Άλλα Ονόματα Gurgen, Crocoas, Curcuas. Κύρια Ιδιότητα Military officials IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ. 1. Descent

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1 Περίληψη : The aristocratic family of Kourkouas was of Armenian descent and among the most influential aristocratic families of Asia Minor from the 9th century onwards. The family reached its prime in the 10th century, when its members held senior military offices and played a key role in the political life of the empire. From the 11th century onwards certain members of the family would hold political and ecclesiastical offices, while their political power and importance started gradually to decline. Άλλα Ονόματα Gurgen, Crocoas, Curcuas Κύρια Ιδιότητα Military officials 1. Descent The Armenian family of Kourkouas appeared in the 9th century, when its members started to ascend the hierarchy of the Asia Minor military aristocracy. It is believed that during the reign of Basil I, John Kourkouas, who was the domestikos of the tagma of the Hikanatoi and the first eminent member of the family reported by the sources, was involved in a conspiracy against the emperor. 1 The fact that he was particularly rich and his senior military rank suggest that the family must have been among the most powerful representatives of the Asia Minor aristocracy. 2. The family of Kourkouas in the 10th century The family was already important during the reign of the first two emperors of the Macedonian dynasty, but in the years of Romanos I Lekapenos it reached its apex. John Kourkouas, the grandson of the domestikos of the Hikanatoi, served as the droungarios of the Vigla, while in 923 he was awarded the top military rank of domestikos ton scholon and led the forces of the themes of Asia Minor in the war against the Arabs. He was probably the most distinguished member of the family and became very famous thanks to his successful operations against the Arab emir of Aleppo, Sayf ad-dawlah. In 934 he captured Melitene, reaching the apex of his career when he recovered the Mandylion of Edessa, a valuable relic possessed by the Arabs and which was translated to Constantinople, as a trophy of Kourkouas from the siege of Edessa. However, his dispute with the two sons of Romanos I, who both considered him a powerful protector of the legal heir to the throne, Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus ( ), was the reason for his removal from his post before the late 944. But this fact had a minor impact on the fame of the family, which remained influential after the fall of the Lekapenos family. Apart from John Kourkouas, his brother Theophilos was strategos of Chaldia, Mesopotamia and Theodosioupolis in the years of Romanos I. John s son, Romanos Kourkouas, held the senior post of stratelates of the East and possibly that of domestikos ton scholon of the West, 2 while his grandson, another John, was awarded the senior dignity of magistros and possibly served as strategos of Macedonia; he was killed in combat against the Rus in 971. Such posts, along with intermarriages with other powerful aristocratic families of the time, such as the families of Phokas and Skleros, prove the senior position the Kourkouas family steadily held in the army and the political matters of the Empire in mid-10th century. When the Armenian John I Tzimiskes, the grandson of Theophilos Kourkouas, ascended the throne, the family played a key role, as it was among the main supporters of the new emperor in his attempt to assume power and do away with the Phokas family. However, after Tzimiskes died and Basil II ( ) ascended the throne, the importance of the family started gradually to decline. In the civil conflicts of between the powerful representatives of the military aristocracy of Asia Minor (Bardas Phokas and Bardas Skleros) and the emperor the Kourkouas family played a minor role, which indicates that they had already started to lose their political power. 3. The family of Kourkouas in the 11th and 12th centuries Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/8

