Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης , probably the region of Euphrates. Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου After 995, place unknown

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1 Περίληψη : Michael Bourtzes was born around In 969 he gained fame for his role during the capture of Antioch. He was granted the titles of patrikios and magistros as well as higher-ranking military offices. He played an active role in the Empire s political life, especially during the conflict of the central authority with the illustrious members of the military aristocracy, until 995, when the emperor Basil II removed him from the office of doux of Antioch. Τόπος και Χρόνος Γέννησης , probably the region of Euphrates Τόπος και Χρόνος Θανάτου After 995, place unknown Κύρια Ιδιότητα Military official 1. Short biography The date of Michael Bourtzes birth is unknown, but most probably we can place it chronologically around The origins of the Bourtzes family, who came from the region of Euphrates, are believed to be either Armenian or, according to another suggestion, Arab. 1 The sources do not provide any information on Michael Bourtzes s childhood or adolescence, but his subsequent career clearly shows that he must have had a good upbringing with emphasis on his military training. He was married and had two sons, Nikephoros and Constantine. His career started under Nikephoros II Phokas, when he is mentioned to hold the office of the general of the Black Mountain, namely the region of Tauros. The date of his death cannot be defined, but it must have been some time around the autumn of 995, when his traces are lost in the sources. 2. Career 2.1. Actions until 976 Michael Bourtzes promotion to higher-ranking military offices started during the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas. In 968 the Emperor, during his campaign in northwestern Syria, granted Michael Bourtzes the title of patrikios and appointed him general of the Black Mountain. 2 This place was of special significance, since by that time the military operations of the Byzantines against the Arabs over the eastern border were clearly focused on northern Syria. As general of the Black Mountain, Bourtzes played the following year a lead role during the siege and fall of Antioch, which was for three centuries under Arab occupation. Having as a mission to supervise the city, which Phokas has blockaded since the autumn of 968, from the nearby fortress of Pagrae, Bourtzes managed during a risky night operation to capture with a few soldiers two of the city s wall towers and to open the city gates to the Byzantine army who, under the leadership of stratopedarches Petros, entered triumphaly in the city on the 28 th of October 969. However, this big success did not bring the analogous reward for Bourtzes, who got neither a promotion nor the commandment of the city, but on the contrary fell into the Emperor s disfavor. A main reason for that must be considered