Byzantine Empire under the Nikephorian dynasty
Byzantine Empire Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων | |||||||||
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802–813 | |||||||||
![]() The Byzantine Empire in 802 AD. | |||||||||
Capital | Constantinople | ||||||||
Common languages | Greek | ||||||||
Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
Emperor | |||||||||
• 802–811 | Nikephoros I | ||||||||
• 811 | Staurakios | ||||||||
• 811–813 | Michael I Rangabe | ||||||||
History | |||||||||
• Accession of Nikephoros I | 802 | ||||||||
• Abdication of Michael I | 813 | ||||||||
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Nikephorian dynasty | ||||||||||
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Chronology | ||||||||||
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Succession | ||||||||||
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Following the deposition of the Byzantine empress Irene of Athens, the throne of the Byzantine Empire passed to a relatively short-lived dynasty, the Nikephorian dynasty, named after its founder, Nikephoros I. The empire was in a weaker and more precarious position than it had been for a long time and its finances were problematic.[1]
During this era Byzantium was almost continually at war on two frontiers which drained its resources, and like many of his predecessors, Nikephoros (802–811) himself died while campaigning against the Bulgars to the north. Furthermore, Byzantium's influence continued to wane in the west with the crowning of Charlemagne (800–814) as Holy Roman emperor by Pope Leo III at Old St. Peter's Basilica in Rome in the year 800 and the establishment of a new empire in Western Europe laying claim to the universal Roman monarchy.
Nikephoros I, 802–811[]
Nikephoros I had been the empire's finance minister and on Irene's deposition immediately embarked on a series of fiscal reforms. His administrative reforms included re-organisation of the themata. He survived a civil war in 803 and, like most of the Byzantine emperors, found himself at war on three fronts. He suffered a major defeat at the Battle of Krasos in Phrygia in 805 and died on a campaign against the Bulgars.
Nikephoros' successors, 811–813[]
Nikephoros was succeeded by his son and co-emperor, Staurakios (811). However he was severely wounded in the same battle in which his father died and, after much controversy regarding the succession, was persuaded to abdicate later that year by the husband of his sister Prokopia, Michael I (811–813), who succeeded him.
Michael I pursued more diplomatic than military solutions. However, he engaged the Bulgar Khan Krum, the same who claimed the lives of his two predecessors, and was also defeated, severely weakening his position. Aware of a likely revolt he chose to abdicate given the grisly fate of so many prior overthrown emperors, ending the brief dynasty of Nikephoros.
Family tree of the Nikephorian dynasty[]
Constantine V Byzantine Emperor 741-775 ISAURIAN/SYRIAN dynasty | Tzitzak (Irene) of the Khazars | Nikephoros I Byzantine Emperor 802-811 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
related | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leo IV the Khazar Byzantine Emperor 751-775 | Irene of Athens | Theophano of Athens | Staurakios Byzantine Emperor 803-811 | Prokopia | Michael I Rangabe Byzantine Emperor 811-813 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Constantine VI Byzantine Emperor 780-797 ∞ Maria of Amnia | Bardanes rebel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Euphrosyne | Michael II Byzantine Emperor 820-829 AMORIAN/PHRYGIAN DYNASTY | Thekla | 1.Barka | Leo V the Armenian Byzantine Emperor 813-820 | 2.Theodosia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
See also[]
- Family trees of the Byzantine imperial dynasties
- History of the Byzantine Empire
References[]
- ^ Jenkins. Byzantium The Imperial Centuries AD 610-1071. p. 117
- 810s disestablishments
- Nikephorian dynasty
- 9th century in the Byzantine Empire
- 802 establishments
- 9th-century disestablishments in Asia
- 9th-century disestablishments in Europe