Περίληψη : Άλλα Ονόματα Lekapenoi. Κύρια Ιδιότητα Dignitaries IΔΡΥΜA ΜΕΙΖΟΝΟΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ. 1. General information

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1 Περίληψη : The noble family of Lakapenoi, of Armenian origin, emerged in the political life of the empire in the second half of the 9 th century. Its highest peak is recorded in the first half of the 10 th century, when its representative Romanos Lakapenos ascended to the throne of Byzantium and his illegitimate child Basil Lakapenos was essentially responsible for the Empire s state affaires. After the 11 th century the power of the family declined and few of its members were mentioned in the sources. Άλλα Ονόματα Lekapenoi Κύρια Ιδιότητα Dignitaries 1. General information The family was of Armenian origin and was mainly active in the region of Asia Minor, as well as in Constantinople, reaching as far as the accession to the Byzantine throne, whereas certain of its members were distinguished high-ranking administrative officials as well. The surname Lakapenos appeared after their resettlement (end of 9 th century) in Lakape, a region in the middle of the route from Melitene to Samosata. The most well known members of the family were the droungarios tou ploimou and later emperor Romanos I Lakapenos of whom the accession to the throne transformed the Lakapenoi from a small provincial family to one of the most powerful noble families of the Empire in the 10 th century and his illegitimate child Basil Lakapenos. During Romanos I s reign the family played a leading role in the political life of Byzantium, whereas its influence continued during the second half of the 10 th century, this time with Basil Lakapenos. From the 11 th century the political power of the family of Lakapenoi has been reduced and their careers in high-ranking dignities declined, whereas in the late Byzantine period only few of the representatives of the family are attested in the sources. 2. Emergence of the family in the political life and the reign of Romanos I The first member of the Lakapenoi ever mentioned in the sources and the one cited as the founder of the family is Theophylaktos Abastaktos or Abaktistos. The family took the epithet Lakapenoi after the year 872, when its social status started getting improved, when Theophylaktos, during the campaign of Basil I in Tephrike, saved the emperor s life. As a reward, Basil granted him imperial estates in the region of Lakape, which became the powerbase of the family. Theophylaktos son, Romanos Lakapenos served as the general of the theme (thema) of Samos during the reign of Leon VI the Wise ( ) and later as the commander of the imperial fleet. After emperor Alexander s death (913) Romanos took advantage of the unstable political situation of the period and ascended to the throne. The legitimate heir of the throne Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos was under age and his regents, queenmother Zoe Carbopsina and the patriarch of Constantinople Nikolaos Mystikos, were unable to manage the problems the empire was facing against the Bulgarian tsar Symeon. Thus, in the beginning Romanos took over the regency (spring of 919), by giving his own daughter Helen to marriage to Constantine VII, and later (December 17 th, 920) was crowned emperor, stepping ahead of the legal heir. The presence of the Lakapenos family in the Empire s political life reached its climax during the period of Romanos I s reign. His wife Theodora was crowned augusta and his first-born son Christopher co-emperor (May 921). On Christmas day of 924 his two other sons, Stephan and Constantine, followed, whereas in 927 Christopher was set first in the succession of the throne, passing over Constantine VII. This way the Lakapenoi were seeking to put aside the Macedonian dynasty. In the meantime, from the four daughters of Romanos, Helen was the wife of Constantine VII and Mary had been married to the Bulgarian tsar Peter, heir of Symeon. In October 931 Theophylaktos, the fourth son of Romanos, which was a eunuch, was appointed patriarch of Constantinople (he stayed in this position until his death in 956), thus giving to his father the possibility to obtain the full control over Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/11

