Nikephoritzes

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Nikephoritzes (Greek: Νικηφορίτζης) was an influential Byzantine eunuch official, who
served as chief minister and virtual ruler of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Michael
VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078). His actual name was Nikephoros; he received the nickname
"Nikephoritzes" ("little Nikephoros") as a result of his relative youth when he first entered
service in the court.[1][2] He became widely unpopular due to his harsh taxation and meddling
with Constantinople's grain supply, as well as for his neglect of Asia Minor in the face of
Turkish encroachment. This resentment led to the outbreak of two major rebellions in 1077,
and the eventual abdication of Michael VII. Nikephoritzes himself was captured and tortured
to death.

[edit] Life

Gold histamenon of Michael VII

Nikephoritzes was born in the Bucellarian Theme and entered service in the imperial
secretariat under Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1042–1055). Under Constantine X Doukas
(r. 1059–1067) he was sent away from the court to assume the governorship of Antioch,
because he allegedly slandered the Empress Eudokia Makrembolitissa, accusing her of
adultery. Following the emperor's death and her assumption of the regency, he was
imprisoned.[1][2][3] He was released by Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071) and appointed as
praetor (civil governor) of the combined themes of Hellas (Central Greece) and the
Peloponnese.[1][2] On the assumption of power by Michael VII in 1071, Nikephoritzes was
recalled to serve in the imperial government by the new emperor's uncle, the Caesar John
Doukas, who valued his administrative skills. Back in Constantinople, Nikephoritzes was
appointed logothetes tou dromou, and his power grew rapidly. Not only did he soon sideline
the other ministers, including the hereto powerful Michael Psellos, but in autumn 1073,
Nikephoritzes forced the Caesar himself to withdraw from active participation in the
governance of the empire and retire to his estates.[1][2][3]
As the de facto ruler of the Empire, Nikephoritzes set about reorganizing the state, trying to
restore its strength and re-establish central control. His first priority was to replenish the
treasury. For this he resorted to brutal taxation, which caused major hardship both in the
provinces and in Constantinople. He also established a central warehouse (phoundax) at
Rhaidestos in an effort to centralize, regulate and better tax the corn supply of
Constantinople, forming a state monopoly. According to Michael Attaleiates, admittedly a
hostile source, his policies resulted in shortages in grain and inflation of its price. By the
winter of 1076/77, Constantinople was experiencing famine.[1][2][4][5] At the same time, a
rebellion broke out in the Danubian province of Paristrion, because Nikephoritzes stopped
payment of the annual subsidies to the local mixobarbaroi and the Pechenegs. The vestarches
Nestor, who was sent to settle things, joined the rebellion. Notably, the rebels demanded only
one thing, the dismissal of Nikephoritzes, and when they took Rhaidestos, they burned down
the corn warehouse. Michael VII prevaricated in his reply, whereupon Nestor with his
Pecheneg allies withdrew north into the Paristrion, which hence and for the next two decades
effectively passed out of imperial control.[6][7]
Nikephoritzes also tried to reform the army, and revived the regiment of the Immortals. The
military situation during his administration was particularly grave, with Serb attacks and the
Bulgarian uprising of Constantine Bodin, while in Asia Minor the imperial government had
to face the rebellion of Roussel de Bailleul, as well as the ever-increasing Turkish infiltration
of Asia Minor in the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert, to which it failed to respond
adequately.[1][2][8] Although undeniably a capable administrator, his financial measures and
centralizing tendencies were generally resented. With the exception of Kekaumenos, who
praises him as "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", the other sources all relate stories of his greed and
corruption. In this they focus especially on the monastery at Hebdomon, which he
administrated, and where he gathered his personal fortune.[1][2][9]
Opposition coalesced around the Patriarch of Antioch Aemilian, an old enemy of
Nikephoritzes from his time in Antioch, with support from several bishops and the capital's
guilds. In addition, in the summer of 1077, Nikephoros Bryennios in the Balkans and
Nikephoros Botaneiates in Asia Minor rebelled against Michael VII. Bryennios marched
against Constantinople, hoping it would surrender, but the pillaging of its suburbs by his
troops deterred the capital's inhabitants, and he had to retreat. In turn, a group of bishops
opposing Nikephoritzes gathered in the Hagia Sophia on 7 January 1078, and proclaimed
Botaneiates emperor. Nikephoritzes responded by forcibly removing them from the cathedral,
for which he was excommunicated by the Patriarch of Constantinople. Alexios Komnenos,
who had risen to high command under Nikephoritzes, suggested the forcible suppression of
the opposition, but Michael VII eventually decided to abdicate in favour of Botaneiates, on
31 March.[10]
Nikephoritzes fled the capital and sought refuge in Heraclea Pontica, where Roussel de
Bailleul was encamped. Roussel however had him arrested and delivered to the new emperor.
Nikephoritzes was then exiled to the island of Prote and then Oxeia, where he was brutally
tortured by the megas hetaireiarches Romanos Straboromanos and died as a result.[2][11][12]