Scleros (noble family)

The Scleros in the plural Skleroi (Greek: Σκληροί,), in the female form Skleraina (Greek: Σκλήραινα), were among the oldest and richest Byzantine noble families . They appeared in a document at the beginning of the ninth century and reached the height of their power in the second half of the 10th century. The Scleroi were related to various imperial dynasties and came to the imperial crown through the counter-emperor Bardas Sklerosclose, but could never achieve it. Their influence alternated with the respective rulers but weakened in the 11th century, as a result of which later members of the family hardly appear in leadership positions. In the 14th century they disappeared from the records.

Nevertheless, they left a permanent offspring in the female line in Europe. This on the one hand through the marriage of Theophano Skleraina with Emperor Otto II. († 991) and on the other hand through the extramarital union of Maria Skleraina with Emperor Constantine IX. of Byzantium, from which Anna Monomachina emerged, who left offspring from her marriage to Vsevolod I. Yaroslavich (* 1030, † April 13, 1093) Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (1078-1093). In addition, Arab ancestors found their way into European dynasties via the wife of Bardas Scleros.

Marriage certificate of Otto and Theophanus (State Archives Wolfenbüttel 6 Urk 11): With this certificate Otto assigned his wife extensive lands in the empire and in Italy as a morning gift. The certificate is handed down in a splendid copy, in which the text is written in gold on a purple background patterned with animal ornaments.

origin

The Skleroi family is generally believed to be of Armenian origin, although there is no written evidence of this. This assumption is based on the fact that the lands of the oldest known family members were in northeast Asia Minor , either in Lesser Armenia or in the subject of Sivas , and that the first names of the family members were often of Armenian origin. The first historically secured ancestor is Leon Skleros , who appears as strategos (military governor) of the Peloponnese theme in 805 and 811 . The lineage of the next generations is based on well-founded assumptions, but is not secured by documentary evidence. The male members followed the tradition of the military nobility and served as officers in the imperial army, with the focus of their operations in the Balkans in the 9th century.

Ascent

The strategic marriage of Leon Skleros to Eirene Mamikonian is likely to have contributed significantly to the rise of the family . Eirene came from the Armenian princely house of the same name, which was documented as early as 314 with Artavazd Mamikonian "Sparapet", ie as commander in chief of the Armenian armed forces, an office that later became hereditary in the family. From the 4th century onwards, the Mamikonians were the most powerful dynasty in Armenia until they were ousted by the Bagratids in the 8th century . Eirene's father was Bardanes "Tourkos" (the Turk) Mamikonian (* 755/60, † after 813), Domestikos ton scholon (commander-in-chief of the imperial troops), senator, etc., who through his sister was an uncle of Leo V. (* around 775, † December 25, 820), Emperor of Byzantium (813–820), and through his daughter Thekla father-in-law of Michael II (* 770, † 829) Emperor of Byzantium (820–829) from the Amorian dynasty and grandfather of Theophilos (* around 813, † 842), Emperor of Byzantium (829–842). A presumed son of Leon Scleros - first name unknown - appears as a Byzantine general in 838, but fell out with his relative Emperor Theophilus and, out of anger, entered the service of the Arabs , fought on their side against Byzantium, but later came into conflict with Umar al-Aqta, the emir of Malatya . The family was resumed in grace under Emperor Basil I (867-886) from the Macedonian dynasty , since Theodoros Skleros held the position of strategos (governor of a military province) in 869 and carried the high title of magistros. The sons of Theodoros, Antonios Skleros - strategist of Hellas and Niketas Scleros - Drungarios tou ploimou (admiral of the imperial fleet) and 894 Byzantine envoy to the court of the prince of Hungary, Árpád , the founder of the Árpáden dynasty - both had the high Rank of patrician.

Another setback for the family was the reign of Leo V "the Wise" (* 866, † 912) Emperor of Byzantium (886-912), who favored the rival families of the Phokadai and Dukai , the high military commands and the high Took over administrative posts in the state. Better fared the Skleroi under the reign of Romanos Lekapenos (* 870, † 948) Byzantine emperor (920-944), as the General Pantherios Skleros for Strategos (governor of a military province) of the subject Lykandos and the topic later Thracesian Theme was appointed and finally as Domestikos ton scholon (commander in chief of the imperial troops) reached the top of the military hierarchy in 943–944 . However, he was replaced in this function by Bardas Phokas the Elder (* around 878, † around 968) in 944 .

