Himerios (admiral)
Encyclopedia
Himerios also Himerius, was a Byzantine
administrator and admiral of the early 10th century, best known as the commander of the Byzantine navy
during its struggles with the resurgent Muslim
navies in the period 900–912.
, the mistress and later wife of Emperor Leo VI the Wise
(r. 886–912), and his career was the direct result of this relationship.
Initially a protasēkrētis
, he was appointed in command of the Byzantine fleet in 904. A Muslim fleet under Leo of Tripoli
was heading towards Constantinople
and had already driven back the Byzantines under the droungarios Eustathios. Eustathios was replaced by Himerios, who, however, did not have to fight, as the Arabs withdrew on their own. The two fleets encountered each other off Thasos
, but the Byzantines chose not to give battle. As a result, the Arabs were able to sack
Thessalonica, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, and sail home unopposed.
On St. Thomas
's day (October 6) in 906, Himerios managed to inflict his first defeat on the Arabs, and it was probably then that he was awarded the high state office of logothetēs tou dromou
(effectively foreign minister). Another victory followed in 909, and in the next year, he led an expedition on the Syrian
coast: Laodicea
was sacked, its hinterland plundered, and many prisoners captured, with minimal losses. At the same time, Himerios also landed on Cyprus
, which for centuries had been demilitarized as a condominium
with the Caliphate
. The recovery of the island was temporary only, as in 911 or 912, Damian the Tyrian assaulted Cyprus. Eventually, the previous status quo was restored.
In meantime, in the autumn of 911, Himerios had set out on a new attempt to retake Crete
. He commanded a fleet of 177 dromons
with 43,000 men, and set the island's capital, Chandax, under siege. The siege had lasted for six months, when news arrived from Constantinople
that the Byzantine emperor was ill and dying. Consequently, Himerios abandoned the fruitless siege and set sail for the capital. However, as his fleet was rounding Chios
, they fell into a Saracen ambush set by Leo of Tripoli and Damian the Tyrian (April 912): the Byzantines were annihilated, and Himerios himself only narrowly escaped. Following this defeat and the death of EmperorLeo, he was dismissed by the new Byzantine emperor, Emperor Alexander (r. 912–913), and exiled to the monastery
of Kamba, where he died six years later.
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...
administrator and admiral of the early 10th century, best known as the commander of the Byzantine navy
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...
during its struggles with the resurgent Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
navies in the period 900–912.
Life
Nothing is known about his early life. Himerios was the uncle of 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....
, the mistress and later wife of 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...
(r. 886–912), and his career was the direct result of this relationship.
Initially a protasēkrētis
Protasekretis
The prōtasēkrētis , also found as prōtoasēkrētis and latinized as protasecretis or protoasecretis, was a senior official in the Byzantine bureaucracy. The title means "first asēkrētis", illustrating his position as the head of the order of the asēkrētai, the senior class of imperial notaries.The...
, he was appointed in command of the Byzantine fleet in 904. A Muslim fleet under Leo of Tripoli
Leo of Tripoli
Leo of Tripoli was a Greek renegade and pirate serving Arab interests in the early tenth century. Born in the Byzantine Empire to Christian parents, he later converted to Islam and took employment with his former captors as an admiral....
was heading towards 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:...
and had already driven back the Byzantines under the droungarios Eustathios. Eustathios was replaced by Himerios, who, however, did not have to fight, as the Arabs withdrew on their own. The two fleets encountered each other off Thasos
Thasos
Thasos or Thassos is a Greek island in the northern Aegean Sea, close to the coast of Thrace and the plain of the river Nestos but geographically part of Macedonia. It is the northernmost Greek island, and 12th largest by area...
, but the Byzantines chose not to give battle. As a result, the Arabs were able to sack
Sack of Thessalonica (904)
The Sack of Thessalonica in 904 by Saracen pirates was one of the worst disasters to befall the Byzantine Empire in the 10th century. A Muslim fleet, led by the renegade Leo of Tripoli, and with the imperial capital of Constantinople as its initial target, sailed from Syria...
Thessalonica, the Byzantine Empire's second-largest city, and sail home unopposed.
On St. Thomas
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
's day (October 6) in 906, Himerios managed to inflict his first defeat on the Arabs, and it was probably then that he was awarded the high state office of logothetēs tou dromou
Logothetes tou dromou
The logothetēs tou dromou , in English usually rendered as Logothete of the Course/Drome/Dromos or Postal Logothete, was the head of the department of the Dromos, the Public Post , and one of the most senior ministers of the Byzantine Empire.- History and functions :The exact origin and date of...
(effectively foreign minister). Another victory followed in 909, and in the next year, he led an expedition on the Syrian
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
coast: Laodicea
Latakia
Latakia, or Latakiyah , is the principal port city of Syria, as well as the capital of the Latakia Governorate. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages...
was sacked, its hinterland plundered, and many prisoners captured, with minimal losses. At the same time, Himerios also landed on Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
, which for centuries had been demilitarized as a condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
with the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
. The recovery of the island was temporary only, as in 911 or 912, Damian the Tyrian assaulted Cyprus. Eventually, the previous status quo was restored.
In meantime, in the autumn of 911, Himerios had set out on a new attempt to retake Crete
Emirate of Crete
The Emirate of Crete was a Muslim state that existed on the Mediterranean island of Crete from the late 820s to the Byzantine reconquest of the island in 961....
. He commanded a fleet of 177 dromons
Dromon
The dromon was a type of galley and the most important warship of the Byzantine navy from the 6th to 12th centuries AD...
with 43,000 men, and set the island's capital, Chandax, under siege. The siege had lasted for six months, when news arrived from 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:...
that the Byzantine emperor was ill and dying. Consequently, Himerios abandoned the fruitless siege and set sail for the capital. However, as his fleet was rounding Chios
Chios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, they fell into a Saracen ambush set by Leo of Tripoli and Damian the Tyrian (April 912): the Byzantines were annihilated, and Himerios himself only narrowly escaped. Following this defeat and the death of EmperorLeo, he was dismissed by the new Byzantine emperor, Emperor Alexander (r. 912–913), and exiled to the monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
of Kamba, where he died six years later.