2 After Basil II prevailed against the revolters in 989, the Kourkouas family was no longer included in the powerful aristocratic families of the empire. However, there are references to some John Kourkouas living in 1008, who held the titles of patrikios and anthypatos, as well as the title of katepano of Italy. In addition, another member of the family called Romanos, who had married the daughter of the last Bulgarian ruler, John Vladislav, was accused of conspiring against emperor Constantine VIII ( ) and was blinded. From then onwards and throughout the 11th century the members of the family would hold political rather than senior military posts. In the 12th century they turned to the Church and held key positions, as it happened with Michael Kourkouas, who became Patriarch of Constantinople between 1143 and Symeon Magistros [Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin-New York 2006), p. 269, ] refers to the rebel as named John. However, later historian John Skylitzes, [Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin-New York 1973), p. 140, 43-47] calls him Romanos. 2. Cheynet, J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ) (Byzantina Sorbonensia 9, Paris 1990), p. 20. Βιβλιογραφία : Treadgold W.T., A History of the Byzantine State and Society, Stanford 1997 Ιωάννης Σκυλίτζης, Σύνοψις Ιστοριών, Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Skylitzae Synopsis Historiarum, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973 Λέων Διάκονος, Ιστορία, Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem et liber de velitatione bellica Nicephori Augusti, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Βοnn 1828 Συμεών Μάγιστρος, Χρονικόν, Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006 Cheynet J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ), Paris 1990, Byzantina Sorbonensia 9 Vasiliev A.A., Byzance et les Arabes, 2 La dynastie Macédonienne ( ). Extraits de sources arabes, Bruxelles 1950, Corpus Bruxellense Historiae Byzantinae 2/2, Grégoire, H. Canard, M. (trans.) Συνεχισταί Θεοφάνους, Χρονογραφία συγγραφείσα εκ προστάγματος Κωνσταντίνου του φιλοχρίστου και πορφυρογεννήτου δεσπότου, Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus, Joannes Cameniata, Symeon Magister, Georgius Monachus, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1838 Runciman S., The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and His Reign, Cambridge 1929 Kamer S., Emperors and Aristocrats in Byzantium , Ann Arbor 1983 Каждан А. П., Армяне в составе господствующего класса Византийской империи в XI-XII вв, Ереван 1975 Stavrakas S. T., The byzantine provincial élite: A study in social relationships during the ninth and tenth centuries (Ph.D. Diss., University of Chicago), Chicago 1978 Βλυσίδου Β., "Η συνωμοσία του Κουρκούα στο Βίο Βασιλείου", Σύμμεικτα, 6, 1985, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/8

3 Kazhdan A., "Kourkouas", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 2, New York-Oxford 1991, Γλωσσάριo : domestikos A term that during Byzantine times denoted a wide array of ecclesiastic, civil and military officials. In church hierarchy the domestikoi were in charge of special groups connected with liturgical rites, such as lectors, sub-deacons but mainly cantors. In the military chain of command during the 6th, 7th and 8th century the domestikoi were the commanders of the tagmata, the regiments under the direct command of the Emperor. domestikos ton scholon Commander of the regiment of scholae. The first officer with this title appears in 767/8. In the 10th C the domesticos became very powerful among the army of the themata; in mid-10th C the