Peak under Bardas Scleros

Probably the most important person in the house was Bardas Scleros († 991), the 956 with the title "Patrikios", who was only given to the Byzantine nobility. He was a comrade in arms, friend and brother-in-law of Johannes Tzimiskes (* 924, † January 10, 976), which benefited him after his accession to the throne in 969, as he rose to Domestikos ton scholon des Ostens (Supreme Commander of the Byzantine armed forces in the east) in 970 . In the battle of Arkadiopolis (970) he succeeded in defeating the army of Svyatoslaw I Igorewitsch , the Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (945-972), and in 971 the revolt of Bardas Phokas the Younger (* around 940/45, † April 13, 989) prostrate.

His dismissal after the death of Emperor Johannes Tzimiskes caused him to revolt in 976, in the course of which his army proclaimed him emperor. With the support of the emir of Mosul Fadl Allah Abu Taghlib al Ghadanfar (967-978) he defeated the armies sent against him, but was finally defeated in 979 in a personal duel against Bardas Phokas and fled to the Arabs. Released from Arab hospitality or imprisonment at the same time as 1000 Christians, he advances in 986 as a counter-emperor against Constantinople and allies himself with the simultaneously revolting Bardas Phokas the Younger (* around 940/45, + April 13, 989). The latter is, however, of Basil II (* 958, † 1025) Emperor of Byzantium (976-1025) in alliance with Vladimir I. Svyatoslav "the Holy", Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (980-1015) of the just (988) as son-in-law the emperor was the first of his house to be baptized Christian - defeated and killed. Bardas Scleros, on the other hand, submitted, was appointed Kuropalates (for example: Hofpfalzgraf) - and thus one of the highest dignitaries of the empire - for his renunciation of the claims to the throne in 991 , but died soon afterwards.

Through his marriage to a daughter of the Emir of Mosul, allied with him, Abu Taghlib (967– ) , mentioned by Arab historians such as Ibn Miskawaih († 1030) and Ibn al-Athīr (* 1160, † 1233) - the most important Muslim historian of the High Middle Ages . 978) from the house of the Hamdanids , the legacy of large Arab families reached Byzantium and from there to Europe.

Decline

The Scleroi could hold their high position in the following generations. Romanos Skleros (* 1010, † after 1055) the brother of Maria Skleraina, the lover of Emperor Constantine IX. Monomachus was Magistros and Dux of the Subject Antioch in 1054 , Kuropalates in 1055 and married to Maria Dukaina (* around 1015) a sister of Constantine X. Dukas, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire . His sons Nikolaos Skleros and Michael Skleros also held the office of Kuropalates in 1084 and 1094, respectively . Michael Skleros, "Dux" von Bodena and Sthlanitza, who lived at the beginning of the 12th century, seems to have been the last of his family to hold a high state function. Subsequently, the family evidently resigned to second rank and was likely to have cared more about their goods than about high public offices. Members of the family appear in records until the 14th century, but then they disappear from the written records.

Aftermath

Despite their departure from history, the Skleroi left a lasting aftereffect, as daughters of the house married into foreign dynasties and thereby spread the descendants of the Skleroi in the female line throughout Europe.

Otto II and his wife Theophanu, crowned and blessed by Christ; Ivory relief tablet, around 982/983, Milan (?), Today Musée de Cluny , Paris

The most important marriage connection in this regard is undoubtedly the marriage of Theophanu Skleraina (* 955/60, † June 15, 991 in Nijmegen) with Emperor Otto II on April 14, 972 .

Theophanu was a daughter of Konstantinos Scleros (* around 920, † after 989) and Sophia Phokas , thus a great niece of Nicephorus II , niece of Bardas Scleros and a niece (by marriage) of the usurper Johannes Tzimiskes . She was thus not the hoped-for “purple-born” daughter of a Byzantine emperor, but still fulfilled her political function, namely to represent the western empire as being on an equal footing with that of Byzantium and to combine the two. In addition, she proved to be co-empress and later regent for her underage son Otto III. as one of the most influential rulers of the Middle Ages .