2 the Church. However, the death of Christopher Lakapenos in 931 interrupted the process of the family towards the establishment of a new dynasty. Romanos, who had set all of his hopes for succession to his first-born child, did not have the same confidence on the abilities of his two younger sons, so he decided against placing them in the course of succession before Constantine VII. The two ambitious co-emperors proceeded to an uprising against their father (December 944), aiming at the elimination of their father and of Constantine VII and at the assumption of power by themselves. This conflict inside the Lakapenos family marked the end of its hold on the imperial throne, because Constantine VII, already in a mature age, took the chance to get the Lakapenoi out of his way, and to resume power himself (January 945). Nevertheless, the return of the legitimate representative of the Macedonian dynasty to the throne did not mark the disappearance of the Lakapenoi from the political stage. Although they had been kept off the succession to the throne and the most powerful titles, they preserved important offices during the whole of the 10 th century. Michael, son of Christopher Lakapenos, became a cleric and received the title of magistros and the office of raiktor. Romanos, son of Constantine Lakapenos, became patrician and prefect (eparch), whereas another great Romanos Lakapenos, son of Stephan, is referred as sebastophoros (probably the first ever to receive this particular title). 3. The omnipotence of Basil Lakapenos The most important representative of the family during the second half of the 10 th century was Basil Lakapenos, illegitimate son of Romanos I. Basil was eunuch and started his carrier in high-ranking civil offices during the reign of Romanos I and Constantine VII, when he received for the first time the important office of parakoimomenos. After the temporary withdrawal during the reign of Romanos II ( ), he reappeared in the political stage during the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas, by receiving the title of proedros, which appeared for the first time during that period. Cooperating with John Tzimiskes in the coup of the latter one against Nikephoros II (969), he succeeded in preserving and upgrading his position in the political life. His power was so great that in 976 he organized the murder of Tzimiskes in order to raise to the throne the legitimate heirs of the Macedonian dynasty, Basil II and Constantine VIII, which were under his immediate control. The period , during of which he was the essential factor of managing the political power, constituted the climax of his power and at the same time the epilogue of the leading presence of the Lakapenoi in the political life of the empire. At the end of 985 Basil II, reacting powerfully to the authoritarian presence of his parakoimomenos, he banished him, and with him the whole family of Lakapenoi was put aside. 4. The last Lakapenoi Even after the end of Basil II s reign the family of Lakapenoi was not able to resume the principal role it possessed in the political life of the empire during the 10 th century. During the whole of the 11 th century the course of the family was declining and it seems that its members were confined to civil offices. In the sigillography of this period some Leon Lakapenos is mentioned, possessing the title of spatharokoubikoularios and the office of logariastes, whereas in the first half of the 12 th century a Constantine Lakapenos is referred, for which we do not know the title and the office. In the early 14 th century George Lakapenos, pupil of Maximos Planoudes, was a writer and a teacher. 1 From his works we know the Epistolarion, a collection of epistles from his correspondence with Andronicos Zarides, a scholar and Planoudes pupil, John Zarides, Michael Gabras and the physician John Aktouarios, a correspondence that he used as a manual for the teaching of grammar as well. Beside these, he published a collection of 264 epistles of Libanius and he composed collections of grammatical remarks and commentaries to the first two books of Iliad and to the Encheiridion (or The Manual) of Epictetus. 1. Οικονόμου, Κ.Γ., «Χωρία αρχαίων συγγραφέων στις Επιστολές του Γεωργίου Λακαπηνού και του Ανδρόνικου Ζαρίδη και στους Επιμερισμούς του Λακαπηνού», Βυζαντινά 18 ( ), p Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/11

3 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 Μιχαήλ Ψελλός, Χρονογραφία, Renauld, É. (ed.), Michael Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d un siècle de Byzance ( ), Ι-ΙΙ, Paris (ανατ. 1967) Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner-Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 1-3, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 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 Κωνσταντίνος Πορφυρογέννητος, Προς τον ίδιον υιόν Ρωμανόν, Moravcsik, G. Jenkins, R.J.H. (eds), Constantine Porphyrogenitus. De Administrando Imperio, Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 1, Washington, D.C 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 Brokkaar W. G., "Basil Lakapenus - Byzantium in the Tenth Century", Studia byzantina et neohellenica Neerlandica, 3, 1972, Οικονόμου Κ.Γ., "Χωρία αρχαίων συγγραφέων στις «Επιστολές» του Γεωργίου Λακαπηνού και του Ανδρόνικου Ζαρίδη και στους «Επιμερισμούς» του Λακαπηνού", Βυζαντινά, 18, , Κουρούζης Σ., Το επιστολάριον του Γεωργίου Λακαπηνού και του Ανδρόνικου Ζαρίδη ( ) και ο ιατρός-ακτουάριος Ιωάννης Ζαχαρίας ( ), μελέτη φιλολογική, Αθήνα Müller A. E., "Das Testament des Romanos I. Lakapenos", Byzantinische Zeitschrift, 92, 1999, Grègoire H., "Le Lieu de naissance de Romain Lécapène et de Digenis Acritas", Byzantion, 8, 1933, Γλωσσάριo : Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/11

