Leo Tornikios
Encyclopedia
Leo Tornikios was a mid-11th century Byzantine
general and noble, who in 1047 rebelled against the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
(r. 1042–1055).
A nephew of Constantine IX, he was born in Adrianople, the scion of the noted noble Armenian
/Georgian
family of Tornikios
. Named patrikios and commander (doux
) of Melitene (according to Michael Attaleiates) or Iberia (according to Michael Psellos
). Although favoured by Constantine, Tornikios was crafty and ambitious according to Psellos, and became a devotee of the Emperor's sister Euprepia, who opposed the Emperor's policies. During Leo's tenure in the East, however, a revolt broke out in Macedonia by some of his supporters. Tornikios was swiftly recalled to Constantinople
, where he was tonsured
but otherwise allowed considerable personal liberty.
Taking advantage of this, he fled the capital to Adrianople on September 14, 1047. There he gathered his supporters and a number of disgruntled generals and raised them in revolt against Emperor Constantine's misgovernment. Proclaiming himself emperor, he marched against the capital with his forces and set up his camp opposite the Walls of Constantinople
on September 25, 1047. An ad hoc force of armed citizens who sallied out to meet him was easily defeated. This victory spread panic to the capital's defenders, who momentarily abandoned their posts on the walls and their gates. Tornikios, however, hesitated, and lost the opportunity to take the city, for that night, Emperor Constantine managed to restore order and re-occupy the walls, awaiting the arrival of the Anatolian
army. The siege lasted four days, from September 25 until September 28. Two assaults of Tornikios's men on the walls were turned back by the defenders under the personal leadership of Emperor Constantine, who, despite suffering from gout
and having no military experience, showed courage and energy in this extremity. Following the failure of his assaults, Tornikios was forced to withdraw westwards. Hoping to retrieve the situation he attacked Rhaidestos, but was again repulsed. At this point, his followers started to abandon him. He found refuge in a church at Boulgarophygon, but was lured out of it and captured. On Christmas
1047, at Constantinople, he was blinded
along with a certain John Vatatzes, his principal supporter. Nothing is thereafter known about him.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
general and noble, who in 1047 rebelled against the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos, Latinized as Constantine IX Monomachus , c. 1000 – January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055. He had been chosen by the Empress Zoe as a husband and co-emperor in 1042, although he had been exiled for conspiring...
(r. 1042–1055).
A nephew of Constantine IX, he was born in Adrianople, the scion of the noted noble Armenian
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
/Georgian
Georgian people
The Georgians are an ethnic group that have originated in Georgia, where they constitute a majority of the population. Large Georgian communities are also present throughout Russia, European Union, United States, and South America....
family of Tornikios
Tornikios
T'ornike also known as Tornikios or Thornikios was a retired Georgian general and monk who came to be better known as a founder of the formerly Georgian Orthodox Iviron Monastery on Mt Athos in the modern-day northeastern Greece....
. Named patrikios and commander (doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
) of Melitene (according to Michael Attaleiates) or Iberia (according to Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos
Michael Psellos or Psellus was a Byzantine monk, writer, philosopher, politician and historian...
). Although favoured by Constantine, Tornikios was crafty and ambitious according to Psellos, and became a devotee of the Emperor's sister Euprepia, who opposed the Emperor's policies. During Leo's tenure in the East, however, a revolt broke out in Macedonia by some of his supporters. Tornikios was swiftly recalled 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 he was tonsured
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
but otherwise allowed considerable personal liberty.
Taking advantage of this, he fled the capital to Adrianople on September 14, 1047. There he gathered his supporters and a number of disgruntled generals and raised them in revolt against Emperor Constantine's misgovernment. Proclaiming himself emperor, he marched against the capital with his forces and set up his camp opposite the Walls of Constantinople
Walls of Constantinople
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople since its founding as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great...
on September 25, 1047. An ad hoc force of armed citizens who sallied out to meet him was easily defeated. This victory spread panic to the capital's defenders, who momentarily abandoned their posts on the walls and their gates. Tornikios, however, hesitated, and lost the opportunity to take the city, for that night, Emperor Constantine managed to restore order and re-occupy the walls, awaiting the arrival of the Anatolian
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
army. The siege lasted four days, from September 25 until September 28. Two assaults of Tornikios's men on the walls were turned back by the defenders under the personal leadership of Emperor Constantine, who, despite suffering from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and having no military experience, showed courage and energy in this extremity. Following the failure of his assaults, Tornikios was forced to withdraw westwards. Hoping to retrieve the situation he attacked Rhaidestos, but was again repulsed. At this point, his followers started to abandon him. He found refuge in a church at Boulgarophygon, but was lured out of it and captured. On Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
1047, at Constantinople, he was 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...
along with a certain John Vatatzes, his principal supporter. Nothing is thereafter known about him.