the fact that Nikephoros II had given specific orders not to seize the city in his absence. Bourtzes disobeyed his orders and deprived the Emperor from another personal success, in a period during which Nikephoros's popularity among the people as well as the aristocracy of Asia Minor and the army had deeply fallen off. 3 Phokas disposal towards Bourtzes played a crucial role in his active participation in the movement organized by John Tzimiskes and Empress Theophano against Nikephoros II that led to the assassination of the latter on the 10 th of December 969. Under John I Tzimiskes Bourtzes retained his high-ranking militarty office as general and commander of selected units, taking part in many a campaign Activity from 976 until 995 Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 1/7

2 After the accession of Basil II to the throne (January 976), Michael Bourtzes received the very importan dignity of doux of Antioch and the title of magistros. His appointment to such an important position was the rusult of the intervention of the parakoimomenos, Basil Lakapenos, who had undertaken administration of the State on the side of Basil II and tried to lessen Bardas Skleros power, who until then was holding the office of the domestikos ton scholon of the East. By placing Bourtzes at Antioch and demoting Skleros, who was sent to the duchy of Mesopotamia, the parakoimomenos was trying to separate the interests of the high-ranking military officers and to avoid their possible cooperation against central authority. This strategy at first place bore fruits, since Bourtzes did not side with Skleros in the beginning of the latter s uprising, but he remained loyal to the imperial side. However, after the defeat of the imperial troops at Lapara-Lykandos (autumn 976), Bourtzes deserted to Skleros camp. It is not clear if his joining the enemy s camp was dictated by personal interests or even sympathy for Skleros s movement, or if it was the result of pressure and coercion, since Skleros had military supremacy. In 977, as commander of part of the rebellious army, Bourtzes was defeated at Oxylithos by the imperial troops. In the spring of 978, when the domestikos ton scholon of the East Bardas Phokas undertook the commandment of the imperial troops and the mission to suppress Skleros rebellion, Bourtzes switched camp for the second time and came back to the imperial side. Thus, the suppression of Skleros rebellion (spring 979) found him on the side of the winners. However, for the period the information we have about Bourtzes is scant. Probably during that period he retained the office of general, without any particular distinction. During the rebellious movements of Bardas Phokas and Bardas Skleros, Bourtzes was one of the few illustrious members of Asia Minor s military aristocracy that remained loyal to Basil II. As a reward for his support, in 989 the emperor appointed him anew doux of Antioch. From this place he confronted the Arabs attacks against the city, but in 994 he suffered a crushing defeat on the riverbanks of Orontes. In the autumn of 995 he was removed again by Basil, who was not satisfied with Bourtzes continuous failures against the Arabs. 