4 augusta A formal title bestowed by an emperor on his wife, the empress, frequently after the birth of a son and heir. Rarely and extraordinary the title was bestowed on distinguished personages who belong to the emperor s family. droungarios tou ploimou ("droungarios of the fleet") Commander of the byzantine fleet stationed Constantinople. Droungarios tou ploimou is first mentioned in the midle 9th C (Taktikon of Uspenski). grand logariastes A higher imperial official. the office was introduced by Alexios I Komnenos ( ). The grand logariastes functioned as primary coordinator and controller of all fiscal services. 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. parakoimomenos Τhe guardian of the imperial private chambers. This high office was given usually to eunuchs that were persons of confidence, since they could not ascend to the throne. From the 9th and up to the 11th century, this office assumed a great importance and there were παρακοιμώμενοι that played important roles in the course of the empire, such as Joseph Bringa. praefectus urbi (prefect of the city) (later referred to as the eparch of the city) Αdministrator and virtual governor of Constantinople in the Early/Middle Byzantine Era. He was responsible for the surveillance and the harmonius life of the Capital. One of his responsibilities was to control the commercial and manufacturing activities of Constantinople. After 1204, however, the office began to diminish, while from the 14th century, his responsibilities were assumed by two officers, the so-called kephalatikeuontai of the capital. proedros A high office of the Byzantine court, first known under Nikephoros II Phokas. The responsibilities of the proedros are rather uncertain. In the 11th c. the title was accorded oftenly, but it disapears after the 12th c. As an ecclesiastical office, proedros was equal to a metropolitan and was accorded to the regent metropolitan of a bishopric or a metropolitan see, until the election of a hierarch there. raiktor A higher official of the Byzantine imperial administration, responsible for managing the imperial palace. sebastophoros Honorary title or dignity of the imperial hierarchy of Byzantium, which is attested for the first time shortly after the middle of the 10th C. His responsibilities are not known, but it is assumed that he had the priviledge to carry the imperial banner. spatharokoubikoularios Spatharokoubikoularios was a title for eunuch koubikoularioi who had also the rank of spatharios. They served at the court and they formed the emperor's ceremonial guard of honour for official occasions. Lead seals belonging to various spatharokoubikoularioi have been preserved and they date to the 11th and the 12th centuries. 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. Πηγές Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp , , , , , , , Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), pp , Moravcsik, Gy. Jenkins, R.J.H. (eds), Constantine Porphyrogenitus, De Administrando Imperio 2 (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 1, Washington 1967), pp Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp , , Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/11

5 Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp , , , Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d'un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp , 12, Παραθέματα The historian Symeon Magistros describes the rise of the founder of the Lakapenos family, Theophylaktos Abastaktos: ἐστράτευσε δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς κατὰ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν τῶν εἰς Τιβρικὴν καὶ πόλεμον συνάψας ἡττήθη. καὶ πολλάκις συμβαλὼν Ἀγαρηνοῖς πολλοὺς τῶν Ρωμαίων ἀπεβάλετο. ἐν δὲ τῇ τοιαύτῃ φυγῇ τοῦ βασιλέως Θεοφύλακτος ὁ Ἀβάστακτος, ὁ πατὴρ Ρωμανοῦ τοῦ μετὰ ταῦτα βασιλεύσαντος, διέσωσε τὸν βασιλέα παρὰ μικρὸν ὑπὸ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν κρατούμενον ὃν ἐπιζητήσας ὁ βασιλεὺς μετὰ ταῦτα καὶ εὑρὼν καὶ γνωρίσας (πολλοὶ γὰρ ἔλεγον τῷ βασιλεῖ, ὅτι ἐγώ εἰμι), ὁ δὲ τὴν τιμὴν ἀφεὶς τόπον βασιλικὸν ᾐτήσατο, οὗ καὶ τετύχηκεν. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), pp Theophanes Continuatus refers to the actions of Romanos Lakapenos as droungarios tou ploimou and to his near blinding: ἀπεστάλη δὲ καὶ Ρωμανὸς πατρίκιος δρουγγάριος ὢν τῶν πλωΐμων μετὰ παντὸς τοῦ στόλου ἐν τῷ Δανουβίῳ ποταμῷ βοηθῆσαι Λέοντι τῷ Φωκᾷ ἀλλὰ καὶ Ἰωάννης ὁ Βογᾶς καταγαγεῖν Πατζινάκας, ὡς εἴρηται. κελευσθέντος δὲ τοῦ δρουγγαρίου Ρωμανοῦ τούτους διαπερᾶσαι κατὰ Βουλγάρων ὥστε συμμαχῆσαι Λέοντι τῷ Φωκᾷ, Ρωμανοῦ δὲ καὶ Ἰωάννου εἰς ἔριδας καὶ λογομαχίας ἐλθόντων, ὁρῶντες αὐτοὺς οἱ Πατζινάκαι πρὸς ἀλλήλους διαμαχομένους καὶ συστασιάζοντας ὑπεχώρησαν εἰς τὰ ἴδια. τοῦ πολέμου δὲ τέλος λαβόντος, καὶ ὑποστρεψάντων ἐν τῇ πόλει τοῦ τε Ρωμανοῦ καὶ τοῦ Βογᾶ, τὰ καθ ἑαυτῶν ἐκινήθησαν καὶ εἰς τοσοῦτον κίνδυνον τὸν δρουγγάριον Ρωμανὸν περιέστησαν, ὥστε καὶ καταδικάζουσαν ψῆφον ἐξήνεγκαν τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν στερηθῆναι ὡς ἀμελείᾳ, μᾶλλον δὲ κακουργίᾳ μὴ διαπεράσαντα τοὺς Πατζινάκας, ἀλλ ὑποχωρήσαντα τάχιον καὶ μηδὲ τοὺς φεύγοντας Ρωμαίων ἐν τοῖς πλοίοις ὑποδεξάμενον. καὶ τοῦτο ἂν ἐπεπόνθει, εἰ μὴ παρὰ Κωνσταντίνου πατρικίου τοῦ Γογγύλη καὶ Στεφάνου μαγίστρου, ὡς δυναμένων παρὰ τῇ Αὐγούστῃ πολλά, τὰ τῆς καταδίκης ἀνετράπη. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Symeon Magistros describes the seize of power by Romanos Lakapenos ( ): τούτων οὖν τῷ λαῷ ὑπαναγνωσθέντων ἤρξαντο πάντες ὑποχωρεῖν και τῷ βασιλεοπάτορι προσρύεσθαι Ρωμανῷ. τοῦ δὲ Φωκᾶ εἰς ἀμήχανον περιστάντος καὶ ἀπογνόντος, ὡς πάσης ἐλπίδος ἠστοχηκότος, καὶ χρησαμένου φυγῇ καὶ πρὸς τὸ κάστρον Ἀτεοῦς παραγενομένου καὶ μὴ δεχθέντος, ἐν χωρίῳ δὲ ὀνομαζομένῳ Γοηλέοντι φεύγοντι συλληφθέντος, ἀπέστειλε Ρωμανὸς Ἰωάννην τὸν Τουβάκην καὶ Λέοντα τὸν αὐτοῦ συγγενῆ, ὥστε εἰσαγαγεῖν αὐτὸν ἐν τῇ πόλει. οἱ δὲ τοῦτον κρατήσαντες ἀπετύφλωσαν, καίτοι μηδεμίαν περὶ τούτου δεξάμενοι ἐντολήν, ἀλλ αὐθαιρέτῳ γνώμῃ τοῦτο πεποιηκότες, ὡς ἀγανακτῆσαι ἐπὶ τούτῳ καὶ τὸν βασιλεοπάτορα Ρωμανόν. Αὐγούστῳ δὲ μηνὶ κατεμηνύθη τὰ τῆς ἐπιβουλῆς Κωνσταντίνου Κτηματινοῦ καὶ Δαυὶδ Καμουλιανοῦ καὶ Μιχαὴλ κουράτορος τῶν Μαγγάνων, καὶ τυφθέντες οὗτοι καὶ δημευθέντες διὰ μέσης διῆλθον τῆς πόλεως καὶ ἐξορίᾳ παρεπέμφθησαν. ἤγαγον δὲ Λέοντα μάγιστρον καὶ δομέστικον τῶν σχολῶν ἐν τῇ πόλει, καὶ διῆλθεν ἐν μέση τῇ ἀγορᾷ ἡμιόνῳ ἐφεζόμενος. ἐφωράθη δὲ καὶ Ζωὴ αὐγούστα ἐπιβουλεύουσα Ρωμανῷ διὰ πεφαρμαγμένων βρωμάτων ὑπὸ Θεοκλήτου, νοταρίου τῆς ὑπουργίας, συσκευασθέντων καὶ ταύτην τοῦ παλατίου καταβιβάζουσιν καὶ εἰς τὸ Πετρίον ἀπάγουσι, τῇ τῆς ἁγίας Εὐφημίας μονῇ ἀποκείραντες. 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. εἰκάδι δὲ τετάρτῃ Σεπτεμβρίου μηνὸς τιμᾶται Ρωμανὸς τῇ τοῦ καίσαρος ἀξίᾳ καὶ Δεκεμβρίῳ μηνί, ἑπτὰ καὶ δεκάτῃ τοῦ μηνός, τῇ τῶν προπατόρων Κυριακῇ, τῷ τῆς βασιλείας στέφεται διαδήματι παρὰ Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/11

6 Κωνσταντίνου βασιλέως καὶ Νικολάου πατριάρχου. Wahlgren, S. (ed.), Symeonis Magistri et Logothetae Chronicon (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 44:1, Berlin New York 2006), pp Theophanes Continuatus refers to the coronation of Theodora Lakapene and of her son Christopher: Ἐν ἔτει Ϛυκη, ἰνδικτιῶνος η καὶ Ἰανουαρίῳ Ϛ, τῇ τῶν ἁγίων φώτων ἡμέρᾳ στέφει Θεοδώραν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ. Μαΐῳ δὲ μηνὶ ιζ στέφει Χριστόφορον τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ διὰ βασιλέως τῇ τῆς ἁγίας πεντηκοστῆς ἡμέρᾳ, καὶ μόνοι δύο ἐν τῇ αὐτῇ προελεύσει προῆλθον. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Reference to the coronation of Romanos Lakapenos sons in the chronographical work of Theophanes Continuatum: Δεκεμβρίῳ δὲ μηνὶ κε ἔστεψε Ρωμανὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ μεγάλῃ ἐκκλησίᾳ, Στέφανόν τε καὶ Κωνσταντῖνον ἀλλὰ καὶ Θεοφύλακτον υἱὸν αὐτοῦ ὁ πατριάρχης Νικόλαος ἀπέκειρεν κληρικόν, χειροτονήσας ὑποδιάκονον σύγγελόν τε προχειρισάμενος, διελθόντα πρότερον ἐν τῷ τῶν ὑποδιακόνων τάγματι εἰς τὰ ἅγια. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Theophanes Continuatum describes the consecration of the patriarch Theophylaktos Lakapenos (931): Χειροτονεῖται δὲ πατριάρχης ὁ ῥηθεὶς τοῦ βασιλέως υἱὸς Θεοφύλακτος, Φεβρουαρίῳ μηνὶ δευτέρᾳ ἰνδικτιῶνος ἕκτης, τοῦ πατρῴου φρονήματος ἐφ ἅπασιν ἐξερχόμενος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῖς πρόσω παρεκτεινόμενος κατορθώμασι μετὰ καὶ τῆς προσούσης ἐλλογιμότητος, τοποτηρητῶν ἐκ Ρώμης ἀνελθόντων καὶ τόμον συνοδικὸν ἐπιφερόμενοι περὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ χειροτονίας διαγορεύοντα οἳ καὶ πατριαρχικῷ θρόνῳ τοῦτον ἐνίδρυσαν. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Theophanes Continuatum describes the fall of Romanos Lakapenos (944): Ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Ρωμανὸς μακρῷ γήρει καὶ νόσῳ τρυχόμενος τὰ τῆς βασιλείας κατὰ διαθήκας ἀπακριβάζεται καὶ ἄνακτα πρῶτον κατὰ διαθήκας τὸν πορφυρογέννητον Κωνσταντῖνον προσδιορίζεται, ἐν ἔτει ἑξάκις χιλιοστῷ τετρακοσιοστῷ πεντηκοστῷ τρίτῳ, καὶ καθεξῆς ἐν δευτέρῳ καὶ τρίτῳ τοὺς τούτου υἱούς, τὰ πρὸς αὐτοὺς ῥητῶς διασφαλισάμενος, ὡς εἴπερ τῷ πρώτῳ βασιλεῖ κατά τι προσπταίσειαν, καθαιρεῖσθαι παραυτίκα τῆς βασιλείας. Ἐπεὶ δὲ πολλοῖς τρόποις ὁ θεὸς βούλεται σώζειν τὸν ἄνθρωπον, συνεχώρησε Ρωμανὸν βασιλέα συμφορᾷ ἀδοκήτῳ προσπεσεῖν, ἵνα δι αὐτῆς σωφρονισθεὶς καὶ τῶν οἰκείων ἐν συναισθήσει παραπτωμάτων γενόμενος σωτηρίας ἀξιωθῇ. συνεχώρησε γὰρ ἐπαναστῆναι αὐτῷ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Στέφανον, ὥσπερ ποτὲ Ἀβεσσαλὼμ ἐπανέστη Δαβὶδ τῷ οἰκείῳ πατρί. συμβούλοις οὖν οὗτος πρὸς τοῦτο χρησάμενος τῷ τε ἀπὸ μοναχῶν Μαριανῷ τῷ Ἀργυρῷ καὶ Βασιλείῳ τῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ τῷ Πετεινῷ καὶ Μανουὴλ τῷ Κουρτίκη, συνειδότων αὐτῷ καὶ τῶν ἄλλων βασιλέων, τοῦτον τοῦ παλατίου κακῶς κατήγαγεν καὶ ἐν τῇ Πρώτῃ νήσῳ ἐξορίσας ἀπέκειρεν μοναχόν. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp The arrest and the exile of Romanos Lakapenos sons as it is described in the chronographical work of Theophanes Continuatum: Μετὰ δὲ τεσσαράκοντα ἡμέρας, τῇ εἰκάδι ἑβδόμῃ τοῦ Ἰανουαρίου μηνός, ὑποπτεύσας Κωνσταντῖνος τόν τε βασιλέα Στέφανον καὶ Κωνσταντῖνον τὸν αὐτοῦ ἀδελφόν, μή ποτε καὶ κατ αὐτοῦ τὰ ὅμοια διαπράξωνται, καὶ λογισάμενος ὅπερ ἦν εἰκός, ὅτι εἰ τοῦ ἰδίου πατρὸς οὐκ ἐφείσαντο, πῶς αὐτοῦ φείσωνται, ἑστιάσας αὐτούς, ἤδη ἐν τῇ τραπέζῃ καὶ καθεζομένους, ἔτι τῆς βρώσεως οὔσης ἐν τῷ στόματι αὐτῶν, ἀνήρπασαν οὗτοι οἱ λεγόμενοι Τορνίκιοι καὶ ὁ πατρίκιος Μαριανὸς καὶ οἱ λοιποὶ οἱ πρὸς τοῦτο ηὐτρεπισμένοι, καὶ τοῦ παλατίου κατήγαγον καὶ ἐν ταῖς πλησιαζούσαις νήσοις τούτους περιώρισαν καὶ κληρικοὺς ἀπέκειραν. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 6/11

