Constantine Doukas (usurper)
Encyclopedia
Constantine Doukas (died 913) was a prominent Byzantine
general. In 904, he stopped the influential eunuch court official Samonas
from defecting to the Arabs. In return, Samonas manipulated his father, Andronikos Doukas
, into rebelling and fleeing to the Abbasid
court in 906/907. Constantine followed his father, but soon escaped and returned to Byzantium, where he was restored by Leo VI the Wise
(r. 886–912) to favour and entrusted with high military offices. Upon the death of the Emperor Alexander (r. 912–913), Constantine with the support of several aristocrats unsuccessfully tried to usurp the throne from the young Constantine VII
(r. 913–959), but was killed in a clash with supporters of the legitimate emperor.
, a prominent general under Emperor Leo VI the Wise
and the first prominent member of the Doukas
family. Constantine first appears in 904, during the attempted flight of the Arab
-born eunuch Samonas
, one of the emperor's most trusted aides, to his native lands. Constantine captured Samonas at the holy shrine of Siricha and escorted him back to Constantinople
, where an enquiry into the matter was held before the Senate
. Leo, who was still attached to his servant, enjoined Constantine to maintain that Samonas had in fact been making for the shrine where he was captured, and not the Arab frontier. When the senators however asked Constantine to verify the truth of this claim by swearing on "God and the emperor's head", he refused to do so. Samonas was punished by house arrest, and although he was soon pardoned by Leo, he had conceived a deep enmity towards the Doukai.
This grudge came to the fore in 906, when Samonas tricked Andronikos into refusing to participate in an imperial expedition. Afraid that he would be punished for his disobedience, Andronikos with his family and retainers fled to the fortress of Kabala, near Iconium, and thence across the border into exile in the Abbasid Caliphate. Constantine and his father ended up in Baghdad, where Andronikos, again through the machinations of Samonas, was confined to house arrest and forced to convert to Islam. He died there in ca. 910. Constantine however managed to escape in ca. 908, journeyed through Armenia and was warmly welcomed back by Leo in a ceremony in the throne room of the Chrysotriklinos
. Despite his father's revolt, the Doukai remained very popular due to their military successes, and prophecies apparently circulated that predicted Constantine's rise to the throne. Leo warned the young man from trying to become emperor, but quickly entrusted him with senior military positions: in ca. 909 Constantine was strategos
of the Charsianon
theme and he had risen to Domestic of the Schools
by 913. From both positions he fought victoriously against the Arabs.
, and his son and titular co-emperor, Constantine VII
, were sidelined during the reign of Alexander, who also restored Zoe's old adversary, Nicholas Mystikos
, as Patriarch of Constantinople
. Thus, at the death of Alexander, with Constantine VII not even eight years old, a power struggle ensued between Zoe and Patriarch Nicholas, who headed the regency council. It was at this point that Constantine Doukas launched a rebellion aiming for the throne. The chroniclers insinuate that Patriarch Nicholas was also involved. Unaware that he would be appointed regent (Alexander named him to the regency council on his deathbed), fearful of losing his pre-eminent position and anxious about the threat posed by the Bulgarian
Tsar Simeon
, the Patriarch apparently summoned Doukas to assume the throne.
Doukas, enjoying wide support among both the aristocrats and the populace, accepted the Patriarch's summons and headed to Constantinople with a few trusted friends. He entered the capital in secret through a postern during the night, and hid in the house of his father-in-law, Gregory Iberitzes. On the following morning, his supporters opened the gates to his army, hailing him as emperor. Constantine was duly proclaimed emperor before the people at the Hippodrome
, and headed in triumph towards the Chalke
gate of the imperial palace
. There however he was opposed by the soldiers of the Hetaireia
guard and armed oarsmen of the imperial fleet
, assembled by the magistros John Eladas, a member of the regency council. An armed clash followed, in which many were killed, including Constantine's son Gregory, his nephew Michael and his friend Kourtikes. Disheartened, Constantine turned and tried to flee, but his horse slipped and fell. Constantine was killed by an arrow, allegedly cursing the Patriarch Nicholas as he died; his head was cut off and presented to the young emperor.
The numerous supporters of the usurper were likewise harshly punished; some were blinded
and exiled, others were tonsured and confined to monasteries, while many of the common folk were affixed to stakes on the eastern shore of the Bosporus
. Constantine Doukas' wife was exiled to Paphlagonia
and his younger son Stephen was castrated
. Along with the deaths of Constantine's son and nephew, this meant the extinction of this branch of the Doukas family: the relation of the later bearers of the Doukas name with Andronikos and Constantine is unclear.