4 After 995 Michael Bourtzes traces disappear from the sources and it seems that he never played again any important role until his death. 1. For these two different views see Kazdan, A., Armjane v sostave gospodstvujušćego klassa vizantijskoj imperii XI-XII vv. (Erevan 1975), p According to Kazdan, A., Bourtzes, in Kazdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 1 (Oxford New York 1991), p. 317, the name Bourtzes comes either from the Arabic word burj, meaning tower, or from the placename Bourtzo-Soteriopolis near Trepizond. 2. Butner-Wobst, Th. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae Epitomae Historiarum ΙΙ (Bonn ), p Leo Deacon presented these events under a different light, contrary to any other source. According to him, Nikephoros II received news of the capture of Antioch with positive feelings; see Hase, C.B. (ed.), Historiae Libri Decem (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonnae 1828), pp Nevertheless, given the historian s sympathy towards Nikephoros II, and the tendency to embellish this Emperor s actions in his works, one should doubt the accuracy of this particular information. 4. Cheynet, J.-C. Vanier, J.F., Études prosopographiques (Byzantina Sorbonensia 5, Paris 1986), p. 23, and Cheynet, J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ) (Byzantina Sorbonensia 9, Paris 1990), p 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 Ιωάννης Ζωναράς, Επιτομή Ιστοριών, Büttner-Wobst, T. (ed.), Ioannis Zonarae epitomae historiarum libri XVIII 1-3, Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 2/7

3 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 Cheynet J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ), Paris 1990, Byzantina Sorbonensia 9 Cheynet J.-C., Vannier J.F., Études prosopographiques, Paris 1986, Byzantina Sorbonensia 5 Schlumberger G., Un empereur byzantin au Xe siècle: Nicéphore Phocas, Paris 1925 Seibt W., Die Skleroi: eine prosopographish-sigillographische Studie, Wien 1976, Byzantina Vindobonensia 9 Kamer S., Emperors and Aristocrats in Byzantium , Ann Arbor 1983 Forsyth J., The Byzantine-Arab Chronicle ( ) of Yahya b. Sa id Al-Antaki, Ann Arbor 1977 Schlumberger G., L'épopée byzantine à la fin du Xe siècle 2. Basile II, le Tueur de Bulgares, Paris 1900 Laurent V., "La chronologie des gouverneurs d'antioche sous la seconde domination byzantine", Mélanges de l'université Saint-Joseph, 38, 1962, Каждан А. П., Армяне в составе господствующего класса Византийской империи в XI-XII вв, Ереван 1975 Kazhdan A., "Bourtzes", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 1, Oxford New York 1991, Βλυσίδου Β., Αριστοκρατικές οικογένειες και εξουσία (9ος-10ος αιώνας), Αθήνα 2001 Kazhdan A., "Bourtzes, Michael", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium 1, Oxford New York 1991, 318 Asolik, Patmut'iwn tiezerakan, Macler, F. (ed.), Histoire universelle d'etienne Asolik de Taron, Paris 1917 Δικτυογραφία : Michael Bourtzes, doux of Antioch Γλωσσάριo : 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. doukas (lat. dux) Antiquity: Roman military commander who, in some provinces, combined military and civil functions. Buzantium: a higher military officer. From the second half of the 10th c. the title indicates the military comander of a larger district. After the 12th c., doukes were called the governors of small themes. 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. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 3/7

4 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. 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. stratopedarches 1. Commander in chief (1st-2nd c.), general (5th-9th c.) 2. stratopedarches of the East and stratopedarches of the West: official designation of the eunuch domesticos ton scholon (10th c.) and of the military commnder (11th-12th c.) 3. megas stratopedarches was initially a high-ranking official and afterwards defined the commander of troops (13th - 14th c.). Πηγές Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp ; Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp ; ; ; Παραθέματα The Byzantine historian Leo the Deacon describes Michael Bourtzes participation in the capture of Antioch (969): ἐν ᾧ δὲ πρὸς τὴν ἐκστρατείαν διεσκευάζετο, ἡ τῆς μεγάλης Ἀντιοχείας ἅλωσις ἐπηγγέλλετο, ἄρτι κατὰ τὰς ἐκείνου ὑποθήκας ἁλοῦσα, ἃς δὴ τοῖς καταλειφθεῖσι πρὸς αὐτοῦ εἰς τὸ ταύτην λεηλατεῖν στρατιώταις ἐπέσκηπτε. λέγεται γάρ, ὡς, ἐπείπερ ταῖς καθ ἡμέραν καταδρομαῖς εἰς ἀμηχανίαν καὶ σπάνιν τῶν ἀναγκαίων ἐσχάτην συνηλαύνετο, τὸν Πατρίκιον Πέτρον καὶ στρατοπεδάρχην, τομίαν μὲν ὄντα, ῥέκτην δὲ τὴν ἄλλως καὶ ῥωμαλεώτατον, κατατρέχοντα Συρίαν, ἐκεῖσε μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως ἀφίκεσθαι, καὶ Μιχαὴλ ἐκεῖνον, ἐν ταξιάρχοις τελοῦντα, ᾧ Βούρτζης ἐπώνυμον, ἐπὶ κατασκοπὴν ἐκπέμψαι τῆς πόλεως. τὸν δὲ μετὰ καὶ ἄλλων λογάδων ἀγχοῦ ταύτης γενόμενον, τὸν ἐπίβατον τοῦ τείχους περισκοπῆσαι, καὶ ὀπισθόρμητον ἀπαλλαγῆναι πρὸς τὸ στρατόπεδον, κλίμακάς τε ἀναλόγους τῷ ὕψει τῶν πύργων τεκτήνασθαι κἀν τοῖς ἀχθοφόροις ζώοις ταύτας ἐπιφορτίσασθαι, καὶ μετὰ λεγεῶνος γενναιοτάτων στρατιωτῶν ἤδη μέσων νυκτῶν τὸν τῆς Ἀντιοχείας περίβολον αὖθις καταλαβεῖν, ἤρεμά τε ταύτας προσερεῖσαι τῷ τείχει καὶ ἀνιέναι διὰ τῶν κλιμάκων τοὺς δὲ φύλακας τῶν Ἀγαρηνῶν, βαθεῖ τῷ ὕπνῳ καθεύδοντας, τοῖς ξίφεσι διαχρήσασθαι. ἐγκρατεῖς δὲ τῶν τειχῶν τὸν τρόπον τοῦτον Ρωμαίους γεγενημένους καταβῆναί τε τῶν πύργων, καὶ τετραχῶς τὸ ἄστυ πυρπολεῖν Ἀντιοχεῖς δέ, τῷ ἀπροσδοκήτῳ καταπλαγέντας, εἰς οἰμωγὰς καὶ θρήνους τραπῆναι καὶ ἀμηχανίαν δεινήν, διενθυμουμένους ὅ,τι καὶ δράσαιεν. ἤδη δὲ πρὸς ἀλκὴν ὁρμᾷν διαλογιζομένων, καὶ ῥωμαλέως τοῖς ἐναντίοις συστάδην ἀντικαθίστασθαι, τῆς ἕω τηλαυγῶς ὑπαυγαζούσης, προέφθασε τὴν ἐκείνων ὁρμὴν ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης Πέτρος, μετὰ τῆς δυνάμεως εἰς τὴν πόλιν διὰ τῶν πυλῶν εἰσελάσας, ἃς οἱ προκατασχόντες τὸ ἄστυ Ρωμαῖοι αὐτῷ ἀνεπέτασαν. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp The Byzantine historian John Skylitzes describes the capture of Antioch by Michael Bourtzes: Ὑποστρέφων δ ὁ Νικηφόρος ἐξ Ἀντιοχείας πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα, ἐν τῷ διέρχεσθαι τὸν Ταῦρον, ὃ Μαῦρον ὄρος ἐπιχωρίως λέγεται, φρούριον κατὰ τὸ μέσον τοῦ ὄρους δομησάμενος ἔν τινι λόφῳ ἐρυμνοτάτῳ, Μιχαὴλ τὸν Βούρτζην πατρίκιον τιμήσας ἐν τῷ φρουρίῳ κατέλιπε, στρατηγὸν ὀνομάσας τοῦτον τοῦ Μαύρου ὄρους, ἐπισκήψας προσμένειν ἀγρύπνως καὶ τοὺς Ἀντιοχεῖς πάσῃ μηχανῇ κωλύειν ἐξιέναι καὶ τὰ πρὸς ζωὴν εἰσκομίζεσθαι ἐπιτήδεια. κατέλιπε δὲ καὶ Πέτρον ἕνα τῶν ἑαυτοῦ εὐνούχων, δοῦλον ὑπάρχοντα, δραστήριον ἄνθρωπον, ὃν δὴ καὶ στρατοπεδάρχην πεποίηκεν ἐν Κιλικίᾳ, εἰς παραχειμασίαν τὸν στρατὸν διασκορπίσαι κελεύσας καὶ τὴν αὐτοῦ μένειν εἰς τοὐπιὸν ἔτος ἔλευσιν. ἐλέγετο δ, ὅτι δυνάμενος ἐξ ἐφόδου ἑλεῖν τὴν Ἀντιόχειαν ὁ βασιλεὺς οὐκ ἠθέλησεν, ἀλλ ἐξεπίτηδες παρεῖλκε καὶ παρεβίβαζε τὴν ταύτης κατάσχεσιν, δεδιὼς τὸν φημιζόμενον λόγον. καὶ Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 4/7

5 γὰρ δὴ καὶ ἐν τοῖς ἁπάντων ἐφέρετο στόμασιν, ὡς ἅμα τῇ ἁλώσει τῆς πόλεως Ἀντιοχείας καὶ ὁ βασιλεὺς τεθνήξεται. ἀμέλει καὶ τῷ τοιούτῳ λόγῳ δειλαινόμενος οὔτ αὐτὸς προσεπέλασε τῇ Ἀντιοχείᾳ, καὶ τῷ Πέτρῳ δὲ καὶ τῷ Βούρτζῃ παρήγγειλε μηδεμίαν προσβολὴν ποιήσασθαι κατ αὐτῆς. ἀλλ ἐκεῖνος μὲν ταῦτα καταστησάμενος, ὡς εἴπομεν, εἴσεισιν εἰς τὴν βασιλεύουσαν. ὁ Βούρτζης δὲ τῇ Ἀντιοχείᾳ γειτονῶν καὶ κλέος ἑαυτῷ ἄσβεστον περιποιήσασθαι ἱμειρόμενος, μικρὰ φροντίσας τῶν τοῦ βασιλέως ὑποθηκῶν, νύκτωρ καὶ μεθ ἡμέραν ἐσκέπτετο, εἴ πως δυνηθείη κατασχεῖν τὴν πόλιν. ἀπῄει οὖν συνεχῶς καὶ λόγους μετὰ τῶν Ἀντιοχέων ἐκίνει συμβατικούς. ἀλαζονευομένων δ ἐκείνων καὶ τὰς συμβάσεις διωθουμένων, ἔλαθεν ἐκεῖνος φιλιωθῆναί τινι τῶν Σαρακηνῶν (Αὔλαξ οὗτος ἦν), ὃν ὑποκλέψας δώροις καὶ ὑποσχέσεσιν ἴσχυσε λαβεῖν τὸ μέτρον ἑνὸς τῶν πρὸς δύσιν τῆς Ἀντιοχείας πύργων Κάλλα τοὔνομα. καὶ μετὰ τούτου τεκτηνάμενος κλίμακας πρὸς τὸ ἄκρον ἐξικνουμένας τοῦ πύργου, νύκτα τε ἀφεγγῆ ἐπιτηρήσας καὶ ἔπομβρον, ἔλαθε τὰς κλίμακας προσερείσας τῷ τείχι. καὶ ἀναβὰς μετὰ τριακοσίων τῶν ὑπ αὐτὸν τοὺς μὲν φύλακας ἀποσφάττει τοῦ πύργου, ἔτι δὲ καὶ τοῦ γειτονοῦντος αὐτῷ. καὶ μετὰ τῶν τριακοσίων τοὺς δύο τούτους πύργους κατεσχηκὼς ἄγγελον εὐθέως ἐκπέμπει πρὸς τὸν στρατοπεδάρχην, μηνύων ἐπιταχῦναι καὶ ἐλθεῖν μετὰ παντὸς τοῦ στρατοῦ, ὡς τῆς πόλεως ἤδη κατασχεθείσης. ὁ δὲ Πέτρος τὰς ἀγγελίας δεξάμενος ὤκνει καὶ ἀνεδύετο, τὴν ἐκ τοῦ βασιλέως δεδοικὼς ἀγανάκτησιν, μή τι καὶ κακὸν ἀπολαύσῃ, ὡς παραβάτης τῶν αὐτοῦ προσταγμάτων. ἐγκειμένου δὲ τοῦ Βούρτζη καὶ ἄλλον ἐπ ἄλλῳ πέμποντος ἄγγελον καὶ τὴν ἔλευσιν ἐπιταχύνοντος καὶ πληροφοροῦντος, ὡς ἐπὶ πλέον ἀντέχειν οὐ δύναται πρὸς τὴν πολιορκίαν (καὶ γὰρ δὴ μαθόντες οἱ Ἀντιοχεῖς τὴν τῶν πύργων κατάσχεσιν συνέρρεον πανταχόθεν καὶ ἐκπολιορκεῖν τοὺς πύργους ἠπείγοντο, βέλη ἀφιέντες