Basil Boioannes facts for kids
Basil Boioannes was a very important general for the Byzantine Empire. He was the leader, or catapan, of Byzantine Italy from 1017 to 1027. He helped the Byzantine Empire become strong again in southern Italy after many years of losing power. However, the Normans, who were adventurers he brought into the region, would later take over.
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Basil Boioannes' Early Life and Rise to Power
Basil Boioannes was appointed by the Byzantine Emperor Basil II in December 1017. His first big challenge was to fight against a rebellion led by a Lombard general named Melus of Bari and his Norman soldiers.
The Battle of Cannae (1018)
Boioannes immediately asked for more soldiers from Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. The Emperor sent a special group of elite warriors called the Varangian Guard. These forces met Melus's army near the Ofanto river, at a place called Cannae. This was the same place where the famous general Hannibal had won a big battle against the Romans a long time ago.
In the second Battle of Cannae, Boioannes won a very important victory. This win showed how skilled he was as a military leader.
Building Troia Fortress
To protect his new gains, Boioannes quickly built a strong fortress. This fortress was located in the Apennine Mountains, guarding the way into the Apulian plain. He named this new fortress Troia, after an ancient city. In 1019, Boioannes placed his own Norman troops inside Troia to defend it.
Soon after, almost all of southern Italy, known as the Mezzogiorno, came under Byzantine control. Only the Duchy of Benevento remained loyal to the Papacy (the Pope).
Challenges and Further Campaigns
The Pope, Pope Benedict VIII, was worried about the Byzantine Empire gaining so much power in the south. In 1020, he traveled north to meet with the Holy Roman Emperor, Henry II, in Bamberg.
Dealing with Dattus
Emperor Henry II didn't act right away. However, events in the next year convinced him to get involved. Boioannes and his new ally, Prince Pandulf IV of Capua, attacked Dattus, who was Melus's brother-in-law. They captured his tower near the Garigliano river. On June 15, Dattus was captured and dealt with.
The Siege of Troia
The next year, Emperor Henry II sent a huge army south to attack Boioannes' new fortress, Troia. However, the soldiers inside Troia fought bravely and the fortress never fell. Because of their loyalty, Boioannes gave the town special rights and benefits.
Later Years and Legacy
In 1025, Boioannes was getting ready to lead a big military trip to Sicily with Emperor Basil II. But then the great emperor died. Constantine VIII, who became the new emperor, canceled the trip.
Retaking Capua
Instead, Boioannes went north to help Prince Pandulf take back Capua. Emperor Henry II had captured Capua three years earlier. Boioannes offered the new prince of Capua, Pandulf of Teano, a safe way to Naples and accepted his surrender in May 1026.
This was Boioannes' last major military action. In 1027, he was called back from Italy. The leaders who replaced him were not as good at military strategy as he was. Over the next hundred years, the Byzantine Empire's power in Italy slowly disappeared.
Boioannes' Son
In 1041, Boioannes' son, Exaugustus Boioannes, was also named catapan. But he only held the position for less than a year.
Images for kids
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The Byzantine Empire and its provinces (themes) at the death of Basil II in 1025 AD.
