Nikephoritzes E / L XI
Νικηφόρος (DO V.9.7) (Nikephoros 63)
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Narrative
(80)
1052
Certainty: 0
A young Nikephoros (Nikephoritzes) taken into the palace by Konstantinos IX
Certainty: 0
1063
Certainty: 1
Nikephoritzes was made doux of Antioch for slandering empress Eudokia: he provoked barbarian attacks
Certainty: 1
1067
Certainty: 2
Nikephoritzes removed from government of Antioch & put in prison there
Certainty: 2
1068
Certainty: 2
Nikephoritzes freed from prison at Antioch & sent as krites to Hellas & Peloponnesos
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Psellos recommended Elias Krystalas to Nikephoritzes
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Psellos asked Nikephoritzes to see if Besaine was a rich see, as its bishop was likely to be taxed as a rich man
Certainty: 2
1071
Certainty: 0
Nikoulitzas Delphinas, advised by Nikephoritzes, visited Michael VII in the capital
Certainty: 0
1072
Certainty: 2
Nikephoritzes replaced Ioannes of Side as chief minister, & even supplanted the kaisar Ioannes
Certainty: 2
1073
Certainty: 2
Defeat & capture of Isaakios Komnenos by Turks at Caesarea
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1
Creation of tagma of Athanatoi by Michael VII & Nikephoritzes
Certainty: 1
1074
Certainty: 2
Fresh campaign against Turks (&/or Roussel) under kaisar Ioannes
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Michael VII began to feel responsible for Byzantine disasters, but still followed evil counsellors
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Michael VII bribed Turks against Roussel, who released kaisar Ioannes, proclaiming him emperor
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Roussel, after ransom, returned to his old base in Armeniakon
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Raids of Roussel de Bailleul on cities of Pontos
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 1
Expulsion of patriarch Aimilianos from Antioch by doux Isaakios Komnenos
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
A case of forgery in the signature of a report on the bishop of Korone
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
Dispute at court over proposed appointment of Nikephoros Bryennios as kaisar
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
Granary built near Raidestos by Nikephoritzes to establish wheat monopoly & brutally enforce it
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
The Danubian cities (including Dristra/Dorostolon) were infiltrated by Pechenegs & revolted
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
Nestor, trusted lieutenant of Michael VII, sent to restore order on Danube, joined the rebels
Certainty: 1
Certainty: 1
Nestor's demand for surrender of Nikephoritzes rejected: he finally retreated because he feared a plot
Certainty: 1
1075
Certainty: 1
Nikephoritzes collected his treasure at the monastery of Hebdomon, promising to make it an imperial palace
Certainty: 1
1077
Certainty: 2
Rebellion of Ioannes Bryennios & Nikephoros Basilakes, joined reluctantly by Nikephoros Bryennios
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Rebellion of Nikephoros Bryennios, joined by Adrianople, Raidestos & other cities
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Michael Attaleiates had personal experience of the rebellion at Raidestos
Certainty: 2
1078
Certainty: 3
The people in Hagia Sophia proclaimed Nikephoros Botaneiates (still at Lampe) emperor
Certainty: 3
Certainty: 2
Synod of prelates decided to support rebel Nikephoros Botaneiates
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Turks sent against Nikephoros Botaneiates by Michael VII were bribed by the rebel
Certainty: 2
Certainty: 2
Arrest, imprisonment & death of Nikephoritzes
Certainty: 2
Death
(3)
Description
(17)
His greedines caused the revolt of the Serbs, also called Croatians
Τὴν γὰρ τοῦ Νικηφόρου μὴ φέρον ἀπληστίαν. Skylitzes Continuatus 163.2-3
Most illustrious, an excellent man in everything, most reasonable, experienced in both military and administrative matters although a eunuch, generous, very clever, and capable of understanding and speaking properly