7 Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Negative comments of the erudite emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos for his forbearer Romanos I: Ὁ κύρις Ρωμανός, ὁ βασιλεύς, ἰδιώτης καὶ ἀγράμματος ἄνθρωπος ἦν, καὶ οὔτε τῶν ἄνωθεν ἐν βασιλείοις τεθραμμένων, οὔτε τῶν παρηκολουθηκότων ἐξ ἀρχῆς τοῖς Ρωμαϊκοῖς ἐθισμοῖς, οὔτε ἀπὸ γένους βασιλείου καὶ εὐγενοῦς, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο αὐθαδέστερον καὶ ἐξουσιαστικώτερον τὰ πολλὰ κατεπράττετο, καὶ ἐν τούτῳ οὔτε τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ ἀπαγορευούσῃ ὑπήκουσεν, οὔτε τῇ ἐντολῇ καὶ διαταγῇ τοῦ μεγάλου Κωνσταντίνου κατηκολούθησεν, ἀλλ ἐκ γνώμης αὐθάδους καὶ αὐτοβούλου καὶ τῶν καλῶν ἀμαθοῦς καὶ μὴ βουλομένης ἕπεσθαι τῷ πρέποντι καὶ καλῷ, μηδὲ ταῖς πατροπαραδότοις στοιχεῖν διατάξεσιν τοῦτο ποιῆσαι τετόλμηκεν, ταύτην μόνην εὔλογον δηλονότι προβαλλόμενος πρόφασιν, τοσοῦτον πλῆθος αἰχμαλώτων Χριστιανῶν διὰ τῆς τοιαύτης πράξεως ἀναρρύεσθαι, καὶ τὸ Χριστιανοὺς εἶναι καὶ τοὺς Βουλγάρους <καὶ> ὁμοπίστους ἡμῶν, ἄλλως τε καὶ ὅτι οὐδὲ αὐτοκράτορος καὶ ἐνθέσμου βασιλέως θυγάτηρ ἡ ἐκδιδομένη ἐτύγχανεν, ἀλλὰ τρίτου καὶ ἐσχάτου καὶ ἔτι ὑποχειρίου καὶ μηδεμίαν ἐξουσίαν ἐν τοῖς τῆς ἀρχῆς μετέχοντος πράγμασι καὶ οὐδὲν διέφερεν τὸ τοιοῦτον τοῦ καὶ ἄλλην τινὰ τῶν βασιλικῶν συγγενίδων, τῶν πορρωτέρω τε καὶ ἐγγὺς τῆς βασιλείας εὐγενείας τυγχανουσῶν, καὶ διά τινα κοινωφελῆ δουλείαν, καὶ τοῦ ἐσχάτου καὶ μηδὲν σχεδὸν ἐξουσιάζοντος. Ἐπεὶ ἔξω τοῦ κανόνος καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησιαστικῆς παραδόσεως καὶ τῆς τοῦ μεγάλου καὶ ἁγίου βασιλέως Κωνσταντίνου διαταγῆς τε καὶ ἐντολῆς τοῦτο πεποίηκεν, πολλὰ καὶ ζῶν ὠνειδίσθη ὁ προρρηθεὶς κύρις Ρωμανός, καὶ διεβλήθη καὶ ἐμισήθη παρά τε τῆς συγκλήτου βουλῆς καὶ τοῦ δήμου παντὸς καὶ τῆς ἐκκλησίας αὐτῆς, ὡς καὶ τὸ μῖσος ἀπὸ τοῦ τέλους γενέσθαι καταφανές, καὶ μετὰ θάνατον ὁμοίως ἐξουθενεῖται καὶ διαβάλλεται καὶ ὑπὸ καταγνώμην τίθεται καὶ οὗτος, ἀνάξιον πρᾶγμα καὶ ἀπρεπὲς εἰς τὴν εὐγενῆ πολιτείαν Ρωμαίων καινοτομήσας. Moravcsik, Gy. Jenkins, R.J.H. (eds), Constantine Porphyrogenitus, De Administrando Imperio 2 (CFHB 1, Washington 1967), pp Constantine Porphyrogennetos appoints Basil Lakapenos as parakoimomenos: Μετὰ δὲ τὸ μόνον καταλειφθῆναι αὐτοκράτορα Κωνσταντῖνον, προεχειρίσατο Βασίλειον τὸν πρωτοβεστιάριον αὐτοῦ, τὸν ἀπὸ παλλακῆς φυσικὸν υἱὸν Ρωμανοῦ τοῦ πρὸ αὐτοῦ βασιλέως, πατρίκιον καὶ παρακοιμώμενον καὶ παραδυναστεύοντα τῆς συγκλήτου. οὗτος δὲ ἦν ἐχέφρων καὶ λόγιος, καὶ τῷ βασιλεῖ ἐν πᾶσιν ὑπηρέτει αἰσίως καὶ πρεπόντως. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp Theophanes Continuatum refers to the expedition of Basil Lakapenos against the city of Samosata: Τὸν δὲ πατρίκιον καὶ παρακοιμώμενον Βασίλειον ὁ πορφυρογέννητος κατὰ τοῦ ἀθέου Χαμβαδᾶ μετὰ ἐκστρατείας καὶ δυνάμεως λαοῦ καὶ πολλῆς ἐξοπλίσεως ἀποστέλλει. καὶ δὴ ταῖς ἐκείνου θεοπνεύστοις βουλαῖς καθοπλισθείς, τῆς βασιλικῆς οἰκίας καὶ τοῦ Βυζαντίου ἀπάρας, πρὸς τὰς τῶν ἀρνητῶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ γίνεται χώρας, καὶ πρῶτα μὲν πόλιν πορθεῖ Σαμοσάτων, Σύροις πάλαι κατῳκισμένην καὶ πρὸς τὴν ὄχθαν τοῦ Εὐφράτου παρακειμένην, δυσπόρθητον οὖσαν καὶ πολυάνθρωπον καὶ πλούτῳ πολλῷ ἐπιβρίθουσαν. Bekker, I. (ed.), Theophanes Continuatus (Bonn 1838), pp The historian Leo the Deacon, contemporaneous to the events, describes Basil Lakapenos contribution to Nikephoros Phocas accession to the throne: ἐκ τούτου παῤῥησίαν ὁ Βασίλειος εἰληφώς, ὃς ἐκτομίας μὲν ἦν καὶ τῷ τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου καὶ αὐτὸς ἐπὶ τῶν τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος Κωνσταντίνου καιρῶν ἐνδιέπρεψεν ἀξιώματι, νόθος υἱὸς ἐκ Σκυθίδος τῷ παλαιοτάτῳ αὐτοκράτορι Ρωμανῷ γεννηθείς, δραστήριος δέ, καὶ τὸ παριστάμενον αὑτῷ εἰς ἔργον ἐξενεγκεῖν προμηθέστατος, ἅτε τὸ γένος ἔχων ἐπίμικτον τότε δὲ διάφορός τε, καὶ ἄλλως δύσνους τῷ Ἰωσὴφ διακείμενος, τοὺς οἰκογενεῖς θώραξι καὶ μίτραις, κράνεσί τε καὶ πέλταις, ὑσσοῖς τε και ξίφεσι καθοπλίσας, ὑπὲρ τοὺς τρισχιλίους χρηματίζοντας, τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ Ἰωσὴφ καὶ τῶν αὐτῷ συνεργούντων ἅμα τῷ δήμῳ ἐπιτίθεται. καὶ εἰς διαρπαγὴν καὶ προνομὴν καὶ ἐρείπωσιν ταύτας περιστήσας ἐπὶ τὰ νεώρια ὥρμησεν, ἐκεῖθέν τε τὰς πυρφόρους τριήρεις, συνευδοκοῦντος τοῦ δήμου καὶ τῆς συγκλήτου, πρὸς τὸν Νικηφόρον ὁρμίσασθαι παρεσκεύασεν. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 7/11