Otto III., The successor of Emperor Otto II. Illumination from the Gospel Book of Otto III. (Bavarian State Library, Clm 4453, fol.24r)

Your son Otto III. (* 980, † 1002), Roman Emperor (996–1002), died early and unmarried, but the descendants of Empress Theophano spread through her daughter Mathilde von Sachsen († November 4, 1025), who with Ezzo (Ehrenfried) Count Palatine of Lorraine († 1034) was married, through whose daughter Richeza of Lorraine (* 995/1000, † March 21, 1063), who was married in 1013 to Mieszko II Lambert King of Poland (1025-1031), to the house the Piasts and from there to all European rulers.

Mosaic of Constantine IX. and Empress Zoë

Another connection that has left permanent traces of the Scleroi in Europe is that of a great-granddaughter of Bardas Scleros; Maria Skleraina, who was the mistress of Constantine IX. Monomachus was emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1042-1055). She was the mother of Anna (Irina) Monomachina, who was married to Vsevolod I. Yaroslavich (* 1053, † May 19, 1125) Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (1113-1125).

Through this marriage, the descendants of the Skleroi not only spread to the house of the Rurikids - for example to the Grand Dukes of Kiev , the Grand Dukes, later the Kings of Galitsch , the Grand Dukes of Smolensk and Vladimir-Suzdal, and the Grand Dukes of Moscow - but very soon also on the kings of Denmark , the kings of Hungary from the house of the Árpáden and the dukes of Bohemia from the house of the Przemyslids , the dukes of Austria from the house of the so-called Babenbergs etc. and from there to all great European dynasties .

Stem row

Christian Settipani has reconstructed the family table of the Scleroi on the basis of detailed investigations as follows:

1. Leon Sclerosis (* around 775, † 811/814) 811 Strategos the topic Peloponnese, & Eirene Mamikonian , a subsidiary of Bardanes "Tourkos" (Turk) Mamikonian and the Dominican, which according Settipani a distant descendant of Marino, 595 as "Comes" (about: Count) occurs and his wife Gordia, who was a niece of Maurikios , Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (582–602).
   1. N Scleros (* around 800, † after 838) General 838, temporarily served the Arabs, ⚭ Ne
      1. ? Theodoros Skleros (* around 830, † after 869), Magistros, ⚭ Ne
         1. Antonios Skleros (* around 860, † after 869), around 890 strategist of Hellas
         2. ? Niketas Scleros (* around 865, † after 894), ⚭ Ne a relative of Romanos I. Lekapenos, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (920-944)
            1. ? Pantherios Scleros (I) (* around 900, † after 944), 944 Domestikos ton scholon, (one of the two commanders in command of the Byzantine Armed Forces) ⚭ Gregoria (* around 919), a daughter of Bardas (* 885/890), who was a Grandson of the brother of the same name of the Emperor Basil I, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (867–886) and thus a great-nephew of this Emperor
               1. Konstantinos Skleros (* 935, † March 11, 991) 970 Patrikios, ⚭ Sophia Phokaina (* around 945), a daughter of Leo Phokas the Younger (* around 915, † after 970), 960 Domestikos ton scholon, 963 Kuropalates .
                  1. ? Theophano Skleraina (around 956/60, † September 15, 991), ⚭ April 14, 972 Otto II (* 955, † December 7, 983), Roman-German Emperor (967-983)
                     1. Adelheid von Sachsen (* 977, † 14 January 1044), Abbess of Gandersheim and 2nd Abbess of Quedlinburg
                     2. Sophia of Saxony (* 975, † January 30, 1039 Gandersheim), abbess of Gandersheim in 1002
                     3. Otto III. (* June / July 980, † February 23/24, 1002 in Castel Paterno BEI Faleria) Roman-German Emperor (996–1002), Roman-German King from 983.
                     4. Mathilde von Sachsen (* 979; † 1025), ⚭ around 992 Ezzo , Count Palatine of Lorraine (996-1034) (descendants)
                  2. ? Pantherios Skleros (II.) (* Around 975, † after 1035) Patrikios, Anthypatos, ⚭ Martha Radena (* around 995), daughter of Johannes Radenos (* around 975) and Maria Skleraina, a daughter of the anti-emperor Bardas Skleros († 991)
                     1. ? Konstantinos Skleros (* around 1010), Magistros and Rector 1060/80
                        1. ? Theodoros Skleros (* around 1035)
                           1. ? Anna Skleraina (* around 1065)
                           2. ? Konstantinos Skleros (* around 1070)
                     2. ? Leo Scleros (* 1010/15)
                     3. ? Petros Skleros, ⚭ Barbara Skleraina (* 1010/15), daughter of Thomas Skleros
               2. ? Ne Skleraina, ⚭ Andronikos Dukas (* around 930)
                  1. Bardas Dukas (* around 955, † after 1016), General 976-1016
                     1. ? Andronikos Dukas (* around 975, † after 1010)
                        1. Constantine X. Dukas Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1059-1067) ⚭ (I) Ne Dalassene, daughter of General Konstantin Dalassenos , ⚭ (II) before 1050 Eudokia Makrembolitissa (* 1021; † 1096), regent 1067 and 1071, daughter of Johannes Makrembolites, niece of Michael Kerularios (* around 1000, † 1059) Patriarch of Constantinople (1043-1059)
                           1. Michael VII Dukas , co-emperor since 1060, emperor of Byzantium (1067 / 1071–1078), then monk
                           2. Andronikos Dukas, co-emperor (1071 − ca. 1078), † after 1081, ⚭ Princess Maria of Hungary from the house of the Árpáden , daughter of Béla I , King of Hungary (1060 / 61-1063)
                           3. Theodora Dukaina (* before 1059, † after 1075), ⚭ after 1071 Domenico Silvo Doge of Venice (1074-1084)
                           4. Konstantios Dukas " Porphyrogenetos " (born in purple) (* 1060, † falls on October 18, 1081 near Durazzo ( Durrës )), co-emperor (1067-1078), pretender to the throne, 1079 monk
                           5. Zoe Dukaina "Porphyrogeneta" (* 1062, † 1136), ⚭ after October 1081 Adrianos Komnenos , Megas domestikos tes Dyseos, († April 19, 1105) (descendants)
                        2. Maria Skleraina (* around 1015) ⚭ Romanos Skleros (* around 1010, † after 1055) around Kuropalates, Magistros, 1054 Dux of Antioch (see below)
                     2. Maria Skleraina, ⚭ Johannes Tzimiskes (* 924/930, † January 10, 976) Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (969–976)
                     3. Bardas Scleros (* around 925, † March 6, 991), see below.

