Nicephorus Phocas - Revision history

Irlandos at 11:52, October 31, 2007

2007-10-31T11:52:21Z

Irlandos at 11:43, October 31, 2007

2007-10-31T11:43:41Z

Lazarus at 13:41, December 10, 2005

2005-12-10T13:41:17Z

Lazarus at 13:40, December 10, 2005

2005-12-10T13:40:31Z

Lazarus at 13:35, December 10, 2005

2005-12-10T13:35:41Z

Irlandos at 18:50, September 11, 2005

2005-09-11T18:50:24Z

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'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ|emperor]] in [[963]].

==Early exploits==

Nicephorus belonged to a [[Cappadocia]]n family which had produced several distinguished generals. 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 [[Heraklion|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."

Upon the death of [[Romanus II]], he returned to [[Constantinople]] to defend himself against the intrigues of the minister [[Joseph Bringas]]. With the help of the regent [[Theophano]] and the patriarch, he 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.

==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 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.

==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 [[Byzantine currency|coinage]] he forfeited his popularity with the rest of the community, 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 I Tzimisces]], was assassinated in his sleeping apartment.

Nicephorus was the author of an extant treatise on military tactics which contains valuable information concerning the art of war in his time.

==External links==

*A more detailed profile of the Emperor: http://members.fortunecity.com/fstav1/emperors/niceph.html
*Nicephorus coinage: http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/byz/nicephorus_II/t.html

[[Category:912 births]]
[[Category:969 deaths]]
[[Category:Macedonian dynasty]]
[[Category:Byzantine emperors]]

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 [[Image:Nikiforos-Fokas.jpg|thumb|200px|Nicephorus II Phocas]]<!--Nikiforos Fokas-->
-'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
+'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperor|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
 ==Early exploits==

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-[[Image:Nikiforos-Fokas.jpg|thumb|200px|Nicephorus II Phocas]]
+[[Image:Nikiforos-Fokas.jpg|thumb|200px|Nicephorus II Phocas]]<!--Nikiforos Fokas-->
 '''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
 ==Early exploits==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:40, December 10, 2005
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		+	[[Image:Nikiforos-Fokas.jpg\|thumb\|200px\|Nicephorus II Phocas]]
	'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ\|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".		'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ\|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
	==Early exploits==		==Early exploits==

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:35, December 10, 2005
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−	'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ\|emperor]] in [[~~963~~]].	+	'''Nicephorus II Phocas''' (Greek Νικηφόρος Φωκάς) was one of the most brilliant generals in the history of [[Byzantium]] who rose to become a mediocre [[Byzantine Εmperorσ\|emperor]] from [[963]] until his assassination in [[969]]. An inscription carved out on the side of his tomb reads: "You conquered all but a woman".
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	==Early exploits==		==Early exploits==