: in the 930s, Basil the Copper Hand
assumed his identity and led a peasant revolt, while among the aristocracy he was glorified as a hero. Elements of this found their way into the epic poem Digenes Akrites, as well as the hagiography of St. Basil the Younger.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
general. In 904, he stopped the influential eunuch court official Samonas
Samonas
Samonas was an Arab-born eunuch, who was captured by the Byzantines and became one of the most influential officials of the Byzantine Empire during the first decade of the 10th century.- Life :...
from defecting to the Arabs. In return, Samonas manipulated his father, Andronikos Doukas
Andronikos Doukas (general under Leo VI)
Andronikos Doukas or Doux was a Byzantine general and rebel in the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise . The first member of the illustrious Doukas line to achieve prominence as a successful general, his rivalry with the powerful eunuch Samonas led to his revolt and eventual defection to the Arabs in...
, into rebelling and fleeing to the Abbasid
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or, more simply, the Abbasids , was the third of the Islamic caliphates. It was ruled by the Abbasid dynasty of caliphs, who built their capital in Baghdad after overthrowing the Umayyad caliphate from all but the al-Andalus region....
court in 906/907. Constantine followed his father, but soon escaped and returned to Byzantium, where he was restored by Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
(r. 886–912) to favour and entrusted with high military offices. Upon the death of the Emperor Alexander (r. 912–913), Constantine with the support of several aristocrats unsuccessfully tried to usurp the throne from the young Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
(r. 913–959), but was killed in a clash with supporters of the legitimate emperor.
Early life and career
He was the son of Andronikos DoukasAndronikos Doukas (general under Leo VI)
Andronikos Doukas or Doux was a Byzantine general and rebel in the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise . The first member of the illustrious Doukas line to achieve prominence as a successful general, his rivalry with the powerful eunuch Samonas led to his revolt and eventual defection to the Arabs in...
, a prominent general under Emperor Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
and the first prominent member of the Doukas
Doukas
Doukas, latinized as Ducas , from the Latin tile dux , is the name of a Byzantine Greek noble family, whose branches provided several notable generals and rulers to the Byzantine Empire...
family. Constantine first appears in 904, during the attempted flight of the Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
-born eunuch Samonas
Samonas
Samonas was an Arab-born eunuch, who was captured by the Byzantines and became one of the most influential officials of the Byzantine Empire during the first decade of the 10th century.- Life :...
, one of the emperor's most trusted aides, to his native lands. Constantine captured Samonas at the holy shrine of Siricha and escorted him back to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, where an enquiry into the matter was held before the Senate
Byzantine Senate
The Byzantine Senate or Eastern Roman Senate was the continuation of the Roman Senate, established in the 4th century by Constantine I. It survived for centuries but was increasingly irrelevant until its eventual disappearance in the 13th century....
. Leo, who was still attached to his servant, enjoined Constantine to maintain that Samonas had in fact been making for the shrine where he was captured, and not the Arab frontier. When the senators however asked Constantine to verify the truth of this claim by swearing on "God and the emperor's head", he refused to do so. Samonas was punished by house arrest, and although he was soon pardoned by Leo, he had conceived a deep enmity towards the Doukai.
This grudge came to the fore in 906, when Samonas tricked Andronikos into refusing to participate in an imperial expedition. Afraid that he would be punished for his disobedience, Andronikos with his family and retainers fled to the fortress of Kabala, near Iconium, and thence across the border into exile in the Abbasid Caliphate. Constantine and his father ended up in Baghdad, where Andronikos, again through the machinations of Samonas, was confined to house arrest and forced to convert to Islam. He died there in ca. 910. Constantine however managed to escape in ca. 908, journeyed through Armenia and was warmly welcomed back by Leo in a ceremony in the throne room of the Chrysotriklinos
Chrysotriklinos
The Chrysotriklinos , latinized as Chrysotriclinus or Chrysotriclinium, was the main reception and ceremonial hall of the Great Palace of Constantinople from its construction, in the late 6th century, until the 10th century...
. Despite his father's revolt, the Doukai remained very popular due to their military successes, and prophecies apparently circulated that predicted Constantine's rise to the throne. Leo warned the young man from trying to become emperor, but quickly entrusted him with senior military positions: in ca. 909 Constantine was strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of the Charsianon
Charsianon
Charsianon was the name of a Byzantine fortress and the corresponding theme in the region of Cappadocia in central Anatolia .-History:...
theme and he had risen to Domestic of the Schools
Domestic of the Schools
The Domestic of the Schools was a senior Byzantine military office, extant from the 8th century until at least the early 14th century. Originally simply the commander of the Scholai, the senior of the elite tagmata regiments, the Domestic quickly rose in prominence: by the mid-9th century, its...
by 913. From both positions he fought victoriously against the Arabs.