office was divided in two, domestikoi ton scholon of the East and those of the West, commanders in chief of the eastern and the western provinces army respectively. droungarios tes viglas Commander of the tagma of the vigla (military corps in the Constantinople). The title is mentioned from the 9o C and existed until the 15o C. "Droungarios tes viglas" was responsible for guarding the emperor in the palace and on expeditions. emir (from Arabic amir) Emir meaning "commander" or "general", later also "prince". Also a high title of nobility or office in some Turkic historical states. katepano (from "epano","above") Governor of a katepania. Title that from the end of the 10th century characterized the commanders of large provinces as Italy or Mesopotamia and from the 11th century, it was used also in the regions of Bulgaria, Antioch etc. magistros Higher office that Philotheos in his Kletorologion places above the anthypatos. This title lost its importance from the 10th century and gradually disappeared - most probably in the middle of the 12th century. patrikios (from lat. patricius) Higher title of honour, placed, according to the "Tactika" of the 9th and the 10th centuries, between anthypatos and protospatharios. It was given to the most important governors and generals. Gradually, however, it fell into disuse and from the 12th century did not exist any more. proconsul, -lis A quite high ranking official, vir spectabilis according to the rank of the senate, who was inequable only to the Domestikos of the Scholae and to the Magister Militum per Orientem. The proconsul usually served as a governor of the Imperial provinces (i.e. in Asia Minor the provinces of Asia and Cappadocia). The office was demoted from the 9th century onwards and the term was in use until the 12th century meaning a dignity. strategos ("general") During the Roman period his duties were mainly political. Οffice of the Byzantine state s provincial administration. At first the title was given to the military and political administrator of the themes, namely of the big geographic and administrative unities of the Byzantine empire. Gradually the title lost its power and, already in the 11th century, strategoi were turned to simple commanders of military units, responsible for the defence of a region. stratelates A high-ranking military official of the 10th and 11th centuries, commanding a military unit called "tagma of the stratelatai". tagmata (pl.) Military units stationed in Constantinople and its outskirts during the Middle Byzantine period. The most important tagmata were that of the Scholae, the Excubitors (these originated from respective units of the Early Byzantine period and were organized into an imperial guard and a central strike force by Constantine V), the Vigilia (established by Irene the Athenian) and the Hikanatoi (established by Nicephorus I). Πηγές Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp. 415, , 23; 424, , 3; 426, 3 429, 2. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), pp. 269, ; 313, 70 75; 337, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/8

4 Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp. 126, 10 19; 147, , 22. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp. 140, 43 47; 211, , 39; 217, 66 78; 224, 61 78; 230, 26 43; 256, 86 6; 372, Παραθέματα The Chronographer Symeon Magistros refers to the conspiracy of John Kourkouas against Basil I: ἐγένετο δὲ συσκευὴ κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως παρὰ Ἰωάννου τοῦ Κροκόα, δομεστίκου ὄντος τῶν ἱκανάτων, χρηματισθέντος παρὰ τοῦ ὄντος ἐν Βλαχέρναις ἐγκλείστου. εὑρέθησαν δὲ μετ αὐτοῦ πολλοὶ τῶν συγκλητικῶν καὶ λοιπῶν ἀρχόντων μέχρι τῶν ἑξήκοντα ἕξ. ἦν γὰρ Μιχαὴλ ὁ ἑταιριάρχης καὶ ὁ Κατουδάρης καὶ ὁ Μυξάρης καὶ ὁ Βαβούτζικος καὶ οἱ λοιποί. τῆς γοῦν τοιαύτης ἐπιβουλῆς μηνυθείσης τῷ βασιλεῖ παρὰ τοῦ πρωτοβεστιαρίου τοῦ Κροκόα κρατηθέντων τε πάντων ἐξελθὼν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐν τῷ ἱπποδρόμῳ καὶ καθεσθεὶς ἐκεῖσε καὶ ἀνακρίνας τὰ κατ αὐτοὺς πάντας τύψας καὶ κουρεύσας τὰς ἔτι περιληφθείσας τρίχας κατέκαυσε. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), p. 269, The Kourkouas' conspiracy against Basil I, as being described by the subsequent historian John Skylitzes: Κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν καιρὸν ἐπιβουλὴ μηνύεται τῷ βασιλεῖ παρά τινος τῶν συνωμοτῶν, ἔξαρχον ἔχουσα τὸν πατρίκιον Ρωμανὸν τὸν Κουρκούαν. καὶ δὴ συλληφθέντων τῶν ἐπιβουλευσάντων, ὁ μὲν Κουρκούας ἐπηρώθη τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς, οἱ δὲ λοιποὶ τυφθέντες καὶ καρέντες ἐξωρίσθησαν. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 140, John Kourkouas, grandson of the abovementioned rebel, repels the political adversaries of Romanos I Lekapenos: προσεκλήθη δὲ παρὰ Θεοφυλάκτου, πατρικίου καὶ κόμητος τοῦ στάβλου, εἰς ἄριστον ὁ παιδαγωγὸς Κωνσταντίνου βασιλέως Θεόδωρος καὶ Συμεών, ὁ αὐτοῦ ἀδελφός. ἐσθιόντων δὲ αὐτῶν εἰσῆλθεν Ἰωάννης δρουγγάριος τῆς βίγλης, ὁ Κουρκούας λεγόμενος, μετὰ πλείστου λαοῦ καὶ τούτους ἀναρπάσας εἰς τὸ Ὀψίκιον ἐξώρισεν ἐν τοῖς αὐτῶν προαστίοις ὡς κατὰ Ρωμανοῦ μελετῶντες. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), p. 313, John Skylitzes on the role John Kourkouas in establishing Romanos I's rule: ἐξεβλήθη δὲ τῆς πόλεως καὶ Θεοφύλακτος πατρίκιος καὶ Θεόδωρος ὁ παιδαγωγὸς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ὁ τούτου ὁμαίμων Συμεών, καὶ ἐν τῷ Ὀψικίῳ διάγειν ἐτάχθησαν, ὡς τάχα κατὰ Ρωμανοῦ μελετῶντες. ὑπούργησε δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἐξοστρακισμὸν τῶν τοιούτων ὁ δρουγγάριος τῆς βίγλας Ἰωάννης, ὁ Κουρκούας, αἰφνίδιον συναρπάσας αὐτοὺς καὶ πλοίοις εἰς τὴν περαίαν διαβιβάσας. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 211, , 39. John Kourkouas suppresses a revolt against Romanos I: Ἐγένετο δὲ καὶ ἑτέρα τις ἀποστασία κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ἐν Χαλδίᾳ, ὑποθήκῃ τοῦ στρατηγοῦντος αὐτῆς Βάρδα πατρικίου τοῦ Βοΐλα. ἐξῆρχον δὲ τοῦ νεωτερισμοῦ Ἀδριανός τις Χάλδος καὶ Τατζάτης ὁ Ἀρμένιος, πλούσιοι σφόδρα. κατασχόντες οὖν οὗτοι φρούριον τὸ λεγόμενον Παϊπέρτε κατὰ τοῦ βασιλέως ὡπλίζοντο. ἀλλ ὀξὺς ἐπιφανείς (ἔτυχε γὰρ ἐνδημῶν ἐν Καισαρείᾳ ὁ τῶν σχολῶν ἐξηγούμενος Ἰωάννης ὁ Κουρκούας) τὴν σύστασιν διεσκέδασε, τοὺς ἐμφανεστέρους τῶν κατασχεθέντων ἀποτυφλώσας καὶ τὰς οὐσίας δημεύσας, τοὺς δὲ πενιχροὺς καὶ ἀσήμους ἀθῴους κελεύσας, ὅπῃ βούλονται, ἀπιέναι. μόνος δὲ ὁ Τατζάτης φρούριον ἐπί τινος ὑψηλοῦ λόφου κατεσκευασμένον κατεσχηκώς, καὶ λόγον τοῦ μή τι κακὸν παθεῖν δεξάμενος ἀπὸ τοῦ Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/8

5 δομεστίκου καὶ λαβών, εἰσῆλθεν ἐν τῇ βασιλίδι καὶ τῇ τοῦ μαγγλαβίτου ἀξίᾳ τιμηθεὶς ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ τῶν Μαγγάνων ἐτηρεῖτο. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 217, The capture of Melitene by John Kourkouas, according to Theophanes Continuatus: Τότε δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννης μάγιστρος καὶ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ὁ Κουρκούας, καλῶς διοικῶν τὸν Ρωμαϊκὸν στρατὸν σχεδὸν ἀπὸ τῆς ἀναρρήσεως Ρωμανοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ καταπολεμῶν καθ ἑκάστην τοὺς Ἀσσυρίους, καὶ πόλεις καὶ κάστρα καὶ κώμας καὶ χώρας αὐτῶν πορθήσας καὶ αἰχμαλώτους ποιήσας, μεθ ὧν καὶ τὸ ἐπίσημον καὶ ἐξάκουστον καὶ πάνυ ὀχυρὸν καὶ δυνατὸν κάστρον τῆς Συρίας, Μελιτινήν ὀνομαζόμενον, διαφόρως καταπολεμήσας καὶ πραιδεύσας, καὶ εἰς φροῦδον ἀπωλείας τοῦτο ποιήσας, καὶ τὰς πέριξ κώμας καὶ χώρας πυρικαύστους ἐργασάμενος, αὐτὸ τὸ ἀήττητον καὶ ἀμάχητον κάστρον παρακαθίσας καὶ ἑλεπόλεις μηχανικὰς στήσας, καὶ εἰς παντελῆ ἀπορίαν καὶ ἀμηχανίαν ἐμβαλὼν αὐτοὺς ὅ τι πράξαιεν, καὶ ἅπαξ καὶ πολλάκις πρέσβεις πρὸς τὸν δομέστικον στελλόντων καὶ λόγον αἰτούντων, ὁ συνετὸς