παντοδαπὰ καὶ μηχανὰς ποικίλας καὶ πῦρ ὑφῆπτον, καὶ ἄλλα ἐποίουν, ὁπόσα ποιεῖν ἔδει τοὺς κινδυνεύοντας σὺν γυναιξὶ καὶ τέκνοις ἀπολωλέναι, ἀποβαλεῖν δὲ καὶ πόλιν πασῶν ὑπερκειμένην τῶν ἀνὰ τὴν ἕω πόλεων) πτοηθεὶς ὁ στρατοπεδάρχης, μὴ τοσούτων ἀπολωλότων καὶ τηλικούτων ἀνδρῶν διὰ τὴν ἐκείνου ἀπείθειαν καὶ πόλεως τηλικαύτης ἡ πολιτεία Ρωμαίων ὑποστῇ ζημίαν, ἄκων καὶ μὴ βουλόμενος καταταχήσας παρεγένετο σὺν παντὶ τῷ στρατῷ, εὑρὼν τοὺς περὶ τὸν Βούρτζην λίαν ἀπειρηκότας. ἐπὶ τρισὶ γὰρ νυχθημέροις ἦσαν πολιορκούμενοι. οὗ τὴν ἔφοδον ἐγνωκότες οἱ Ἀντιοχεῖς παρελύθησαν τὰς ψυχὰς καὶ τῆς συντονίας ἐνέδωκαν. ἀδείας δὲ λαβόμενος ὁ Βούρτζης κάτεισι πρὸς τὴν πύλην, καὶ σπάθῃ τὸν μοχλὸν τῆς κλειδὸς διατεμὼν ἀνοίγνυσι τὰς πύλας, καὶ τὸν Πέτρον εἰσάγει σὺν παντὶ τῷ στρατεύματι. καὶ οὕτω παρελήφθη ἡ μεγάλη καὶ περιφανὴς Ἀντιόχεια. ὅπερ πυθόμενος ὁ Νικηφόρος, εὐφρανθῆναι δέον ἐπὶ ἁλώσει τηλικαύτης πόλεως καὶ τὰ κατ αὐτὸν ἐπιτρέψαι θεῷ, ὁ δὲ τοὐναντίον ἤλγησε τὴν ψυχὴν τὸν στρατοπεδάρχην τε ἐν αἰτίαις εἶχε, καὶ τὸν Βούρτζην οὐ μόνον οὐκ ἀπεδέξατο τῆς προθυμίας καὶ τῆς ἀνδρείας καὶ γέρα παρέσχεν ἐπάξια τῆς αὐτοῦ ἀνδραγαθίας, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὕβρεσι πλύνας παρέλυσε τῆς ἀρχῆς καὶ οἴκοι μένειν ἐπέταξεν. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin/New York 1973), pp Michael Bourtzes participation in the assassination of Nikephoros Phokas, as described by Leo the Deacon: ἐπεὶ δὲ πόνον ἡ τούτων ἐπὶ κακῷ συλλαβοῦσα συμφωνία καὶ δεινὴν ἀδικίαν ὠδίνασα, τὴν πονηρὰν τεκεῖν ἀνομίαν ἠπείγετο, συνελθόντες αὖθις ἀλλήλοις κατὰ τὸ σύνηθες, τὸν αὐτοκράτορα Νικηφόρον τῆς ἀρχῆς κατασπᾶσαι διέγνωσαν. ἐκεῖθεν ἐφ ἑστίας ὁ Ἰωάννης ἀπαλλαγείς, Μιχαήλ τε, τὸν καλούμενον Βούρτζην, καὶ Λέοντα τὸν Πεδιάσιμον εἰσκαλέσας καὶ τὸ δωμάτιον κλείσας, τὴν τοῦ αὐτοκράτορος Νικηφόρου μετ αὐτῶν ἐσκαιωρεῖτο ἀναίρεσιν. μὴν ἐφειστήκει τότε Δεκέμβριος, δεκάτην ἐλαύνων ἡμέραν. Hase, C.B. (ed.), Leonis Diaconi Caloensis Historiae libri decem (Bonn 1828), pp Michale Bourtzes appointed doux of Antioch (976): τὸ δ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ εἰς Μιχαὴλ τὸν Βούρτζην ὕποπτον ὄντα ἐμηχανήσατο, διαστῆσαι τοῦτον τῆς τοῦ Σκληροῦ ἑταιρείας σπουδάσας (συνῆν γὰρ καὶ οὗτος αὐτῷ τάγματός τινος κατάρχων στρατιωτικοῦ). ὅνπερ τῷ τῶν μαγίστρων τιμήσας ἀξιώματι δοῦκα τῆς παρὰ τῷ Ὀρόντῃ Ἀντιοχείας προβάλλεται. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), σελ John Skylitzes describes Michael Bourtzes joining to Bardas Skleros movement: καὶ ἐπὶ χρόνον μέν τινα εὐρώστως ἠμύνοντο. εἶτα ὑπερκερώσεις ποιησάμενος ὁ Βάρδας καὶ ἔνδον συναπολαμβάνειν ἤδη τοὺς πολεμίους φοβῶν, ἐπαφεὶς δὲ καὶ κατὰ νῶτα τοὺς μισθοφόρους, τρέπει τε εἰς φυγὴν καὶ πολὺν ἐργάζεται φόνον, τοῦ δουκὸς Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 5/7

