Theoktistus

Theoktistos ( Middle Greek Θεόκτιστος ; † November 20, 855 in Constantinople ) was a Byzantine politician at the court of Empress Theodora II (842-856).

Life

Theoktistos, who was very likely a eunuch , first appears in the year 820 when he supported the successful usurpation of Michael II against Leo V and was rewarded with the dignity of Patrikios for this. Michael II's successor, Emperor Theophilos , appointed Theoktistus shortly before his death in 842 as one of the regents for his underage son Michael III. In this body, which was nominally headed by Theophilos' widow Theodora and her eldest daughter Thekla , Theoktistus, as the Logothet of Dromos, actually held the political reins in his hands. As a so-called Paradynasteuon , between 842 and 855 he attained a level of power at court similar to that of the eunuch Aëtios under Empress Irene .

In 843 Theoktistos led a naval expedition against the Saracen- occupied Crete , which was just as unsuccessful as a campaign against the Emir of Melitene , whom he led the following year with Bardas , the Empress's brother. In ecclesiastical politics, Theoktistos is ascribed a decisive influence on the change of course, which in March 843 led to the deposition of the image-hostile Patriarch John VII Grammatikos and the official restoration of the worship of icons as well as the severe persecution of the heretical Paulikians , who became self-employed under their leader Karbeas in Central Anatolia.

Since Theodora and Theoktistos apparently neglected the upbringing of the young Michael, he came increasingly under the influence of his uncle Bardas, who was in sharp rivalry with the powerful minister. Presumably Theoktistos also supported the empress in her efforts to prevent her son's marriage with his mistress Eudokia Ingerina , and thus attracted his resentment. On November 20, 855, Theoktistus was murdered with Michael's approval; a little later, Theodora and Thekla were also deposed as regents.

Theoktistus is venerated as a saint in the Orthodox churches (day: November 20th).

swell

• At-Tabarī 76; 138
• Bar Hebrews 142
• Joseph Genesios 1:19 ; 3, 15; 4, 1-8
• Johannes Skylitzes 22; 72; 81; 94
• Pseudo-Symeon 654; 657
• Theophanes Continuatus 1.25 ; 3, 27; 4, 1-19
• John Zonaras 16, 1-2

literature

• Alexander P. Kazhdan (Ed.): The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . Oxford University Press, New York NY 1991, ISBN 0-19-504652-8 , p. 2056.
• Ralph-Johannes Lilie , Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, Ilse Rochow, Beate Zielke: Prosopography of the Middle Byzantine Period . 1st department: (641−867). Volume 4: Plato (# 6266) - Theophylaktos (# 8345). Created after preliminary work by F. Winkelmann . Published by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences. De Gruyter, Berlin 2001, ISBN 3-11-016674-7 , pp. 578-581 No. 8050.
• Warren Treadgold : A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press, Stanford CA 1997, ISBN 0-8047-2630-2 , pp. 446-450, 455.