καὶ ἐχέφρων Ἰωάννης ὁ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ὁ Κουρκούας τὰ τῶν δακρύων καὶ ἐλεεινολογιῶν καὶ τὰ τῆς τύχης σκοπήσας, οἷα τὰ ἀνθρώπινα, ὑπεῖξεν, καὶ λόγον δοὺς αὐτοῖς, ὁ Ἀπόχαψ ὁ τοῦ Ἄμερ ἔκγονος ἀμηρᾶς ὢν Μελιτινῆς, καὶ ὁ Ἀποσαλὰθ στρατηγὸς εὐγενέστατος ὢν καὶ πλούσιος ἐν Μελιτινῇ παρεγένοντο. ἀποδεχθέντες οὖν παρὰ τοῦ δομεστίκου τῶν σχολῶν Ἰωάννου, πρὸς τὸν αὐτοκράτορα τούτους ἀπέστειλεν καὶ σύμφωνα εἰρήνης ποιήσαντες ὑπέστρεψαν πρὸς τὰ ἴδια. ἔκτοτε δὲ συνεξεστράτευον τοῖς Ρωμαίοις κατὰ τῶν ὁμοφύλων Ἀγαρηνῶν, ἔν τε τοῖς ἐπινικίοις συνεισήρχοντο τοῖς Ρωμαίοις ἐν τῇ πόλει αἰχμαλώτους ἄγοντες Ἀγαρηνούς, ὅπερ ἦν θαυμαστὸν καὶ παράδοξον καὶ δεῖγμα τῆς ἀθέων Σαρακηνῶν δυστυχίας. τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἀπόχαψ, ἀνδρὸς φρονίμου καὶ συνετοῦ, διέλυσαν τὴν εἰρήνην οἱ τὴν Μελιτινὴν κατοικοῦντες. ἐκστρατεύουσιν οὖν κατ αὐτῶν πάλιν ὅ τε δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ὁ Κουρκούας Ἰωάννης μετὰ τῶν θεμάτων καὶ ταγμάτων καὶ ὁ Μελίας μετὰ τῶν Ἀρμενίων καὶ πολλὰς προνομὰς καὶ πραίδας καθ ἑκάστην ποιούμενοι, καὶ ταῖς συνεχέσιν ἐπιδρομαῖς αἰχμαλωτίζοντες τούτους καὶ ληϊζόμενοι, εἰς τοσαύτην στένωσιν τὴν Μελιτινὴν περιέστησαν ὥστε αὐτὴν συντομώτατον ἐκπορθῆσαι καὶ ἕως ἐδάφους καταστρέψαι, οὐ μόνον δὲ ταύτην ἀλλὰ καὶ τὰς ὁμόρους αὐτῇ πόλεις καὶ χώρας πολυφόρους τε καὶ πιοτάτας οὔσας καὶ οἵας πολλὰς παρέχειν προσόδους. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), p. 415, , 23. Skylitzes' account of the capture of Melitene by John Kourkouas: Ὁ δὲ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν Ἰωάννης μάγιστρος ὁ Κουρκούας, ἄγων καὶ φέρων τὰ τῆς Συρίας καὶ ἅπαν ἀντίξουν καταστρεφόμενος, καὶ πλεῖστα φρούρια καὶ ὀχυρώματα καὶ πόλεις βαρβαρικὰς καθελών, ἔφθασε καὶ μέχρι τῆς περιβοήτου Μελιτηνῆς, πολιορκίᾳ δὲ τοὺς ἔνδον στενοχωρήσας ἠνάγκασε πρὸς συμβάσεις ἰδεῖν. παρεγένετο οὖν πρὸς αὐτὸν Ἀπόχαψ ὁ τοῦ Ἄμερ ἔκγονος, ἀμηρᾶς ὑπάρχων Μελιτηνῆς, καὶ Ἀποσαλὰθ ὁ τῶν ἐν αὐτῇ κατάρχων ταγμάτων. οὓς προσδεξάμενος ὁ δομέστικος ἱλαρῶς καὶ μετὰ προσηνείας πρὸς τὸν αὐτοκράτορα ἐξαπέστειλεν. ἐντυχόντες οὖν αὐτῷ καὶ εἰρηνικὰ ποιήσαντες σύμφωνα ὑπέστρεψαν εἰς τὰ ἴδια, τοῖς φίλοις καὶ συμμάχοις Ρωμαίων καταγραφέντες καὶ μετ αὐτῶν κατὰ τῶν ὁμοφύλων καθοπλιζόμενοι. τελευτήσαντος δὲ τοῦ Ἀπόχαψ καὶ τοῦ Ἀποσαλὰθ διελύθη τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης. ἐκστρατεύει οὖν κατ αὐτῶν ὁ εἰρημένος δομέστικος, ᾧ συνῆν μετὰ τῶν Ἀρμενίων καὶ ὁ μάγιστρος ὁ Μελίας. καὶ πρότερον μὲν πολέμῳ τοὺς Μελιτηνοὺς συνήλασαν εἴσω τείχους κατατολμήσαντας ἀντιποιήσασθαι τῶν ὑπαίθρων. ἔπειτα περικαθίσαντες τὴν πόλιν καὶ μετὰ συντονίας ταύτην πολιορκήσαντες πολέμου νόμῳ κατέσχον. κατέδραμον δὲ καὶ πάντα τὰ πέριξ καὶ ἐχειρώσαντο καὶ δοῦλα Ρωμαίοις εἰργάσαντο. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 224, John Kourkouas' role in repelling the Russian invasion (941): κατῆλθε δὲ καὶ ὁ συνετώτατος καὶ ἐχέφρων Ἰωάννης ὁ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ὁ Κουρκούας μετὰ παντὸς τοῦ τῆς Ἀνατολῆς στρατεύματος, καὶ πολλοὺς τούτων διέφθειρεν ἀποσπάδας τῇδε κἀκεῖσε καταλαμβάνων, ὥστε συσταλέντας αὐτοὺς δέει τῆς αὐτοῦ ἐπιθέσεως μένειν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ παρὰ τὰ οἰκεῖα πλοῖα καὶ μηδαμοῦ παρεκτρέχειν κατατολμᾶν. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp. 424, , 3. The hostility of Romanos I's sons towards John Kourkouas: Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/8