8 Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp John Skylitzes in his historical work analyzes the role of Basil Lakapenos in the prevalence of Nikephoros Phocas: οὔπω παρῆλθεν ὁλόκληρος ἡμέρα, ἀφ οὗ τοῦτο εἴρηκε (κυριακὴ γὰρ ἦν, ἐννάτην ἄγοντος τοῦ Αὐγούστου μηνός), καὶ τῇ ἑσπέρᾳ τῆς αὐτῆς ἡμέρας Βασίλειος ὁ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ βασιλέως παρακοιμώμενος, δυσμενὴς καὶ ἔχθιστος ὢν τῷ Ἰωσήφ, τοῖς ἑαυτοῦ φίλοις καὶ συγγενέσι τοὺς οἰκείους μίξας θεράποντας κατὰ πολλὰ μέρη τῆς πόλεως πέπομφεν εἰς τοὺς οἴκους τῶν ἀντιπραττόντων αὐτῷ. καὶ ἀπὸ πρώτης ὥρας τῆς δευτέρας ἡμέρας μέχρις ἕκτης κατέστρεψαν καὶ ἐξηδάφισαν οἰκίας πλείστας τῶν πολιτῶν, ὧν ἐπισημοτέρα ἦν ἡ τοῦ Ἰωσήφ. οὐ γὰρ μόνον τῶν ἀντιβαίνειν δοκούντων ἐμφανῶν καὶ πολιτικῶν ἀνδρῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ πολλῶν ἄλλων εὐτελεστέρων, ὧν οὐκ ἀριθμητὸν τὸ πλῆθος, οἰκίαι κατεσκάφησαν. ᾧ γάρ ποτε διαφορὰ μετά τινος ἦν, πλῆθος ἀτάκτων μεθ ἑαυτοῦ ἐπαγόμενος, μηδενὸς κωλύοντος, τοῦτον ἠφάνιζε. πολλοὶ δ ἐν τῇ τοιαύτῃ ἀταξίᾳ καὶ ἄνθρωποι ἐφονεύθησαν. ταῦτα δὲ ποιοῦντες ἐν τε ταῖς πλατείαις τῆς πόλεως λεωφόροις ἔν τε ταῖς ἀγοραῖς ἔν τε τοῖς στενωποῖς Νικηφόρον ἀνευφήμουν καλλίνικον. τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον ἐξάγει μὲν τῆς μεγάλης ἐκκλησίας Βάρδαν τὸν πατέρα τοῦ Φωκᾶ, φυγάδα οἰκτρὸν καὶ ὅσον οὐδέπω τὸν κίνδυνον ἐκδεχόμενον, Ἰωσήφ τε τὸν παρακοιμώμενον, τὸν πρὸ τοῦ μεγάλα φυσῶντα καὶ ἐπαιρόμενον, εἰς αὐτὴν ἀντεισάγει ἱκέτην ἐλεεινὸν καὶ τὴν ἑαυτοῦ σωτηρίαν ἀμφίβολον ἔχοντα. οἱ δὲ περὶ τὸν παρακοιμώμενον Βασίλειον τριήρεις καταρτίσαντες καὶ τὸν βασιλικὸν εἰληφότες δρόμωνα μετὰ παντὸς τοῦ στόλου περαιούνται ἐν Χρυσοπόλει, καὶ τὸν Νικηφόρον ἐκεῖθεν ἀναλαβόμενοι ἄγουσιν εἰς τὸ Ἕβδομον, αὐτόθεν τε αὐτοί τε καὶ πᾶς ὁ δῆμος τῆς πόλεως μετ εὐφημιῶν καὶ κρότων καὶ σαλπίγγων καὶ κυμβάλων δημοσίας γενομένης προόδου διὰ τῆς Χρυσῆς πόρτης εἰσάγουσιν εἰς τὴν βασιλίδα. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Basil Lakapenos sides with John Tzimiskes (969): Τοῦ δὲ αὐτοκράτορος Νικηφόρου τὸν τρόπον, ὃν εἴρηταί μοι, ἀναιρεθέντος, τὰς τῆς βασιλείας ἡνίας Ἰωάννης, ὁ κατ ἐπίκλησιν Τζιμισκῆς, ὑποζώννυται. ἤδη δὲ τετάρτης φυλακῆς τῆς νυκτὸς ἀρχομένης, ἑβδόμης ἡμέρας διαφανούσης, ἑνδεκάτης τελούσης τοῦ Δεκεμβρίου μηνός, κατὰ τὴν τρισκαιδεκάτην ἴνδικτον τοῦ ἑξακισχιλιοστοῦ τετρακοσιοστοῦ ἑβδομηκοστοῦ ὀγδόου ἔτους, λογάδων ἀνδρῶν στίφος, διὰ τῶν ἀγυιῶν τοῦ ἄστεος διερχόμενον, αὐτοκράτορα Ρωμαίων τὸν Ἰωάννην σὺν τοῖς τοῦ ἤδη βασιλεύσαντος Ρωμανοῦ παισὶν ἀνηγόρευον οἷς ἐκ διαστήματος ἐφείπετο Βασίλειος ὁ Νόθος, Ρωμανοῦ τοῦ πάλαι αὐτοκράτορος ἐκ Σκυθίδος υἱός, τῷ τοῦ προέδρου ἐκδιαπρέπων ἀξιώματι. Νικηφόρος δὲ, μόνος τῶν λοιπῶν σεβαστῶν, ἐς γέρας τῷ ἀνδρὶ ταύτην ἐκαινοτόμησε τὴν τιμήν ὅσπερ, εἰ καὶ ἐκτομίας ἐτύγχανεν, ἀλλὰ τὴν ἄλλως δραστήριός τε καὶ ἀγχίνους ὑπῆρχεν ἀνήρ, εὐφυῶς τοῖς πράγμασιν ἐν περιστάσεσιν ἁρμοττόμενος. συνωμότης δὲ ὢν Ἰωάννῃ, καὶ λίαν ἐκτόπως αὐτῷ φιλικῶς διακείμενος, ἐσκήπτετο πρότερον νοσεῖν, κἄπειτα πονήρως εἶχε, καὶ κλινοπετὴς ἦν. νύχιον οὖν τὴν τοῦ Νικηφόρου μεμαθηκὼς ἀναίρεσιν, τῷ προειληφότι στίφει μετὰ σπείρας γενναίων νεανίσκων ἐπισπόμενος, σεβαστὸν βασιλέα Ρωμαίων τὸν Ἰωάννην ἀνεκήρυττεν εἰς τὰ βασίλειά τε αὖθις ἀνῄει, καὶ περὶ τῶν κοινῶν Ἰωάννῃ συνέπραττε, τὴν τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου πρὸς ἐκείνου τιμὴν εἰληφώς. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp The historian John Scylitzes refers to the cooperation of Basil Lakapenos with the new emperor John I: εὐθὺς οὖν Βασίλειον τὸν παρακοιμώμενον, ὃν Νικηφόρος ὁ βασιλεὺς οὐ μικρὰ συμβαλλόμενον αὐτῷ πρὸς τὴν τῆς βασιλείας κατάσχεσιν πρόεδρον τετίμηκε, μήπω πρότερον ὄντος τοῦ ἀξιώματος, πρώτου δ αὐτοῦ τοῦτο ἐφευρηκότος, νυκτὸς μεταπεμψάμενος κοινωνὸν τῆς ἀρχῆς προσελάβετο, ἅτε ἐν πολλοῖς χρόνοις τά τε πολιτικὰ μετελθόντα ἐπὶ τοῦ οἰκείου πατρὸς Ρωμανοῦ τοῦ γέροντος καὶ Κωνσταντίνου τοῦ Πορφυρογεννήτου τοῦ γαμβροῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πλειστάκις κατὰ τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν ἐκστρατεύσαντα, καὶ δυσχερείαις πραγμάτων εἰδότα εὐφυῶς προσαρμόζεσθαι. ὃς εὐθὺς τὴν ἐπιτροπὴν εἰληφὼς τῶν πραγμάτων πάντας τοὺς εὔνοιαν τῷ Νικηφόρῳ φυλάττοντας ἐκ μέσου πεποίηκε, Λέοντα μὲν τὸν κουροπαλάτην ἐν Λέσβῳ περιορίσας καὶ Νικηφόρον βέστην τὸν τούτου υἱὸν ἐν τῇ Ἴμβρῳ, Βάρδαν δὲ τὸν νεώτερον δοῦκα τότε Χαλδίας καὶ Κολωνείας τυγχάνοντα τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀφελόμενος ἐν Ἀμασείᾳ παρέπεμψε γράμμασι. καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους δέ, ὅσοι πολιτικὰς ἢ στρατιωτικὰς μετῄεσαν ἀρχὰς τῶν ἀρχῶν παραλύσας, οἰκείους ἐπέστησε και τῷ νέῳ βασιλεῖ φυλάττοντας εὔνοιαν, τοῖς τε παρὰ τοῦ Νικηφόρου φυγαδευθεῖσι κάθοδον ἐπιτρέπει, καὶ πρό γε τῶν ἄλλων τοῖς ἀρχιερεῦσι, τῷ μὴ θέλειν ὑπογράψαι τῷ τόμῳ, ὃν εἰς κατατομὴν καὶ ὕβριν τῆς ἐκκλησίας ἐξεῦρεν ἐκεῖνος ἐξορισθεῖσιν, ὡς ἤδη φθάσας ὁ λόγος ἱστόρησεν. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 8/11

