Bardas Phokas the Younger facts for kids

Bardas Phokas (also spelled Phocas) was a very important general in the Byzantine Empire. He lived from about 940 to April 13, 989. He was famous for his military skills and was involved in three big rebellions. Sometimes he fought for the emperor, and sometimes he fought against him.

A Powerful Family and Early Skills

Bardas Phokas came from the Phokas family, which was one of the most powerful and important families in the Byzantine Empire during the 900s. His father, Leo Phokas the Younger, was a high-ranking official, and his uncle was Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas.

Even when he was young, Bardas was known for being an excellent military leader. People said he was very smart and could plan ahead. He knew all about how to attack castles, set up ambushes, and fight big battles. He was also very strong in combat.

First Rebellion and Exile

Bardas Phokas's military career started strong but then quickly faced problems. In 969, his uncle, Emperor Nikephoros II, died. Bardas and his family then rebelled against the new emperor, John I Tzimiskes, who was also their cousin.

Bardas was declared emperor by his soldiers in a city called Caesarea. However, another skilled general named Bardas Skleros stopped their rebellion. Phokas and his family were captured and sent away to the island of Chios. He stayed there for seven years.

Phokas Versus Skleros

Clash between the armies of Skleros and Phokas, from the Madrid Skylitzes book.

In 978, Bardas was released from prison by Basil Lekapenos, who was the uncle of Emperor Basil II and basically ran the empire at that time. Bardas was sent secretly to his home region of Cappadocia. His mission was to get the local noble families to fight against Skleros, who had started his own rebellion and was moving towards the Hellespont.

Even after some early defeats, Bardas Phokas managed to stop Skleros's rebellion. He got help from a Georgian army led by Tornikios. Bardas even won a one-on-one fight against Skleros. Because he helped the emperor so much, Bardas was given a very important job: Domestic of the Scholae, which meant he was a top military commander.

Right away, he led the Byzantine armies to take back the city of Aleppo from the Saracens. Later, he was given a special parade called a Roman triumph and became a close friend of the emperor.

Second Rebellion Against the Emperor

Emperor Basil II wanted to take full control of the government and the army himself. This worried Basil Lekapenos and Bardas Phokas, who had a lot of power. In 987, they secretly talked with their old enemy, Skleros. They agreed that if their rebellion against the emperors worked, they would divide the empire between them.

Bardas Phokas then declared himself emperor, just like Skleros had done a decade earlier. He took control of most of Asia Minor. He even wore the emperor's robes and crown.

After putting Skleros in prison, Phokas began to attack Abydos. This city was important because it could block the Dardanelles, a narrow waterway. At this point, Emperor Basil II got help from Vladimir, the Rus prince of Kiev, who sent Varangian mercenaries (Viking warriors). Basil II then marched to Abydos.

The two armies faced each other, ready to fight. Bardas Phokas rode forward, wanting to fight the Emperor in person. But just as he was about to charge at Basil, Phokas suddenly had a seizure. He fell from his horse and died on April 13, 989. His head was cut off and brought to Basil. This ended the rebellion.

Family Life

Bardas Phokas was married to his cousin, Adralestina. They had two sons, Leo and Nikephoros (who died in 1022). His grandson, also named Bardas Phokas, was blinded by the emperor's orders in 1025. It is believed that a family from Crete, called the Phokades, are his descendants.

See also

In Spanish: Bardas Focas para niños