Family tree Homs » Nikephoros II Phokas Rhomaiôn (± 912-969)

Personal data Nikephoros II Phokas Rhomaiôn 

• He was born about 912 in (Byzantium) (Constantinople), Istanbul, Turkey.
• Profession: .

  {geni:job_title} Empereur, de Byzance

• He died on December 10, 969 in Constantinople-overthrown by conspiracy.
• A child of Bardas 'the Elder' Phokas and NN. Maleina
• This information was last updated on August 13, 2011.

Household of Nikephoros II Phokas Rhomaiôn

He had a relationship with N Pleustana.

Child(ren):

1. N (b.: 945 AD) Phokaina  ± 945-???? 

Notes about Nikephoros II Phokas Rhomaiôn

Nicephorus II
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Nicephoros II Phocas (c. 912 — 969), one of the most brilliant generals in the Byzantine history, rose to become the emperor in 963. During six years of his rule, Phocas alienated the sympathies of his followers and was assassinated at the behest of his wife and her lover. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
Contents
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* 1 Early exploits
* 2 Ascension to the throne
* 3 Later campaigns
* 4 Civil administration
* 5 Modern honors
* 6 External links
* 7 References

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Early exploits

Nicephorus belonged to a Cappadocian Greek family which had produced several distinguished generals, among whom his father, Bardas Phocas. He was born about 912, joined the army at an early age, and, under Constantine VII, became commander on the eastern frontier. In the war with the Saracens he began with a severe defeat (956), which he retrieved in the years following by victories in Syria.

In 960 he led an expedition to Crete, stormed Candia after a ten months' siege, and wrested the whole island from the Saracens. After receiving the unusual honours of a triumph, he returned to the east with a large and well-equipped army. In the campaigns of 962-963 by brilliant strategy he forced his way through Cilicia into Syria and captured Aleppo, but made no permanent conquests. It was on these campaigns he earned the sobriquet "The Pale Death of the Saracens."
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Ascension to the throne

On March 15, 963, Emperor Romanus II unexpectedly died at the age of twenty-six. The cause of his death is uncertain. Both contemporary sources and later historians seem to either believe that the young Emperor had exhausted his health with the excesses of his sexual life and his heavy drinking, or suspect Empress Theophano (c. 941 - after 976), his wife, of poisoning him. Theophano had already at the time gained a reputation as an intelligent and ambitious woman. She would later gain a reputation for ruthlessness in achieving her goals. Romanus had, before his death, already crowned as co-emperors his two sons, the later Emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII. At the time, however, Basil was five years old and Constantine only three years old, and they were not able to assume the duties that came with their title. Theophano was named regent.

But Theophano wasn't allowed to rule alone. Joseph Bringas, a eunuch palace official who had become Romanus' chief council, maintained his position. According to contemporary sources he intended to keep the authority to take decisions for the actual matters of importance at his own hands, rather than those of the young Empress. He also tried to remove part of the authority that had been concentrated at the hands of Nicephorus Phocas. The victorious general had been accepted as the actual commander of the army and maintained his strong connections to the aristocracy. Joseph was afraid that Nicephorus could claim the throne with the support of both the army and the aristocracy. Joseph's intrigues during the following months turned both Theophano and Nicephorus against him. Unknown to Joseph, Theophano and Nicephorus had started negotiations with each other.

With the help of Theophano and the patriarch, Phocas received supreme command of the eastern forces, and being proclaimed emperor by these marched upon the capital, where meanwhile his partisans had overthrown his enemy Bringas. Thanks to his popularity with the army, Nicephorus was crowned emperor by the side of Romanus's infant sons, and in spite of the patriarch's opposition married their mother, the regent Theophano.
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Later campaigns

During his reign he continued to wage numerous wars. From 964-966 he definitely conquered Cilicia and again overran Mesopotamia and Syria, while the patrician Nicetas recovered Cyprus. In 968 he reduced most of the fortresses in Syria, and after the fall of Antioch and Aleppo (969), which were recaptured by his lieutenants, secured his conquests by a peace. On his northern frontier he began a war against the Bulgars, to whom the Byzantines had of late been paying tribute (967), and by instigating an attack from Svyatoslav I of Kiev, distracted their attention effectively.
Nicephorus and his step-son Basil, later Basil II.
Enlarge
Nicephorus and his step-son Basil, later Basil II.

Nicephorus was less successful in his western wars. After renouncing his tribute to the Fatimid caliphs, he sent an expedition to Sicily under Nicetas (964-965), but was forced by defeats on land and sea to evacuate that island completely. In 967 he made peace with the Saracens of Kairawan and turned to defend himself against their common enemy, Otto I, who had proclaimed himself Western emperor and attacked the Byzantine possessions in Italy; but after some initial successes his generals were defeated and driven back upon the southern coast.

The tension between East and West that resulted from Nicephorus' policies can be glimpsed from Liutprand of Cremona's very unflattering description of him and his court in his Relatio de legatione Constantinopolitana.
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Civil administration

Owing to the care which he lavished upon the proper maintenance of the army, Nicephorus was compelled to exercise rigid economy in other departments. He retrenched the court largesses and curtailed the immunities of the clergy, and although himself of an ascetic disposition forbade the foundation of new monasteries.

By his heavy imposts and the debasement of the coinage he forfeited his popularity with the people and gave rise to riots. Last of all, he was forsaken by his wife, and, in consequence of a conspiracy which she headed with his nephew and her lover John Tzimisces, was assassinated in his sleeping apartment. Following his death, the Phocades family broke into insurrection under Bardas Phocas, but their revolt was promptly subdued.

Nicephorus was the author of an extant treatise on military tactics, most famously the Praecepta Militaria which contains valuable information concerning the art of war in his time, and the less-known De velitatione, which concerned guerilla-like tactics for defence against a superior enemy invasion force.

Nicephorus was also a very devout man, and helped his friend, the monk Athanasios, found the monastery of Megísti Lávra on Mount Athos.
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Modern honors

On November 19, 2004, the Hellenic Navy named its tenth Standard class frigate in his honour as FFG Nikiforos Fokas (F 466) (formerly HMNLS Bloys Van Treslong F 824). Also, in the Rethymno Prefecture in Crete, a municipality is named after him, as are many streets throughout Greece.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Nicephorus II

* A more detailed profile of the Emperor
* Nicephorean coinage

Preceded by:
Romanus II Byzantine Emperor
963–969 Succeeded by:
John I Tzimisces

{geni:occupation} proclaimed emperor 2 july 963, crowned emperor 16 august - 969, Empereur, de Byzance

{geni:about_me} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikephoros_II_Phokas

General Nicephorus Phokas has been a soldier under Emperor Contantine VII and Romanus II. When Romanus II died in 963, Nicephorus (age 41) and General John Tzimisces (age 39), became co-emperors for the infant son of Romanus, Basil II. Nicephorus ruled until he was assassinated by John Tzimisces in 969.

In 960 General Nicephorus Phocas retook Crete from the Arabs.

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Timeline Nikephoros II Phokas Rhomaiôn

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