, refers to a leader who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of Christ, while resembling him in a deceptive manner...
"), implying that he was a bringer of evil
Evil
Evil is the violation of, or intent to violate, some moral code. Evil is usually seen as the dualistic opposite of good. Definitions of evil vary along with analysis of its root motive causes, however general actions commonly considered evil include: conscious and deliberate wrongdoing,...
.
Along with Constantine Tripsychos and Theodore Dadibrenos, Hagiochristophorites strangled Alexios II Komnenos
Alexios II Komnenos
Alexios II Komnenos or Alexius II Comnenus , Byzantine emperor , was the son of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos and Maria, daughter of Raymond, prince of Antioch...
with a bowstring in 1183, leaving Andronikos sole Emperor. In 1184, when Constantine Makrodoukas and Andronikos Doukas fell from favour because of their earlier support for Isaac Komnenos, who subsequently rebelled in Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, Hagiochristophorites led the public stoning which preceded their impalement. On 11 September 1185, he undertook to arrest Isaac Angelos
Isaac II Angelos
Isaac II Angelos was Byzantine emperor from 1185 to 1195, and again from 1203 to 1204....
. Isaac was lucky enough to kill him first, and went on to depose Andronikos.
Sources
- Niketas Choniates, Historia, ed. J.-L. Van Dieten (Berlin and New York, 1975) pp. 274, 293, 314, 336, 339-342, 353, 365; trans. as O City of Byzantium, Annals of Niketas Choniates, by H.J. Magoulias (Detroit; Wayne State University Press, 1984).