9 Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp John Scylitzes describes a depreciatory report of the empresses Theodora about the origin of Basil Lakapenos: εὐθέως οὖν ὁ Ἰωάννης ἐκείνους τε ἐξῶσε τῆς πόλεως καὶ τὴν Θεοφανὼ ἐν Προικοννήσῳ ἐξώρισεν. ἥτις ἐκεῖθεν ὕστερον λάθρᾳ φυγοῦσα καὶ τῇ μεγάλῃ προσφυγοῦσα ἐκκλησίᾳ, διὰ τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου Βασιλείου ἐκβληθεῖσα ἐν τῷ θέματι τῶν Ἀρμενιακῶν ἐξωρίσθη εἰς τὴν παρὰ τοῦ βασιλέως νεουργηθεῖσαν μονὴν τὴν Δαμίδειαν, ἐνυβρίσασα πρότερον εἰς τὸν βασιλέα πολλὰ καὶ ἐς τὸν Βασίλειον, Σκύθην καὶ βάρβαρον ἀποκαλέσασα καὶ κατὰ κόρρης αὐτῷ κονδύλους ἐπιτρίψασα. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Scylitzes describes the role of Basil Lakapenos in the death of JohnTzimiskes: Καὶ τὰς μὲν πειθοῖ καὶ λόγῳ, τὰς δὲ πολέμῳ καὶ βίᾳ ἀνακτησάμενος, καὶ πάντα κατὰ τὸ πρέπον καταστησάμενος, ἀνεζεύγνυε πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα. γενόμενος δὲ κατὰ τὴν Ἀνάβαρζαν καὶ τὸν Ποδανδὸν καὶ τὰς λοιπὰς παροδεύων χώρας, καὶ βλέπων τὰ ἐν ποσί, κτήσεις τε ὁρῶν πολυτελεῖς καὶ χωρία εὐφυῆ τε καὶ πάμφορα, διεπυνθάνετο τοὺς παρευρημένους, τίνος ἂν καὶ εἶεν αὗται. ὡς δ ἐμάνθανε παρὰ τῶν ἐρωτωμένων, ὅτι περ τοῦ παρακοιμωμένου εἰσὶ Βασιλείου πᾶσαι, αὕτη μὲν καὶ αὕτη τῇ Ρωμαίων προσκτηθεῖσαι ἔναγχος παρὰ Νικηφόρου τοῦ βασιλέως, αὕτη δὲ παρὰ τοῦδε τοῦ δομεστίκου τῶν σχολῶν, καὶ αὕτη παρὰ τοῦ δεῖνος, καὶ αὕτη καὶ αὕτη παρὰ σοῦ, καὶ τῷ Βασιλείῳ δεδώρηνται, οὐδὲν δέ, ὅτι καὶ λόγου ἄξιον εἶδεν ὑπολελειμμένον τῶν προσκτηθέντων τῷ δημοσίῳ, γενόμενος περιαλγὴς καὶ βύθιον στενάξας «δεινόν, ὦ παρόντες» ἔφη, «εἰ τὰ δημόσια καταναλίσκονται χρήματα καὶ τὰ Ρωμαϊκὰ ταλαιπωροῦνται στρατεύματα καὶ οἱ βασιλεῖς ὑπερορίους ἀναδέχονται κόπους, τὰ δὲ ἐκ τῶν τοσούτων προσκτώμενα μόχθων ἑνὸς εὐνούχου γίνονται κτῆμα.» καὶ ὁ μὲν βασιλεὺς ταῦτα, τῶν τις δὲ παρόντων τῷ Βασιλείῳ τὸν τοῦ βασιλέως λόγον διαπορθμεύσας ἀνηρέθισε πρὸς ὀργήν. καὶ ἔκτοτε εὐκαιρίαν ἐζήτει τὸν βασιλέα ἀποσκευάσασθαι. θωπείαις οὖν ὑπελθών ποτε καὶ δώροις ἐξαπατήσας τὸν ἐγχεῖν εἰωθότα τὸν οἶνον τῷ βασιλεῖ, καὶ δηλητήριον κερασάμενος οὐ τῶν δραστικωτάτων καὶ ταχὺν ἐπιφερόντων τὸν κίνδυνον, ἀλλὰ τῶν σχολαίως καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν ἀναλισκόντων τὴν τοῦ πεπωκότος δύναμιν, κεράννυσι τῷ βασιλεῖ. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Leo the Deacon describes the assassination of Tzimiskes by Basil Lakapenos: Ὁ δὲ αὐτοκράτωρ Ἰωάννης, τότε τῶν τῆς Συρίας ἀπάρας (ἐκεῖθεν γὰρ, ὅθεν ἐξέβην, ἐπάνειμι), ἐπὶ τὸ Βυζάντιον ἴετο. ὁρῶν δὲ κατὰ πάροδον τήν τε Λογγιάδα καὶ τὸν Δριζῆν, χώρας εὐγείους τε καὶ εὐδαίμονας, ἃς πολλοῖς ἱδρῶσι καὶ αἵμασιν ἡ Ρωμαϊκὴ στρατιὰ τῇ βασιλείᾳ τὸ πρότερον ἀνεσώσατο, τότε δὲ παρὰ τοῦ προέδρου Βασιλείου καὶ παρακοιμωμένου κατεχομένας, ἤσχαλλεν, ὡς τὸ εἰκός, καὶ ἠνιᾶτο, καὶ τὴν πλεονεκτικὴν ἐκείνου βίαν ὠνείδιζεν. ὁ δὲ ἀναφανδὸν μὲν οὐκ εἶχεν ἀντιβαίνειν, τὴν τοῦ ἄνακτος δεδιὼς ἀγανάκτησιν λαθραίως δὲ τὰ ἐκείνου ἐμυκτήριζε λόγια, καὶ τοῦτον, ἤδη βαρὺν αὑτῷ γεγενημένον δεσπότην, ἀμωσγέπως διενοεῖτο ἀποσκευάσασθαι. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp The scholar Michael Psellus describes the powerful position of Basil Lakapenos during the reign of Basil II: Ὁ δέ γε Βασίλειος ἤδη τὴν τῶν Ρωμαίων ἡγεμονίαν περιζωσάμενος, ἐβούλετο μὲν μηδένα κοινωνὸν ἔχειν τῶν φροντισμάτων, μηδὲ περὶ τῶν κοινῶν διοικήσεων σύμβουλον. Οὐκ εἶχε δὲ θαρρεῖν ἑαυτῷ, οὐδέπω πεῖραν εἰληφότι οὔτε τῶν στρατιωτικῶν καταλόγων οὔτε τῆς πολιτικῆς εὐνομίας διὰ ταῦτα πρὸς τὸν παρακοιμώμενον ἀπεῖδε Βασίλειον. Ὁ δὲ ἀνὴρ οὗτος ἀξίωμα μέγιστον τῇ βασιλείᾳ Ρωμαίων ἐτύγχανε γεγονώς, κατά τε φρονήματος ὄγκον, καὶ σώματος μέγεθος, καὶ μορφὴν τυρράνῳ προσήκουσαν φὺς δὲ ἐκ τοῦ αὐτοῦ πατρὸς τῷ τοῦ Βασιλείου καὶ Κωνσταντίνου πατρὶ, τὰ ἐς μητέρα διήλλαττε διὰ ταῦτα καὶ ἐκ πρώτης εὐθὺς ἡλικίας ἀποτέτμητο, ἵνα μὴ μᾶλλον ὁ ἐκ τῆς ἡμιγάμου τῶν γνησιωτάτων τὸ πρωτεῖον εἰς τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀπενέγκηται. Ἔστεργεν οὖν οὗτος τὰ ἐκ τῆς τύχης, καὶ τοῦ βασιλείου καὶ οἰκείου γένους ἐξήρτητο προσέκειτο δὲ μάλιστα τῷ ἀνεψιῷ Βασιλείῳ καὶ ἠγκαλίζετο οἰκειότατα, καὶ ὡς εὔνους ἐτιθηνεῖτο τροφεύς. Διὰ ταῦτα καὶ ὁ Βασίλειος τὸν ὄγκον αὐτῷ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀναθέμενος, αὐτὸς πρὸς τὴν ἐκείνου ἐπαιδοτριβεῖτο σπουδήν καὶ ἦν ὁ μὲν παρακοιμώμενος οἷον ἀθλητὴς καὶ ἀγωνιστὴς, ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς Βασίλειος θεωρός, οὐχ ὅπως ἐκεῖνον στεφανώσειεν, ἀλλ ὡς αὐτὸς δραμεῖται καὶ ἀγωνίσηται κατ ἴχνος ἐκείνῳ τὴν ἀγωνίαν Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 9/11