6 Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ὁ ῥηθεὶς Ἰωάννης μάγιστρος καὶ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ἄριστος ἐγένετο εἰς τὰ πολέμια, καὶ πολλὰ καὶ μεγάλα ἀνέστησε τρόπαια, καὶ τὰ Ρωμαϊκὰ ἐπέκτεινεν ὅρια, πλείστας τε πόλεις ἐπόρθησεν τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν, καὶ διὰ τὸ περιφανὲς τῆς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἀρετῆς, ἠβουλήθη ὁ βασιλεὺς Ρωμανὸς εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἔκγονον Ρωμανὸν τὸν ἐκ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ θυγατέρα ἀναλαβεῖν. ἡ οὖν θυγάτηρ τοῦ Κουρκούα ἦν ἡ Εὐφροσύνη, ὁ δὲ υἱὸς τοῦ Κωνσταντίνου ἦν Ρωμανὸς ὁ εὐνουχισθεὶς παρὰ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Πορφυρογεννήτου, καὶ ἐτιμήθη πατρίκιος καὶ πραιπόσιτος. φθόνου δὲ αὐτῷ τῆς τοιαύτης ἕνεκεν ὑποθέσεως τῶν λοιπῶν βασιλέων κινηθέντος, παύει τῆς ἀρχῆς, εἴκοσι καὶ δύω χρόνους καὶ μῆνας ἑπτὰ δομέστικος ἀδιάδοχος τελέσας. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), p. 426, John Kourkouas' fall from grace: ἐπεὶ δὲ ὁ ῥηθεὶς Ἰωάννης μάγιστρος, ὁ Κουρκούας, ἄριστός τις ἐγένετο τὰ πολεμικὰ καὶ πολλὰ ἀνέστησε τρόπαια καὶ τὰ ῥωμαϊκὰ ἐπλάτυνεν ὅρια πλείστας τε πόλεις ἐπόρθησε τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν, διὰ τὸ περιφανὲς τῆς τοῦ ἀνδρὸς ἀρετῆς ἠβουλήθη ὁ βασιλεὺς Ρωμανὸς εἰς τὸν ἑαυτοῦ ἔγγονον Ρωμανὸν τὸν ἐκ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ τὴν τούτου θυγατέρα ἀναλαβεῖν. φθόνου δὲ αὐτῷ τῆς τοιαύτης ἕνεκεν ὑποθέσεως παρὰ τῶν λοιπῶν βασιλέων κινηθέντος ἐκπίπτει τῆς ἀρχῆς. δομέστικος δὲ ἀντικαθίσταται ὁ πατρίκιος Πανθήριος, συγγενὴς τοῦ βασιλέως ὢν Ρωμανοῦ. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), p. 337, Skylitzes' account of John Kourkouas' fall from grace: φθόνου δὲ κινηθέντος κατὰ τοῦ δομεστίκου τῶν σχολῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ Κουρκούα παρὰ τῶν ἄλλων βασιλέων (ἐβούλετο γὰρ Ρωμανὸς ὁ βασιλεὺς Εὐφροσύνην τὴν τοῦ δομεστίκου θυγατέρα νύμφην ἀγάγεσθαι τῷ οἰκείῳ ἐκγόνῳ Ρωμανῷ <τῷ υἱῷ> τοῦ ἐσχάτου παιδὸς αὐτοῦ Κωνσταντίνου) ἠναγκάσθη τῆς ἀρχῆς αὐτὸν παραλῦσαι, ἐπὶ δυσὶ καὶ εἴκοσι χρόνοις καὶ μησὶν ἑπτὰ ἀδιαδόχως τὴν τοῦ δομεστίκου ἀρχὴν ἰθύναντα, καὶ πᾶσαν, ὡς εἰπεῖν, τὴν Συρίαν καταδραμόντα καὶ ταπεινώσαντα. ὅτῳ δὲ βουλητὸν τὰ ἐκείνου μαθεῖν ἀριστείας, ζητησάτω τὴν πονηθεῖσαν βίβλον παρά τινος Μανουὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίου καὶ κριτοῦ (ἐν ὀκτὼ γὰρ βίβλοις ἐκεῖνος τὰ τούτου ἀνδραγαθήματα συνεγράψατο), καὶ ἐξ αὐτῆς εἴσεται, οἷος ἦν ὁ ἀνὴρ τὰ πολεμικά. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 230, Theophanes Continuatus praises John Kourkouas' descent and career: πλὴν οὖν ἄξιον εἰπεῖν τό τε γένος καὶ τὴν ἀγωγὴν αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ ἐπιτήδευμα καὶ τὸ φύσει τῆς ψυχῆς καὶ τοῦ σώματος αὐτοῦ καὶ τὴν πρᾶξιν, καὶ ὁποῖος πιστὸς καὶ ὀρθὸς ἀνεφάνη τῇ γενεᾷ ἡμῶν. οὗτος ἐκ γένους τῶν Ἀρμενιακῶν ἦν ἀπὸ Δόκιαν χωρίου Δαρβιδοῦν, πατρὸς μὲν τῶν οὐκ ἀσήμων, παλατίνου πάνυ πλουσίου υἱοῦ Ἰωάννου δομεστίκου τῶν ἱκανάτων. λέγεται δὲ καὶ τὰ ἱερὰ γράμματα ἐκπεπαιδεῦσθαι παρὰ Χριστοφόρου μητροπολίτου Γαγγρῶν τοῦ συγγενοῦς αὐτοῦ. ὡς ᾄδεται δὲ ὁ λόγος, ὅτι ἔφη ο ἀρχιερεὺς «οὗτος ὁ Ἰωάννης εἰς λύτρωσιν καὶ ἄνεσιν τῶν Ρωμαίων γενήσεται» πολλὰς γὰρ καὶ πλείστας πόλεις καὶ κάστρα καὶ χώρας καὶ καστέλλια καὶ τόπια τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν ἐχειρώσατο, καὶ τὴν Ρωμανίαν διπλῆν κατεστήσατο, πρότερον οὖσαν καὶ κατεχομένην ὑπὸ τῶν ἀρνητῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ μέχρι τοῦ Χαρσιανοῦ κάστρου καὶ τῆς Ὑψηλῆς καὶ τοῦ Ἅλυ ποταμοῦ. ὁ δὲ πιστὸς καὶ σπουδαῖος πρὸς Ρωμανὸν αὐτοκράτορα Ἰωάννης δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν μέχρι τοῦ Εὐφράτου καὶ τοῦ Τίγρη τὰ ὅρια τῶν Ρωμαίων ἐστήσατο καὶ προῖκα καὶ δῶρα τῇ Ρωμανίᾳ προσήνεγκεν, καὶ λαὸν καὶ στρατὸν ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐκεῖθεν προσεκτήσατο, καὶ φόρους πολλοὺς ἐτησίως λαμβάνειν ἐτύπωσεν, καὶ πολλῶν λαφύρων καὶ ἁρμάτων καὶ αἰχμαλώτων Ἀγαρηνῶν ἐκεῖθεν ἀπήνεγκεν. μεγίστοις γὰρ ἀγῶσιν ἑαυτὸν παραθεὶς τὰς πόλεις τῶν ἀρνητῶν Χριστοῦ ἐπόρθησεν καὶ τίς ἂν ἐξείπῃ κατ ὄνομα ταύτας ἃς χειρωσάμενος ὑποφόρους τοῖς Ρωμαίοις Ἰωάννης ὁ Κουρκούας καὶ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν [ἐποιήσατο;] τοῖς εἴκοσι καὶ δύο χρόνοις πόλεις χιλίας σχεδὸν καὶ πλέον κατεστήσατο καὶ τῇ Ρωμανίᾳ προσήγαγεν καὶ ἦν ἰδεῖν τὸν ἄγρυπνον Ἰωάννην τὸν Κουρκούαν ἐπὶ παρατάξεως πολεμικῆς διαλαλιαῖς καὶ παραινέσεσι πιθαναῖς τοῖς Ρωμαίοις χρώμενον, καὶ ἄλλον Τραϊανὸν ἢ Βελισάριον εἰκάσαι καὶ ὀνομάσαι τοῦτον. καὶ εἴ τις πρὸς τούτους παραθήσει τὸν ἄνδρα, εὑρήσεις πλείονας τὰς τοῦ Κουρκούα ἀνδραγαθίας καὶ ἀριστείας. οἱ δὲ λαμπρῶς ποθοῦντες καὶ θέλοντες μαθεῖν τὰς τοῦ Ἰωάννου Κουρκούα ἀριστείας καὶ συγγραφὰς εὑρήσουσιν ἐν ὀκτὼ βιβλίοις ἐκτεθείσας παρὰ Μανουὴλ πρωτοσπαθαρίου καὶ κριτοῦ. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp. 426, , 2. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/8

7 Theophanes Continuatus praises Theophilos and Romanos Kourkouas: Ἄξιον δὲ διηγήσασθαι καὶ τὰς τοῦ αὐταδέλφου μαγίστρου καὶ δομεστίκου τῶν σχολῶν Ἰωάννου τοῦ πατρικίου καὶ στρατηγοῦ Χαλδίας Θεοφίλου ἀριστείας καὶ ἀνδραγαθίας. οὗτος εἰς Χαλδίαν μονοστράτηγος γεγονὼς οὐκ ἐνέδωκεν αὐτόν, οἷα οἱ πολλοὶ τῇ τρυφῇ καὶ σπατάλῃ καὶ ἡδυπαθείᾳ χρῶνται ἀλλ ἑαυτὸν ἐκδοὺς πρὸς κόπους καὶ σκληρότητας, πρὸς τὸ τὰς κώμας καὶ χώρας τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν ληΐζεσθαι, ὥστε καὶ τοὺς οἰκοῦντας Ἀγαρηνοὺς εἰς τὸ κάστρον τὸ ἀνδρειότατον καὶ πανθαύμαστον Θεοδοσιόπολιν καὶ τὰ πέριξ αὐτοῦ κάστρα αἰχμαλώτους ἀγάγεσθαι καὶ τῷ μαγίστρῳ Ἰωάννῃ φορολογῆσαι καὶ ὑποτάξαι ἐποίησεν. ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν τῇ Μεσοποταμίᾳ ἄριστος στρατηγὸς ἀνεφαίνετο, καὶ οὐκ ἐφαίνετο μόνον ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐδείκνυτο καὶ ἄλλος Σολομὼν ὁ ἐπὶ Ἰουστινιανοῦ ἀνεφαίνετο καὶ ἐγνωρίζετο. ὃς καὶ τοῖς μετέπειτα καταλιπὼν τὸν ἔκγονον αὐτοῦ Ἰωάννην τὸν λεγόμενον Τζιμισκήν καὶ τῇ εὐφυΐᾳ καὶ ἀνδρίᾳ καὶ ἀοκνίᾳ τοῦ ἀνδρὸς πατρίκιος καὶ στρατηγὸς διαφόρων θεμάτων τιμηθείς, ἔπειτα καὶ ἐπὶ Νικηφόρου τοῦ Νικητοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ λεγομένου Φωκᾶ μάγιστρος καὶ δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν ἀνεφάνη. ὡσαύτως καὶ περὶ Ρωμανοῦ πατρικίου καὶ στρατηγοῦ διαφόρων θεμάτων, τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ μαγίστρου Ἰωάννου τοῦ λεγομένου Κουρκούα, ὃς καὶ αὐτὸς ἄριστος καὶ ἀνδρεῖος ἀνεφαίνετο. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp. 428, 3 429, 2. Skylitzes on Theophilos and Romanos Kourkouas: παραπλησίως τούτῳ καὶ Θεόφιλος ὁ τούτου ὁμαίμων, ὁ πάππος Ἰωάννου τοῦ μετὰ ταῦτα βασιλεύσαντος, τὰς ἐν Μεσοποταμίᾳ τῶν Σαρακηνῶν πόλεις διέθετο, στρατηγὸς ἐν αὐτῇ γεγονὼς καὶ ταπεινώσας καὶ τελέως ἀφανίσας τοὺς ἐκ τῆς Ἄγαρ. καὶ Ρωμανὸς δὲ ὁ πατρίκιος, ὁ τοῦ δομεστίκου Ἰωάννου υἱός, στρατηγὸς καταστὰς πολλά τε φρούρια παρεστήσατο καὶ πλείστων λαφύρων αἴτιος ὑπῆρξε τοῖς Ρωμαίοις. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 230, Skylitzes on Joseph Vringas failed attempt to win Romanos Kourkouas on his side (963): ἔδοξεν οὖν αὐτῷ λυσιτελέστατον εἶναι πρὸς Ἰωάννην μάγιστρον γράψαι τὸν Τζιμισκήν, ἄνδρα θυμοειδῆ καὶ δραστήριον ὄντα, καὶ μετὰ τὸν Φωκᾶν ἐν τοῖς Ρωμαίων ἐπισημότατον στρατηγοῖς, στρατηγὸν τηνικαῦτα τῶν Ἀνατολικῶν ὑπάρχοντα, ἔτι δὲ καὶ πρὸς τὸν μάγιστρον Ρωμανὸν τὸν Κουρκούαν, φανερώτατον καὶ ἐπίσημον καὶ αὐτὸν στρατηλάτην ὄντα τῆς ἀνατολῆς, γράμματα πέμψαι, καὶ φιλοτιμιῶν ὑποσχέσεσι καὶ δωρεῶν καὶ τιμῶν διεγεῖραι τούτους πρὸς καθαίρεσιν τοῦ Φωκᾶ. ἐγένοντο τὰ γράμματα, καὶ ὁ νοῦς τῶν γεγραμμένων ὑπῆρχεν οὗτος. εἰ διαναστάντες καθαιρήσουσι τὸν Φωκᾶν καὶ μοναχὸν ἀποκείρουσιν, ἢ τρόπον ἄλλον ἐκ μέσου ποιήσουσι, τὴν μὲν τοῦ δομεστίκου τῶν σχολῶν τῆς ἀνατολῆς μεγίστην ἀρχὴν λήψεται ὁ Ἰωάννης, τὴν δὲ τοῦ δομεστίκου τῆς δύσεως ὁ Ρωμανός. κομισθέντων οὖν τῶν γραμμάτων τοῖς δηλωθεῖσιν ἀνδράσιν, ἐπείπερ σχετικῶς ἐκεῖνοι εἶχον πρὸς τὸν Φωκᾶν, ὑπαναγινώσκουσί τε αὐτῷ εὐθέως τὰ γράμματα, καὶ διαναστῆναι πρὸς ἀλκὴν καὶ γενναῖόν τι καὶ νεανικὸν ἐννοήσασθαι παρεκάλουν. ὀκνοῦντα δὲ καὶ ἀναδυόμενον καὶ αὐτοχείρως ἠπείλουν διαχειρίσασθαι. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 256, Leo Deacon critisizes his contemporary strategos of Macedonia, John Kourkouas: Οὗτοι γὰρ, τὴν ἀπὸ τῆς Εὐρώπης τοῦ στρατηλάτου Βάρδα διαγνόντες ἄπαρσιν, ἐς τὴν Ἀσίαν παρὰ βασιλέως σταλέντος διὰ τὸν ἔναγχος ἀναῤῥιπισθέντα πρὸς τοῦ Φωκᾶ Βάρδα νεωτερισμὸν, καθάπερ μοι ἤδη ἐῤῥήθη, τὰ μέγιστα Ρωμαίους ἐσίνοντο, αἰφνιδίους ἐπεξελάσεις ποιούμενοι, καὶ τὴν τῶν Μακεδόνων ληϊζόμενοι καὶ δῃοῦντες ἀφειδῶς τοῦ τὴν ἐπιστασίαν τῆς ἐνταῦθα στρατιᾶς ἐγχειρισθέντος Ἰωάννου Μαγίστρου, ᾧ Κουρκούας ἐπώνυμον, ἐς ῥᾳστώνην καὶ πότους, παρὰ τὸ εἰκὸς, ἀποκλίναντος, ἀπείρως τε καὶ ἀμαθῶς κεχρημένου τοῖς πράγμασι. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), p. 126, Leo Deacon's account of John Kourkouas' (the strategos of Macedonia) death (971): οἱ δὲ Ρῶς συνασπίσαντες (αὖθις γὰρ ὁ λόγος, ὅθεν ἐξέβη, ἐπάνεισιν), ἐπὶ τὸ πεδίον ἐξῄεσαν, παντὶ σθένει πειρώμενοι, τὰς τῶν Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 7/8

8 Ρωμαίων πυρπολεῖν μηχανάς. οὐ γὰρ τὰς τούτων μετὰ ῥοίζου ἔστεγον ἐκπεμπομένας βολὰς, πλείστων ὁσημέραι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀφιεμένων λίθων ἀναιρουμένων Σκυθῶν. Ἰωάννης δὲ ὁ Κουρκούας καὶ Μάγιστρος, ἐκ γένους προσήκων τῷ βασιλεῖ, τὴν τῶν τοιούτων μηχανημάτων ποιούμενος φυλακὴν, τὴν μετὰ θράσους ὁρμὴν τῶν ἐναντίων ἰδὼν, καὶ ἄλλως οἴνῳ καρηβαρῶν καὶ νευστάζων (μετ ἄριστον γὰρ ἦν), ἵππου ἐπιβὰς, σὺν τοῖς ἐφεπομένοις λογάσιν ἤλαυνε κατ αὐτῶν. βόθρῳ δὲ ὁ ἵππος κατενεχθεὶς ἀποβάλλει τῶν νώτων τὸν Μάγιστρον. οἱ δὲ Σκύθαι, ἀριπρεπῆ πανοπλίαν ἰδόντες, καὶ φάλαρα τοῦ ἵππου καὶ τὴν ἄλλην σκευὴν ἐξειργασμένα λαμπρῶς (ἐτύγχανον γὰρ κατακόρως ἀληλιμμένα χρυσῷ), δόξαντες αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον εἶναι τὸν αὐτοκράτορα, ἀθρόως περιδραμόντες αὐτοῖς ὅπλοις τοῦτον τοῖς ξίφεσι καὶ πελέκεσι κατεμέλισαν ἀπηνῶς δορατίῳ τε τὴν κεφαλὴν περιπείραντες, ἐπὶ τῶν πύργων κατέπηξαν, Ρωμαίους τωθάζοντες, ὡς τὸν σφῶν βασιλέα δίκην βοσκήματος κρεουργήσαντες. ἀλλὰ τοιαῦτα μὲν Ἰωάννης ὁ Μάγιστρος ἀπηνέγκατο τὰ ἐπίχειρα, ὧν εἰς τοὺς θείους πεπαρῳνήκει σηκοὺς, θυμοῦ βαρβαρικοῦ γεγονὼς παρανάλωμα. λέγεται γὰρ πολλοὺς τῶν κατὰ Μυσίαν κεραΐσαι, καὶ τὰ τούτων ἔπιπλα καὶ σκεύη τὰ ἱερὰ εἰς ἰδιωτικὰ μετασκευάσαι κειμήλια. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp. 147, , 22. Skylitzes on Romanos Kourkouas being blinded by Emperor Constantine VIII: ἐτύφλωσε δὲ καὶ Ρωμανὸν τὸν Κουρκούαν, ἐπ ἀδελφῇ ὄντα γαμβρὸν τοῦ Προυσιάνου καὶ τὸν Βογδάνον καὶ τὸν Γλαβᾶν καὶ τὸν Γουδέλιον. ἐγλωσσοτόμησε δὲ καὶ τὸν μοναχὸν Ζαχαρίαν τὸν συγγενῆ τοῦ βέστου Θευδάτου, συσκευάζεσθαι τούτους πλασάμενος κατ αὐτοῦ. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), p. 372, Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι Eminent members of the Kourkouas family John Kourkouas Second half of the 9th century; he served as domestikos of the Hikanatoi and was very rich. John Kourkouas Grandson of the previous, first half of the 10th century, domestikos ton scholon; he excelled in the war against the Arabs and gained great fame thanks to his successful conflicts with the emir of Aleppo, Sayf ad Dawlah. Theophilos Kourkouas Brother of the previous, first half of the 10th century, strategos of Chaldia, Mesopotamia and Theodosioupolis. Romanos Kourkouas Son of John Kourkouas, second third of the 10th century, stratelates of the East, domestikos ton scholon of the West. John Kourkouas Son of the previous, second half of the 10th century, magistros, strategos of Macedonia; he was killed during a battle against the Rus in 971. John Kourkouas First half of the 11th century, anthypatos, patrikios and katepano of Italy. Romanos Kourkouas First half of the 11th century, married to the daughter of the last Bulgarian tsar, John Vladislav; he was accused of conspiring against emperor Constantine VIII and was blinded. Michael Kourkouas Patriarch of Constantinople between 1143 and Δημιουργήθηκε στις 11/1/2017 Σελίδα 8/8