Theophilos Kourkouas
Encyclopedia
Theophilos Kourkouas was a distinguished Byzantine
general in the 10th century. He was also the grandfather of the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes
(r. 969–976).
Theophilos was a scion of the Kourkouas
family, a clan of Armenian
origin that had established itself as one of the chief families among the Anatolia
n military aristocracy by the early 10th century. His elder brother was John Kourkouas
, who was appointed as Domestic of the Schools
of the East (i.e. supreme commander of the eastern armies) in ca. 923 by Emperor Romanos Lekapenos and served in this post for 22 years. In 923 Theophilos assisted his brother in the suppression of the revolt of the strategos
of Chaldia
, Bardas Boilas, and succeeded the defeated rebel as governor of this strategically important province.
From 927 on, when John Kourkouas launched continuous campaigns against the neighbouring Muslim emirates, Theophilos assisted him ably, especially in the direction of Armenia
. Together with his brother, Theophilos besieged Theodosiopolis (modern Erzurum
), the capital of the emirate of Kalikala, from autumn 930 until its fall, after seven months, in spring 931. Little is recorded of his activity afterwards, but he is praised in the chronicle of Theophanes Continuatus
for his excellence and valour, and compared for his exploits in Mesopotamia
with Justinian I
's general Solomon
. The chronicle also records that "for his intelligence and valour and tirelessness" he was made strategos of various themata, raised to the rank of patrikios, and under the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969) he was made a magistros and raised to Domestic of the Schools.
Theophilos' unnamed son married the sister of Nikephoros Phokas, and their son was John Tzimiskes, who overthrew and murdered Phokas in 969.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
general in the 10th century. He was also the grandfather of the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes
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 :...
(r. 969–976).
Theophilos was a scion of the Kourkouas
Kourkouas
The Kourkouas or Curcuas family was one of the many nakharar families from Armenia that migrated to the Byzantine Empire during the Islamic invasions. They rose to prominence as part of the Anatolian military aristocracy in the 10th century, providing several high-ranking generals and an emperor....
family, a clan of Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
origin that had established itself as one of the chief families among the Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
n military aristocracy by the early 10th century. His elder brother was John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas , also transliterated as Kurkuas or Curcuas, was one of the most important generals of the Byzantine Empire. His successes in battle against the Muslim states in the East definitively reversed the course of the centuries-long Byzantine–Arab Wars and began Byzantium's 10th-century...
, who was appointed as 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...
of the East (i.e. supreme commander of the eastern armies) in ca. 923 by Emperor Romanos Lekapenos and served in this post for 22 years. In 923 Theophilos assisted his brother in the suppression of the revolt of 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...
of Chaldia
Chaldia
Chaldia was a historical region located in the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor . Its name was derived from a people called the Chaldoi that inhabited the region in Antiquity. Chaldia was used throughout the Byzantine period and was established as a formal theme, known as the Theme of Chaldia , in...
, Bardas Boilas, and succeeded the defeated rebel as governor of this strategically important province.
From 927 on, when John Kourkouas launched continuous campaigns against the neighbouring Muslim emirates, Theophilos assisted him ably, especially in the direction of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. Together with his brother, Theophilos besieged Theodosiopolis (modern Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
), the capital of the emirate of Kalikala, from autumn 930 until its fall, after seven months, in spring 931. Little is recorded of his activity afterwards, but he is praised in the chronicle of Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus
Theophanes Continuatus or Scriptores post Theophanem is the Latin name commonly applied to a collection of historical writings preserved in the 11th-century Vat. gr. 167 manuscript. Its name derives from its role as the continuation, covering the years 813–961, of the chronicle of Theophanes the...
for his excellence and valour, and compared for his exploits in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
with Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
's general Solomon
Solomon (Byzantine general)
Solomon was an East Roman general from northern Mesopotamia, who distinguished himself as a commander in the Vandalic War and the reconquest of North Africa in 533–534. He spent most of the next decade in Africa as its governor general, combining the military post of magister militum with the...
. The chronicle also records that "for his intelligence and valour and tirelessness" he was made strategos of various themata, raised to the rank of patrikios, and under the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969) he was made a magistros and raised to Domestic of the Schools.
Theophilos' unnamed son married the sister of Nikephoros Phokas, and their son was John Tzimiskes, who overthrew and murdered Phokas in 969.