Nicephorus III Botaneiates
- Nicephorus III Botaneiates
-
▪ Byzantine emperor
Nicephorus also spelled Nikephoros
born c. 1001
died c. 1081
Byzantine emperor (1078–81) whose use of Turkish support in acquiring and holding the throne tightened the grip of the
Seljuq Turks on Anatolia.
Nicephorus, who belonged to the military aristocracy of Asia Minor and who was related to the powerful Phocas family, became commander of the Anatolian theme (administrative district). When discontent against the government of
Michael VII Ducas led to rioting in Constantinople, Nicephorus was proclaimed emperor (January 7, 1078) by his supporters there. With some support from Suleiman, the Seljuq ruler in Anatolia, Nicephorus was acclaimed emperor by his troops at Nicaea (in northwestern Anatolia) and entered Constantinople three months later. His imperial claim was ratified by the aristocracy and clergy, who had already deposed Michael VII. Nicephorus III defeated a rival claimant to the throne, Nicephorus Bryennius (
Bryennius, Nicephorus), the empire's commander in Albania; he also defeated a later pretender, Nicephorus Basilacius, who succeeded Bryennius in Albania.
After the death of Nicephorus's wife, he married Mary, the wife of the deposed but still living Michael VII, naming Michael's son Constantine as his successor but then later deciding on one of his own nephews instead. He relegated Constantine's fiancée, a daughter of the Norman leader
Robert Guiscard, to a convent. Nicephorus's action provided an excuse for Guiscard's later successful attacks against the empire.
In 1080 another usurper, Nicephorus Melissenus, appeared in Asia Minor (
Anatolia) and also sought Turkish assistance. As a result of such constant internal strife, with one faction or another requesting aid from the Turks, most of Asia Minor was lost to Byzantium and became incorporated in the Seljuq sultanate of Rūm, centred on Iconium (modern Konya,
Turkey). A rebellion led by
Alexius I Comnenus successfully captured Constantinople, forcing Nicephorus to abdicate on April 4, 1081. He entered the Peribleptos Monastery in Constantinople, which he had restored.
* * *
Universalium.
2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Nikephoros III Botaneiates — Nikephoros III Botaneiates Emperor of the Byzantine Empire Emperor Nikephoros III Botaneiates … Wikipedia
Nicephorus — Nikephoros (Νικηφόρος, griechisch: Der Sieg gewohnte, von νικη (nike) Sieg and φορεω (phoreo) erringen, davontragen , lateinische Form: Nikephorus oder Nicephorus) hat die folgenden Bedeutungen: Nikephoros ist der Name von: Nikephorus von… … Deutsch Wikipedia
Nicephorus — Nikephoros, Nicephorus or Nikiforos (Greek: Νικηφόρος, Bringer of Victory ) is the name of: Contents 1 People 1.1 Rulers 1.2 Other 2 Deities … Wikipedia
Alexios I Komnenos — Infobox Monarch name =Alexios I Komnenos title =Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire reign =4 April, 1081 – 15 August, 1118 coronation =4 April, 1081 predecessor =Nicephorus III Botaneiates successor =John II Comnenus spouse 1 =Irene Ducaena issue … Wikipedia
Byzantine Empire — the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the Western Empire in A.D. 476. Cap.: Constantinople. * * * Empire, southeastern and southern Europe and western Asia. It began as the city of Byzantium, which had grown from an ancient Greek colony… … Universalium
Alexius I Comnenus — born 1048, Constantinople died Aug. 15, 1118 Byzantine emperor (1081–1118). An experienced military leader, he seized the Byzantine throne in 1081, driving back the invading Normans and Turks and founding the Comnenian dynasty. Alexius increased… … Universalium
Byzantine emperors* — ▪ Table Byzantine emperors* Zeno 474–491 Anastasius I 491–518 Justin I 518–527 Justinian I 527–565 Justin II 565–578 Tiberius II Constantine (Tiberius II Constantinus) 578–582 Maurice 582–602 Phokas (Phocas) 602–610 Heraclius … Universalium
Irene Ducas — ▪ Byzantine empress [1066 1120] born c. 1066, Constantinople, Byzantine Empire [now Istanbul, Turkey] died February 19, 1123 [or 1133], Constantinople wife of the Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus, known from the description of her in the… … Universalium
Psellus, Michael — ▪ Byzantine philosopher, theologian, and statesman born 1018, Constantinople died c. 1078 Byzantine philosopher, theologian, and statesman whose advocacy of Platonic philosophy as ideally integrable with Christian doctrine initiated a… … Universalium
Tzachas — (Greek: Τζαχᾶς, Tzachas), also known as Chaka Bey (Turkish: Çaka Bey)[dn 1] or Emmir Chaka of Smyrna,[1] was an 11th century Seljuk Turkish emir who ruled an independent state based in Smyrna (present day Izmir). Chaka was taken as a prisoner… … Wikipedia
