Nikephoros Diogenes
Encyclopedia
Nikephoros Diogenes latinized as Nicephorus Diogenes, was the son of Byzantine Emperor Romanos IV Diogenes and Eudokia Makrembolitissa
. Crowned co-emperor during his father's reign, he later served as a general during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
, scoring successes in the Byzantine campaigns against the Normans
and Pechenegs, as well as governor of Crete
.
While campaigning against barbarian forces led by Bolcanus, Nikephoros Diogenes planned to kill the Emperor and usurp the throne. He placed his tent very close to the Emperor's and at night hid his sword and entered the tent, intending to kill him. However, while the Emperor was sleeping a maid was awake fanning away mosquitoes. Seeing the maid, Nikephoros panicked and fled back to his tent. Later, he tried again at the house of Constantine Doukas Porphyrogennetos in the Serres
region of Macedonia. This time however he was caught trying to enter the bathhouse with his sword.
Following his arrest he revealed that Empress Maria of Alania knew of the plot, but had insisted that Alexios not be killed but merely overthrown. It was also revealed that Diogenes had many co-conspirators. To kill or maim all of them would have been too dangerous for Alexios, who feared that his troops would mutiny if sent out that order. Instead he circulated the rumor that Diogenes had been blinded, so as to strike fear in his fellow-plotters. The plan worked, but the rumor grew so strong that Alexios' men were convinced that they were actually ordered to blind
Nikephoros Diogenes. So without the permission of the Emperor, who was very fond of the man, Nikephoros Diogenes was blinded.
Nikephoros Diogenes lived out his life under protection of the Emperor and studied history and other sciences, getting his servants to read aloud to him.
Eudokia Makrembolitissa
Eudokia Makrembolitissa was the second wife of the Byzantine emperor Constantine X Doukas. After his death she acted as regent and became the wife of Romanos IV Diogenes...
. Crowned co-emperor during his father's reign, he later served as a general during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
, scoring successes in the Byzantine campaigns against the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
and Pechenegs, as well as governor of Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
Life
Nikephoros's father, Romanos IV Diogenes, died when he was still a boy. Although elevated to the rank of co-emperor on his birth, he was banished to a monastery along with his mother after the fall of Romanos. Alexios I Komnenos took in Nikephoros and his brother Leo and treated them well.While campaigning against barbarian forces led by Bolcanus, Nikephoros Diogenes planned to kill the Emperor and usurp the throne. He placed his tent very close to the Emperor's and at night hid his sword and entered the tent, intending to kill him. However, while the Emperor was sleeping a maid was awake fanning away mosquitoes. Seeing the maid, Nikephoros panicked and fled back to his tent. Later, he tried again at the house of Constantine Doukas Porphyrogennetos in the Serres
Serres
Serres is a city in Greece, seat of the Serres prefecture.Serres may also refer to:Places:* Serres, Germany, a part of Wiernsheim in Baden-WürttembergIn France:* Serres, Aude in the Aude département...
region of Macedonia. This time however he was caught trying to enter the bathhouse with his sword.
Following his arrest he revealed that Empress Maria of Alania knew of the plot, but had insisted that Alexios not be killed but merely overthrown. It was also revealed that Diogenes had many co-conspirators. To kill or maim all of them would have been too dangerous for Alexios, who feared that his troops would mutiny if sent out that order. Instead he circulated the rumor that Diogenes had been blinded, so as to strike fear in his fellow-plotters. The plan worked, but the rumor grew so strong that Alexios' men were convinced that they were actually ordered to blind
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...
Nikephoros Diogenes. So without the permission of the Emperor, who was very fond of the man, Nikephoros Diogenes was blinded.
Nikephoros Diogenes lived out his life under protection of the Emperor and studied history and other sciences, getting his servants to read aloud to him.