1. Bardas Scleros (* around 925, † March 6, 991), 956 Patrikios, 970 Domestikos ton scholon, 976–979 and 986–989 rebel and anti -emperor , 991 Kuropalates , ⚭ Ne Burzaina (* 935/40, sister of Michael Burtzes, 968 Dux of Antioch)
   1. Maria Skleraina, ⚭ Iohannes Radenos (* around 970) Children among others:
      1. Martha Radena (* around 995), ⚭ Pantherios Scleros (II.) (* Around 975, † after 1035), (see above)
         1. Romanos Scleros (* around 955, † after 993); Magistros; was supported in his uprising in 976 by the emir of Mosul, Abu Taghlib ⚭ around 976 Ne al -Taglibi (* 955/60), from the house of the Hamdanid daughter of Fadl Allah Abu Taghlib al-Ghandanfar al-Taghlibi, emir of Mosul (967 –978) ud Ne bint al-Fadl (daughter of Abu l'Qasim al Fadl al-Mutīʿ li-ʾllāh 23rd caliph from the house of the Abbasids in Baghdad (946–974)?)
            1. Bardas Scleros (* 980)
               1. Romanos Scleros (* 1010, † after 1055); 1054 Magistros, Dux of Antioch, 1055 Kuropalates, ⚭ Maria Dukaina (* around 1015); Sister of Constantine X. Dukas, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1059-1067), daughter of Andronikos Dukas (grandson of Ne Skleraina, see above)
                  1. ? Nikolaos Scleros (* around 1040, † after 1084); 1070 Magistros; 1084 Kuroplates.
                  2. N Scleros (* around 1045), & Ne
                     1. ? Theodora Skleraina
                     2. ? Romanos Skleros (* around 1070)
                     3. ? Basileios Scleros, (* around 1075); monk
                     4. ? Michael Skleros, (* around 1075), Dux von Bodena and Sthalnitza in Russia
                  3. ? Michael Skleros, 1094 Kuropalates
                  4. ? Andronikos Skleros, Logothetes tou dromou (Head of Diplomacy and Post), 1104 Sebastos ("Majesty")
               2. Maria Skleraina (* 1010/1015; † 1042/50), was the lover of Constantine IX. Monomachus, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire Emperor of Byzantium (1042-1055) and received the high title of "Sebaste" from him
                  1. Anna Monomachina (* around 1035, † after 1053); ⚭ Vsevolod I. Yaroslavich (* 1030, † April 13, 1093) Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (1078-1093)
                     1. Vladimir Wsewolodowitsch Monomakh (* 1053; † 19 May 1125) Grand Duke of the Kievan Rus (1113–1125) ⚭ (I) around 1070 Gytha of England, T. v. Harald II. Godwinsson King of England , ⚭ (II) Ne († 1107) (permanent descendants from both marriages)
                     2. Jewpraxia (Adelheid) Princess of Kiev (* around 1072, † 1109), ⚭ (I) Heinrich III. "The long" Count of Stade, Margrave of the Nordmark († 1087); ⚭ (II) 1089 Heinrich IV. Roman-German Emperor (1084–1105)
            2. Thomas Skleros, ⚭ Maria Ne
               1. Barbara Skleraina, ⚭ Petros Skleros (son of Pantheros Skleros II.)
            3. Basileios Scleros (* 980/85, † n. 1033) & Pulcheria Argyra (* around 985, † 1033/34); Sister of Romanos III. Argyros, Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1028–1034), daughter of Photios Argyros (* 945/50), Patrikios
               1. Ne Skleraina (* around 1010, † before 1042), wife of Constantine IX. Monomachus Emperor of the Byzantine Empire (1042-1055)

