European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
End of the Isaurian Dynasty / Nicophoran Dynasty (AD 802-813)

Rome Aquitani Tribes Canaanite States Celtic Tribes Classical Colonies Germanic Tribes Iberian Tribes Mesopotamian States Syrian States

From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

The 'Nicophoran Dynasty' succeeded the 'Isaurian Dynasty'. Its founder was also an Isaurian though, a Syrian, albeit one who was unrelated to the imperial family. Nicephorus is generally accepted as originating from Seleucia, former capital of the Seleucids (he had also been a serving officer to the imperial family). The result is that this period is also known as the 'End of the Isaurian Dynasty'.

Prior to the Isaurian or Syrian period the empire's organisation was extremely fragile. It and the city of Constantinople were neglected and decaying, civil education was disappearing, and military discipline had dissolved. Constantinople's army lost one engagement against Isaurian troops before the relatively peaceable Theodosius III convened his court to point out an imminent Islamic invasion, and then voluntarily stepped down in favour of the opposition.

Although the empire was quickly stabilised, plots and rebellions continued to plague it while territory was still being lost. Empress Irene outraged Papal sentiment by claiming the throne in 797. Pope Leo III would rather view the Eastern Roman throne as being vacant than accept a woman in command of it. Instead he bestowed his favours on the growing Frankish empire in the west.

Nicephorus, the former general logothete (finance minister), led a coup in 802 which removed Irene from power. He subsequently engaged in military campaigns against the Islamic empire and the Bulgarians, although results were varied. Defeat against the Bulgarians at the Battle of Pliska ended his reign and his life while also crippling his son and successor.

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(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information by William Willems, from Frankish Kingdoms under the Carolingians 751-987, R McKitterick (1983), from The History of the Franks, Volume II, Gregory of Tours (O M Dalton, Trans, 1967), from From Roman Provinces to Medieval Kingdoms, Thomas F X Noble, from Popular Revolt, Dynastic Politics, and Aristocratic Factionalism in the Early Middle Ages: The Saxon Stellinga Reconsidered, Eric J Goldberg (Speculum, Vol 70, No 3, Jul 1995), and from External Links: the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, and Encyclopaedia.com, and Cranach Digital Archive (in German and English), and Carolingian Empire (Holy Roman Empire Association), and Carolingians (Encyclopaedia Britannica), and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive).)

802 - 811

Succeeded Isaurian Empress Irene. Killed by Bulgar Khan Krum.

803

Nicephorus undertakes a comprehensive reorganisation of the empire, strengthening borders where possible, and resettling refugee Eastern Romans from Anatolia to areas in the Balkans and southern Greece.

This extract from a fourtheenth century manuscript illustration depicts the capture of Eastern Roman Emperor Nicephorus I by Khan Krum of the Bulgarians in AD 811

Military forces are expanded and consolidated and the imperial finances are subjected to a stronger governing hand than under Irene. This causes some resentment amongst those who had previously benefited from softer financial controls, either personally or operationally.

General Bardanes Tourkos rebels in 803. Two of his more influential supporters defect to Nicephorus: generals Leo (later 'Non-Dynastic' Emperor Leo V) and Michael (later Emperor Michael II of the 'Phrygian Dynasty'). Bardanes surrenders before being blinded and sent to a monastery.

807

The intervention of the Niceta fleet reaffirms Eastern Roman sovereignty over the lagoon region of Venice, Istria, and Dalmatia after the Frankish empire had attempted to assert its own dominance of the region.

Under Charlemagne's leadership, the Franks greatly expanded their borders eastwards, engulfing tribal states, the Bavarian state and its satellite, Khorushka, and much of northern Italy, with the Avars now an eastern neighbour (click or tap on map to view full sized)

811

Stung by constant Bulgarian raiding and the capture of pockets of frontier territory, Emperor Nicephorus I launches a major raid which sees the Bulgarian capital pillaged and burned.

On its way back to the empire, the imperial army is surprised by a scratch-force of soldiers and peasants, led by Krum. The army is destroyed, the emperor is killed, and his son is paralysed, with the result that his own position is usurped later in the year, sixty-eight days after his accession.

811

Son. Paralysed in battle and usurped. Died 812.

811 - 813

Brother-in-law. Usurped throne. Abdicated for a 'Non-Dynastic'.

812 - 813

The 'Peace of Aachen' in 812 confirms Dalmatia as a Frankish domain, other than the Eastern Roman cities and islands. The boundaries within Dalmatia which are imposed by this treaty are unclear (forcing an embassy to be sent to Aachen in 817 to clarify them).

The 'Madara Horseman' is a large rock relief which was carved on the Madara plateau to the east of Shumen in north-eastern Bulgaria - it can be dated to the very end of the seventh or start of the eighth century, during the reign of Bulgar Khan Tervel

During the same year Khan Krum seizes towns in Thrace, forcing Michael Rhangabé into a confrontation at Versinikia, on the route towards Adrianople. The battle, when it comes on 22 June 813, is a complete Bulgarian success, not helped by General Leo 'the Armenian' abandoning the emperor on the battlefield.

Constantinople is besieged, with the result that Michael abdicates to become a monk and his sons are castrated to prevent the continuation of his dynasty. He is succeeded by the opportunistic General Leo as the 'Non-Dynastic' Emperor Leo V.