10 τιθέμενος. Πάντα οὖν ἐντεῦθεν ὑπήκοα τῷ Βασιλείῳ ἐτύγχανεν ὄντα, καὶ πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ πολιτικὸν ἑώρα, καὶ τὸ στρατιωτικὸν ἀπονενεύκει καὶ πρῶτος αὐτὸς, ἢ καὶ μόνος, τῆς τε συνεισφορᾶς τῶν δημοσίων ἐφρόντιζε καὶ τῆς τοῦ κοινοῦ διορθώσεως ἐδίδου δὲ ἐπὶ πᾶσι τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ τὴν χεῖρα ὁ βασιλεύς, τὰ μὲν συνηγορῶν ἐκείνῳ, τὰ δὲ καὶ ἐν γράμμασι βεβαιῶν. Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d'un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp Michael Psellus describes in his work the fall of Basil Lakapenos (end of 955): Οὐκ ἔτι οὖν οὐδὲ παραχωρεῖν τῆς τοῦ κοινοῦ διοικήσεως τῷ παρακοιμωμένῳ Βασιλείῳ ἐβούλετο, ἀλλ ἤχθητο τε αὐτῷ καὶ παντοδαπὸς ἦν μισῶν καὶ ἀποστρεφόμενος, καὶ οὔτε τὸ γένος, οὔτε τὸ πολλὰ ἐκεῖνον ὑπὲρ τούτου ποιῆσαί τε καὶ παθεῖν, οὔτε ἡ λαμπρότης τοῦ ἀξιώματος, οὔτε ἄλλο τι τῶν ἁπάντων εἷλκεν αὐτὸν εἰς εὐμένειαν, ἀλλὰ δεινὸν ἐποιεῖτο, εἰ βασιλεὺς ὢν καὶ εἰς τὴν φρονοῦσαν ἡλικίαν ἐληλακώς, παραδιοικεῖν ἀξιοῦται τὰ τῆς βασιλείας πράγματα, ὥσπερ εἴ τις ἕτερος οὐ βασιλείας ἐπειλημμένος, ἀλλὰ παραδυναστεύων ἑτέρῳ καὶ τὰ δευτερεῖα τῆς ἀρχῆς κομιζόμενος. Πολλοῖς δὲ περὶ τούτου κυμαινόμενος λογισμοῖς καὶ πολλὰς λαμβάνων μεταβολὰς καὶ τροπάς, ἅπαξ ποτὲ τοῦ κρατήσαντος λογισμοῦ <γενόμενος, ἀφίστησιν> καὶ μεθίστησιν ἀθρόως τῆς διοικήσεως τὸν παρακοιμώμενον, καὶ ταῦτα, οὐ λειότητά τινα τῇ μεταστάσει προμηθευσάμενος, ἀλλὰ τὸν ἄγριον τρόπον καὶ ὃν ἄν τις οὐχ ὑπειλήφει εἰς γὰρ ναῦν ἐμβιβάσας, ὑπερόριον ἐποιήσατο. Ἐντεῦθεν οὐ τέλος τῷ Βασιλείῳ ἡ μετάστασις γίνεται τῶν κακῶν, ἀλλ ἀρχὴ καὶ ὑπόθεσις εὐθὺς γὰρ ἀναλύσας ταῖς ἐννοίαις ὁ βασιλεὺς ἐς τὴν πρώτην αὐτῷ τῆς αὐτοκρατορίας ἀρχήν, ἀφ ἧς διοικεῖν ὁ παρακοιμώμενος ἤρξατο, κατέδραμε τὴν ἐκεῖθεν ἐκείνου προμήθειαν, καὶ τῶν δρωμένων ὁπόσα μὲν αὐτῷ τε καὶ τῷ δημοσίῳ συντελοῦντα ἐτύγχανεν οὐκ ἠξίου παραποιεῖν, τὸ δ ὅσον εἰς εὐεργετημάτων καὶ ἀξιωμάτων ὄγκον ἔβλεπεν, ἀναλύειν ἐπειρᾶτο, ἐκεῖνα μὲν συνειδέναι, ταῦτα δὲ ἀγνοεῖν διϊσχυριζόμενος, καὶ πάντα τρόπον ὁπόσα εἰς κάκωσιν ἐκείνῳ καὶ συμφορὰν ἐμηχᾶνατο ποιεῖν. Ἀμέλει καὶ ἣν ἐκεῖνος ἐδείματο λαμπροτάτην μονὴν Βασιλείῳ τῷ πάνυ ἀναθέμενος, ἐπώνυμον τῆς ἑαυτοῦ κλήσεως, μεγαλοπρεπῶς μὲν κατεσκευασμένην καὶ πολλῇ δαπάνῃ χειρὸς τὸ ποικίλον μετὰ τοῦ καλοῦ ἔχουσαν, ἀφθόνοις δὲ χορηγίαις τὸ πλέον τοῦ αὐτάρκους ἀποκληρωσαμένην, ἐβούλετο μὲν ἐκ θεμελίων καθαιρήσειν, τὸ δὲ τῆς πράξεως ἀναιδὲς εὐλαβούμενος, τὸ μὲν ἐκεῖθεν ὑφῄρει, τὸ δὲ κατέσειεν, τὰ ἔπιπλα, τὰς ἐφηρμοσμένας λίθους, τὸ δ ἄλλο τι ποιῶν τοιουτότροπον, οὐκ ἀνίει ἄχρις οὗ φροντιστήριον ἰδεῖν, χαριεντισάμενος εἰπὼν, τὸ μοναστήριον δέδρακε, διὰ φροντίδος τιθεμένων τῶν ἐν αὐτῷ, ὅπως ἂν ἑαυτοῖς τὰ ἀναγκαῖα πορίσαιντο. Τοιούτοις οὖν ὁ παρακοιμώμενος καθ ἑκάστην τοξεύμασιν βαλλόμενος ὡς εἰπεῖν, ἀθυμίας τε ἐνεπίμπλατο, καὶ οὐκ εἶχεν ὅπως ἂν ἑαυτῷ τὰς ἀλγηδόνας ἰάσαιτο παρηγόρει γὰρ αὐτὸν τῶν ὅλων οὐδέν ὅθεν ἅπαξ ποτὲ ἀθρόον κατασεισθεὶς ὁ ὑπερμεγέθης ἐκεῖνος καὶ νέφους τὴν κεφαλὴν πληρωθείς, ἀκρατὴς ἑαυτοῦ ἐγεγόνει, καὶ τὰ μέλη παραλυθεὶς καὶ νεκρὸς ἔμψυχος γεγονώς, μετὰ βραχὺ καὶ αὐτὴν ἀπέρρηξε τὴν ψυχήν, καὶ γέγονεν ὡς ἀληθῶς στήλη τῷ βίῳ καὶ διήγημα μέγα, μᾶλλον δὲ παράδειγμα τῶν ἐν γενέσει εὐμεταβόλου συγχύσεως. Ὁ μὲν οὖν τὴν ἀποκεκληρωμένην ἐπικλώσας ζωὴν ἀπελήλυθε. Renauld, É. (ed.), Michel Psellos, Chronographie ou histoire d'un siècle de Byzance ( ) 1 (Paris 1926), pp. 2, , Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι List of prominent members Theophylaktos Abastaktos or Abaktistos: second half of the 9 th century, founder of the family. Romanos Lakapenos: son of the former one, first half of the 10 th century. He was strategos (general) of Samos during the reign of Leo VI ( ). In 919, as droungarios tou ploimou, was crowned emperor and remained in power until 944. Theodora Lakapene: first half of the 10 th century, spouse of the former one, was crowned augusta in 921. Christopher Lakapenos: first born son of Romanos I Lakapenos, first half of the 10 th century, co emperor and heir, died in 931. Stephan Lakapenos: brother of the former one, first half of the 10 th century, co emperor, he revolted against his father in 944 with his brother Constantine. Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos overthrew their uprising and exiled Stephan. Constantine Lakapenos: brother of the former one, first half of the 10 th century, co emperor, he participated in the uprising for the Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 10/11

11 overthrow of their father Romanos I. Constantine Porphyrogennetos exiled him. Theophylaktos Lakapenos: Younger son of Romanos I, eunuch. He was patriarch of Constantinople during the period Helen Lakapene: daughter of Romanos I, wife of Constantine VII. Maria Lakapene: daughter of Christopher Lakapenos, wife of the Bulgarian tsar Peter. Michael Lakapenos: second half of the 10 th century, son of Christopher, monk, received the title of magistros and the office of raiktor. Romanos Lakapenos: second half of the 10 th century, son of Constantine and grandson of Romanos Lakapenos, appointed patricios and eparch. Romanos Lakapenos: second half of the 10 th century, son of Stephan Lakapenos, sebastophoros. Basil Lakapenos: illegitimate son of Romanos I. He was the most important representative of the family during the second half of the 10 th century. He served as a eunuch for a very long time in high ranking civil dignities, the most important of which that of parakoimomenos. Leo Lakapenos: 11 th century, spatharokoubikoularios and logariastes. Constantine Lakapenos: first half of the 12 th century. George Lakapenos: early 14 th century, writer, teacher, and discipline of Maximos Planoudes. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 25/1/2017 Σελίδα 11/11