μεγαλοδοξότατος...ἀνὴρ ἄριστος εἰς πάντα καὶ φρονιμώτατος πάνυ ἀκριβῶς τε ἐξησκημένος τήν τε στρατηγικὴν καὶ πολιτικὴν ἐμπειρίαν. Kekaumenos 222.10-11
Whatever decision he took was considered by all an imperial order
Κἀκεῖνο πᾶσι βασιλικὸν ἐνομίζετο πρόσταγμα, ὃ τῷ μηχανορράφῳ τούτῳ ἐδόκει. Skylitzes Continuatus 156.12-14
Exerted great influence over the emperor (
Michael 7
) and imposed the outcome he wished on any situation, was more endowed with malice than anybody else, and did not refrain from slander if profit was at stake
ἄγων τε καὶ φέρων τὰ πάντα οὗπερ ἐβούλετο...καὶ τοῦ κερδαλέου χάριν μηδενὸς δυσφήμου ὀνόματος ἀπεχόμενος. Skylitzes Continuatus 162.1-8
He was very skilled at plotting and causing trouble
δεινὸς ἐπινοῆσαι καὶ ῥάψαι πράγματα καὶ πολλὴν τῇ καταστάσει τὴν τρικυμίαν ἐπενεγκεῖν. Attaleiates: History 180.20-22 / 133.18-19
Was very good at causing confusion and stirring trouble
δεινὸς συγχέειν πράγματα καὶ ἄνω τὰ κάτω ποιῆσαι. Glykas 613.13
Served as sekretikos under the father of
Michael 7
(
Konstantinos 10
), proved to be mischievous, a slanderer, and a cunning expert in malicious deeds
σκαιὸς καὶ διαβολεὺς ἐφάνη καὶ σοφιστὴς τῶν κακῶν κερδαλέος. Skylitzes Continuatus 155.18-19
Being more experienced than the emperor (
Nikephoros 3
Botaneiates), the latter's courtiers considered him dangerous
ἔσεσθαι γὰρ αὐτὸν σκόλοπα ἑαυτοῖς ὑπελάμβανον. Skylitzes Continuatus 186.9-10
Bore an old enmity against the patriarch (of Antioch
Aimilianos 61
)
Ὁ λογοθέτης δὲ πρὸς τὸν πατριάρχην πάλαι δυσμενῶς ἔχων. Bryennios 203.4
A skilful and energetic man, endowed with both reason and experience of many affairs, but also dissimulating his thoughts and capable of throwing things into confusion more than Pericles is said to have done in Greece
ἄνδρα ἐντρεχῆ μὲν καὶ δραστήριον καὶ λόγῳ κοσμούμενον καὶ πείρᾳ πραγμάτων πολλῶν, βαθυγνώμονα δὲ ἄλλως καὶ συγκυκῆσαι δυνάμενον πράγματα μᾶλλον ἢ τὸν Περικλέα φασὶ τὴν Ἑλλάδα κυκᾶν. Bryennios 143.17-145.1
Nikephoros 62
was elevated by hopes that the senate would receive him (
Nikephoros 62
) with open arms, as the saying goes, on account of hostility towards him and the simplicity of the emperor (
Michael 7
)
ᾐώρητο γὰρ ἐλπίσιν ὡς ὑπτίαις, τὸ τοῦ λόγου, χερσὶν οἱ τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς αὐτὸν ὑποδέξόνται διὰ τὴν πρὸς τὸν λογοθέ´την Νικηφόρον ἀπέχθειαν καὶ τὴν τοῦ βασιλέως ἀφέλειαν. Zonaras 18.17.24
Hailed from the theme of Boukellarion
ἐκ Βουκελλαρίων ἕλκων τὸ γένος. Attaleiates: History 180.20 / 133.17
A most knavish and unjust man
τὸν πονηρότατον τοῦτον καὶ ἀδικώτατον. Attaleiates: History 181.22 / 134.16-17
Hailed from (the theme of) Boukellarion, was good at inventing plots, devising conspiracies, and stirring trouble
ἐκ Βουκελλαρίων ἔλκων τὸ γένος, δεινὸς ἐπινοῆσαι συγχύσεις καὶ ῥάψαι πράγματα. Skylitzes Continuatus 155.15-17
In addition to all his other vices, he was also extremely greedy, eagerly amassing real estate
περὶ φιλοχρηματίαν δαιμονίως σπουδάζων. Attaleiates: History 201.1-3 / 148.2-3
Another eunuch Nikephoros, who as a young man was taken into the palace by (
Konstantinos 9
) Monomachos and affectionately called Nikephoritzes on account of his youth, and he kept this as a nickname
ἕτερον ἐκτομίαν τὸν Νικηφόρον, ὅς νέος προσληφθεὶς παρὰ τοῦ Μονομάχου εἰς τὰ βασίλεια ὑποκοριζόμενος διὰ τὴν νεότητα Νικηφορίτζες ὠνόμαστο καὶ ὥσπερ ἐπωνυμίαν ἔσχηκε τοῦτο. Zonaras 18.16.2
Was adept at the handling of affairs and conversant with learning, but had an insidious character, full of craftiness
ἦν δὲ περὶ πραγμάτων μεταχείρισιν δεξιὸς καὶ λόγοις ὡμιληκώς, τὸ δὲ ἦθος ἔχων ὑποκαθήμενον καὶ γέμον δεινότητος. Zonaras 18.16.4
Dignity/Office
(24)
Education
(2)
Location
(32)
Occupation/Vocation
(1)
Bureaucrat
εἰς τάξιν σεκρετικοῦ...ὑπηρετησάμενος. Skylitzes Continuatus 155.18
Possession
(1)
Numerous estates and revenues, the monastery of Hebdomon
ταύτην γὰρ λαβὼν κατὰ δωρεάν. Attaleiates: History 201.3-7 / 148.3-7
Eunuchs
(6)
Alternative Name
(4)
Nikephoritzes (Different Name)
ὁ καὶ Νικηφορίτζης λεγόμενος. Glykas 613.9-10
ὃν ὑποκορίζοντες Νικηφορίτζην ὠνόμαζον. Skylitzes Continuatus 155.15
ὑποκορίζοντες ἐκάλουν Νικηφορίτζην. Bryennios 143.16
Νικηφορίτζης. Zonaras 18.16.2