Bardas Scleros

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Proclamation of Bardas Scleros as emperor

Bardas Skleros ( Middle Greek Βάρδας Σκλήρος ) was a Byzantine general under Emperor Johannes Tzimiskes and was the brother of Johannes' wife Maria. After his death he tried to dispute the successor to Basil II for the Byzantine throne, but without success.

Bardas Scleros as the loyal general of Johannes Tzimiskes

As far as we know, Bardas Scleros held the rank of Magistros under the reign of John Tzimiskes and was closely connected to this, since he had fought with John for a long time in Syria and was probably his closest confidante. He first appeared when the Russian prince Svyatoslav attacked the Byzantine Empire. As one of the two leaders of the vanguard of the imperial army, Skleros advanced on Adrianople and feigned cowardice to the Russian army, which ultimately led to some of the attackers being lured into a trap and eliminated. The main army was almost completely wiped out in a field battle for a few days.

Because of this diversion, the general Bardas Phokas saw his chance to rob the throne: he fled his forced exile in Pontus and marched towards Constantinople with a few thousand men. Johannes sent his brother-in-law Scleros to meet him, but told him to keep Phocas, who was also friends with Scleros, alive. After most of his followers deserted to Scleros, Phocas and his family finally surrendered to the emperor.

The first revolt

After the death of Johannes Tzimiskes in 976, Scleros regarded himself as his rightful successor. He was proclaimed emperor by his troops and marched with them towards the Anatolian Caesarea . After several victories on land and sea, he was finally able to begin the siege of Constantinople. However, Skleros' fleet, which he had taken over in Attalea (today's Antalya ), was unceremoniously wiped out by the fleet loyal to the emperor. The eunuch Basileios Lakapenos , who was still in charge of the official affairs of Basil II and his brother, appointed Bardas Phokas of all people as commander of the imperial forces.

He went to Caesarea to recruit a new army and to stab Scleros in the back. Scleros immediately withdrew from the capital when he saw the danger. The opponents fought each other for three years, and although he had several victories, Bardas Scleros failed to overcome his opponent. The decisive Battle of Pankalia finally took place in the spring of 979. Phokas seemed to lose the battle and therefore challenged his opponent to a duel, which he lost; However, Bardas Scleros did not find death. After his defeat he fled to Syria and sought revenge.

The second revolt

After another attack by the Bulgarians in 987, he returned from exile. Simultaneously with him, Bardas Phokas revolted again, who proposed a partition of the empire. The two besieged Constantinople for over a year. Finally, Emperor Basil II ordered a sortie. Again Phocas tried to win a duel, but this time he was less lucky because he died on his horse; it seems like a stroke. Basil made an offer to the meanwhile weak and half-blind Scleros: He promised him the title of Kuropalate and his soldiers impunity.

Bardas Scleros accepted the offer. At the sight of the scleros, Basil is said to have asked in astonishment whether this old, sick man was actually his long-term adversary. Scleros advised the emperor not to give the Anatolian nobility much leeway to keep the throne safely. Basil followed this advice throughout his life.

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SURNAME Bardas Scleros
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Βάρδας Σκλήρος (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Byzantine general
DATE OF BIRTH 10th century
DATE OF DEATH after 987