Stephen Hagiochristophorites facts for kids

Stephen Hagiochristophorites was a very powerful person in the court of the Byzantine emperor Andronikos I Komnenos. He lived from about 1130 until September 11, 1185. He was killed when he tried to arrest Isaac II Angelos. After this, Isaac II Angelos became the new emperor, taking over from Andronikos.

Early Life and Rise to Power

Stephen Hagiochristophorites came from a simple family. His father was a tax collector. During the rule of Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (1143–1180), Stephen wanted to join the emperor's court.

At first, many noble families made fun of him and didn't like him. But Stephen was very determined. He worked his way up through the government jobs. He eventually became the administrator of the army. He got this important job from Emperor Manuel I himself. He kept this role during the short rule of Manuel's son, Alexios II Komnenos (1180–1183).

Working for Emperor Andronikos

In 1182, Andronikos I Komnenos took power. He ruled alongside Alexios II at first. Stephen Hagiochristophorites kept his job and quickly became Andronikos's most trusted helper. He was also the most powerful minister.

In late 1183, Andronikos sent Stephen and two other men to remove Alexios II from power. After Alexios II was killed, Andronikos rewarded Stephen. He gave him the high rank of pansebastos sebastos. He also made him the logothetes tou dromou, a very important government position.

The End of His Life

By September 1185, many people in Constantinople were unhappy with Andronikos's rule. There were rumors that a famous image of Saint Paul was crying. Even a court fortune-teller said that the next emperor's name would start with an "I." Andronikos and his followers thought this meant Isaac Angelos, a young noble.

On September 11, Stephen Hagiochristophorites and his men went to Isaac Angelos's house. Isaac was scared at first. But then he decided to fight. He grabbed a sword, got on his horse, and charged at Stephen's group.

Stephen tried to run away from this sudden attack. But Isaac hit him on the head, killing him. Isaac then wounded Stephen's men, making them flee. Isaac rode his horse through the city to the Hagia Sophia church. He shouted to the people about what he had done.

Because of this brave act, the people supported Isaac. The next day, he was crowned emperor. Andronikos tried to escape but was caught and executed a few days later.

His Reputation

Stephen Hagiochristophorites became very powerful, even though he came from a simple background. People saw him as proud and harsh. He was also involved in the removal of Alexios II and in Andronikos's cruel rule. Andronikos's rule included many arrests and punishments of noble families.

Because of this, the traditional noble families hated Stephen. Historians from that time wrote about this hatred. One historian, Choniates, said Stephen was the "leader" of Andronikos's supporters. He said Stephen's voice "swept away" anyone Andronikos suspected.

Choniates also wrote that Stephen's last name, Hagiochristophorites, meant "Holy Bearer of Christ." But people changed it to Antichristophorites, meaning "bearer of the Antichrist." This was because, as Choniates said, Stephen was "the most shameless of Andronikos' attendants, filled with every wickedness." Another historian called him "the iron nerve of tyranny."

Sources

• Kazhdan, Alexander (1991). "Hagiochristophorites, Stephen". The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.