6 Ἀντιοχείας τοῦ Βούρτζη πρῶτον ἐγκλίναντος, εἴτε διὰ δειλίαν εἴτε διὰ κακουργίαν. ἐλέγετο γὰρ ἀμφότερα. κατέσχε δὲ καὶ τὸ στρατόπεδον ἅπαν σὺν τῇ ἀποσκευῇ, καὶ πλοῦτον ἐντεῦθεν περιεβάλετο ἄπειρον. ἐκεῖθεν αὖθις ἐπὶ τὸ λεγόμενον ἔρχεται Τζαμανδόν. πόλις δὲ ἡ Τζαμανδὸς ἐν ἀποκρήμνῳ πέτρα κειμένη, πολυάνθρωπος καὶ πλούτῳ περιβριθής. ἥντινα παρ ἑκόντων λαβὼν τῶν ἐγχωρίων πλοῦτον συνέλεξεν οὐκ ὀλίγον. αὕτη ἡ νίκη πολλοὺς τῶν τῷ βασιλεῖ προσκειμένων κατέσεισε καὶ αὐτομολῆσαι πρὸς τὸν Σκληρὸν ἠνάγκασεν. ὅ τε γὰρ Βούρτζης πρῶτος αὐτομολεῖ τῷ Σκληρῷ καὶ ὁ πατρίκιος Ἀνδρόνικος καὶ δοὺξ ὁ Λυδὸς σὺν τοῖς υἱέσι. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Michael Bourtzes defeat by the imperial troops: τοῦτο τὸ ἔργον λίαν τοὺς περὶ τὸν Σκληρὸν ἐδειμάτωσε, δεδιότας οὐ περὶ χρημάτων καὶ κτημάτων μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τῶν τιμιωτάτων αὐτῶν. πολλοὶ οὖν ἐξομνύμενοι τὴν ἀποστασίαν τῷ πρωτοβεστιαρίῳ προσέρρεον, ὡς κινδυνεύειν κονιορτοῦ δίκην διαλυθῆναι τὸ ἀποστατικόν. ὅπερ ἵνα μὴ γένηται φοβηθεὶς ὁ Σκληρὸς τὸν μάγιστρον Μιχαὴλ τὸν Βούρτζην ἄρτι, ὡς εἴπομεν, προσκεχωρηκότα αὐτῷ, καὶ Ρωμανὸν πατρίκιον τὸν Ταρωνίτην μετ εὐζώνου ἐκπέμπει στρατιᾶς, ἐμποδὼν ἵστασθαι τῷ πρωτοβεστιαρίῳ κελεύσας, ἐπιτιθεμένοις ἐξ ἐφόδου καὶ τὰς ἐκδρομὰς κωλύειν ὡς δύναμις, συμπλοκῆς δὲ καθολικῆς κατὰ τὸ ἐγχωροῦν φείδεσθαι. πλησιάσαντες δὲ τῷ βασιλικῷ στρατεύματι οἱ περὶ τὸν Βούρτζην ἠναγκάσθησαν καὶ ἄκοντες πολεμῆσαι παρὰ τὴν τοῦ Σκληροῦ παραγγελίαν, ἀπὸ τοιαύτης αἰτίας. Σαρακηνοὶ ἐκ τῆς πρὸς ἕω Βερροίας τὰ ἐτήσια τέλη Ρωμαίοις κομίζοντες ἠγγέλλοντο πρὸς τὴν βασιλίδα ἀπιέναι, καὶ ὡς μέλλουσι κατά τινα ῥητὴν ἡμέραν διὰ μέσων ἰέναι τῶν στρατευμάτων. καὶ ἐπειδὴ παρῆν ἡ κυρία, καὶ ἔμελλον κατὰ τὸ λεγόμενον Ὀξύλιθον φρούριον οἱ Σαρακηνοὶ διαβαίνειν, καθοπλίσαντες οἱ περὶ τὸν Βούρτζην τοὺς ἀμφ αὐτούς, τὸ δ αὐτὸ τοῦτο καὶ οἱ τοῦ πρωτοβεστιαρίου πεποιηκότες, μάλα ὁρμητικῶς πρὸς τὴν μάχην ἐχώρουν. προὔκειτο γὰρ ἑκατέροις ὥσπερ τις ἄθλος ὁ παρὰ τῶν Σαρακηνῶν κομιζόμενος χρυσός. καὶ ἐπείπερ ἤγγισαν, συμπεσόντες ἐμάχοντο. τρέπεται γοῦν ὁ Βούρτζης, καὶ πολλοὶ τῶν σὺν αὐτῷ ἀπώλοντο, καὶ μᾶλλον τῶν Ἀρμενίων. Thurn, I. (ed.), Ioannis Scylitzae Synopsis Historiarum (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 5, Berlin New York 1973), pp Χρονολόγιο Around : Michael Bourtzes birth 968: Michael Bourtzes receives the title of patrikios and is appointed general of the Black Mount 28 October 969: Michael Bourtzes captures Antioch 10 December 969: Michael Bourtzes participation in the assassination of Nikephoros II Phokas Early 976: Michael Bourtzes is appointed doux of Antioch and receives the title of magistros Autumn 976: Defeat of the imperial army by Bardas Skleros and desertion of Michael Bourtzes to the opposite camp 977: The imperial troops defeat the army of Michael Bourtzes Spring 978: Michael Bourtzes returns to the imperial side 989: Second appointment of Michael Bourtzes as doux of Antioch 994: The Arabs crush the army of Michael Bourtzes in a battle on the river Orontes Autumn 995: Bourtzes removal from the office of doux of Antioch Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 6/7

7 After 995: Death of Michael Bourtzes Δημιουργήθηκε στις 12/9/2017 Σελίδα 7/7