literature

• Werner Seibt : The Scleroi. Publishing house of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna 1976.
• Alexander Kazhdan : Scleros . In: Alexander Kazhdan (Ed.): Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press, New York, Oxford 1991, Vol. 3, pp. 1911-1912.
• MD Sturdza: Dictionnaire Historique et Généalogique des Grandes Familles de Grèce, d'Albanie et de Constantinople. 2nd Edition. Paris 1999, p. 629.
• Christian Settipani : Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs; Les princes Caucasiens et l´empire du VIe au IXe siècle. De Boccard, Paris 2006, ISBN 2-7018-0226-1 .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Georg Ostrogorsky: Byzantine History 324 - 1453. 2nd edition. Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-406-39759-X , p. 251.
2. ↑ Detlev Schwennike: European family tables . New series, Volume II, Verlag JA Stargardt, Marburg 1984, plate 128 and 135.
3. ↑ ^{a b} Ioannis Stouraitis: Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. Foundation of the Hellenic World., Athens 2003. ( online, Chapter 2.1 ( Memento of March 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive )).
4. ^ Christian Settipani : Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs; Les princes Caucasiens et l´empire du VIe au IXe siècle. De Boccard, Paris 2006, ISBN 2-7018-0226-1 , p. 245.
5. ^ Christian Settipani: Continuité des élites à Byzance. 2006, p. 236.
6. ^ Warren Treadgold: A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press, 1997, ISBN 0-8047-2630-2 , p. 447.
7. ↑ Mark Whittow: The Making of Byzantium . University of California Press, Berkeley 1996, ISBN 0-520-20496-4 , pp. 339 .
8. ↑ Mark Whittow: The Making of Byzantium . University of California Press, Berkeley 1996, ISBN 0-520-20496-4 , pp. 345 .
9. ^ Christian Settipani: Continuité des élites à Byzance. 2006, p. 239.
10. ↑ European family tables. I. Plate 3
11. ↑ European family tables. II. Plate 120.
12. ↑ European family tables. New series Volume II, plates 128 and 135.
13. ^ Christian Settipani: Continuité des élites à Byzance. 2006, p. 245.
14. ^ Christian Settipani: Continuité des élites à Byzance. 2006, p. 236.
15. ↑ Detlev Schwennike: European family tables. Volume I, plate 3.
16. ^ Christian Settipani: Continuité des élites à Byzance. 2006, p. 239, note 1.
17. ↑ Genealogical website of Bernd Josef Jansen.
18. ↑ Georg Ostrogorsky: Byzantine History 324 - 1453. 2nd edition. Verlag CH Beck, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-406-39759-X .
19. ↑ European family tables. New series Volume II, plates 128 and 135.
20. ↑ European family tables. New series Volume I, plate 4.