Attempted usurpation
Leo VI died in May 912 and was succeeded by his brother Alexander, who reigned for little over a year before dying in June 913. Leo's empress, Zoe KarbonopsinaZoe Karbonopsina
Zoe Karbonopsina, also Karvounopsina or Carbonopsina, i.e., "with the Coal-Black Eyes" , was fourth wife of the Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise and the mother of Constantine VII....
, and his son and titular co-emperor, Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
, were sidelined during the reign of Alexander, who also restored Zoe's old adversary, Nicholas Mystikos
Nicholas Mystikos
Nicholas I Mystikos or Nicholas I Mysticus was the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople from March 901 to February 906 and from May 912 to his death in 925. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is May 16.Nicholas was born in the Italian Peninsula and had become a friend of the Patriarch Photios...
, as Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
. Thus, at the death of Alexander, with Constantine VII not even eight years old, a power struggle ensued between Zoe and Patriarch Nicholas, who headed the regency council. It was at this point that Constantine Doukas launched a rebellion aiming for the throne. The chroniclers insinuate that Patriarch Nicholas was also involved. Unaware that he would be appointed regent (Alexander named him to the regency council on his deathbed), fearful of losing his pre-eminent position and anxious about the threat posed by the Bulgarian
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
Tsar Simeon
Simeon I of Bulgaria
Simeon I the Great ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927, during the First Bulgarian Empire. Simeon's successful campaigns against the Byzantines, Magyars and Serbs led Bulgaria to its greatest territorial expansion ever, making it the most powerful state in contemporary Eastern Europe...
, the Patriarch apparently summoned Doukas to assume the throne.
Doukas, enjoying wide support among both the aristocrats and the populace, accepted the Patriarch's summons and headed to Constantinople with a few trusted friends. He entered the capital in secret through a postern during the night, and hid in the house of his father-in-law, Gregory Iberitzes. On the following morning, his supporters opened the gates to his army, hailing him as emperor. Constantine was duly proclaimed emperor before the people at the Hippodrome
Hippodrome of Constantinople
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with only a few fragments of the original structure surviving...
, and headed in triumph towards the Chalke
Chalke
The Chalke Gate , was the main ceremonial entrance to the Great Palace of Constantinople in the Byzantine period. The name, which means "the Bronze Gate", was given to it either because of the bronze portals or from the gilded bronze tiles used in its roof. The interior was lavishly decorated with...
gate of the imperial palace
Great Palace of Constantinople
The Great Palace of Constantinople — also known as the Sacred Palace — was the large Imperial Byzantine palace complex located in the south-eastern end of the peninsula now known as "Old Istanbul", modern Turkey...
. There however he was opposed by the soldiers of the Hetaireia
Hetaireia
The Hetaireia or Hetaeria was a term used to describe a corps of bodyguards of the Byzantine Empire. Its name means "the Company", echoing the ancient Macedonian Companion cavalry. The imperial Hetaireia, composed chiefly of foreigners, formed part of the Byzantine imperial guard alongside the...
guard and armed oarsmen of the imperial fleet
Byzantine navy
The Byzantine navy was the naval force of the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. Like the empire it served, it was a direct continuation from its imperial Roman predecessor, but played a far greater role in the defense and survival of the state then its earlier iterations...
, assembled by the magistros John Eladas, a member of the regency council. An armed clash followed, in which many were killed, including Constantine's son Gregory, his nephew Michael and his friend Kourtikes. Disheartened, Constantine turned and tried to flee, but his horse slipped and fell. Constantine was killed by an arrow, allegedly cursing the Patriarch Nicholas as he died; his head was cut off and presented to the young emperor.
The numerous supporters of the usurper were likewise harshly punished; some were blinded
Political mutilation in Byzantine culture
Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a...
and exiled, others were tonsured and confined to monasteries, while many of the common folk were affixed to stakes on the eastern shore of the Bosporus
Bosporus
The Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
. Constantine Doukas' wife was exiled to Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
and his younger son Stephen was castrated
Castration
Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
. Along with the deaths of Constantine's son and nephew, this meant the extinction of this branch of the Doukas family: the relation of the later bearers of the Doukas name with Andronikos and Constantine is unclear.
Legacy
Despite his failure at seizing the throne, Constantine Doukas' popularity meant that his memory was preserved both among the people and the aristocracy of Asia MinorAsia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
: in the 930s, Basil the Copper Hand
Basil the Copper Hand
Basil the Copper Hand was a Byzantine rebel leader active in Bithynia in the 920s and early 930s.Basil was born in Macedonia. In the 920s, in the theme of Opsikion in Bithynia, he assumed the name of the general Constantine Doukas, who had been killed during an attempted coup in 913, and assembled...
assumed his identity and led a peasant revolt, while among the aristocracy he was glorified as a hero. Elements of this found their way into the epic poem Digenes Akrites, as well as the hagiography of St. Basil the Younger.