In Greek, Nikeforos means “bearer of victory.” The name is often Latinized as Nicephorus. For the first Byzantine emperor of that name, the term was ironic. Nikeforos I, who ruled from 802 to 811 CE, recklessly led his army into a trap where it was destroyed by the Bulgars. The emperor was slain and the Bulgar Khan had his skull made into a drinking cup. But the name proved prophetic for the second Nikeforos, a brilliant military leader who seized the throne in 963, marrying Theophano, widow of deceased emperor Romanos II, who was regent for her two infant sons, the future emperors Basil II and Constantine VIII.

This massive and superbly illustrated book is the first full-length biography of a pivotal figure in the history of the Eastern Roman (“Byzantine”) Empire.

The book consists of nine chapters:

1. Introduction
2. Enemies, Neighbors and Roman Response in the 950s
3. The Fokas Family
4. The Last Years of Romanos I Lakapenos and the Rise of the Fokades in 941–5
5. The Sole Reign of Konstantinos VII in 945-56
6. Nikeforos Fokas the Younger as domestikos ton scholon
7. Nikeforos Fokas the Younger as domestikos ton scholon tes Anatoles and megas domestikos under Romanos II
8. The Reign of Nikeforos II Fokas (16 August 963 — 11 December 969)
9. Nikeforos II Fokas: The Saint and Bearer of Victory

Nikeforos Phokas was born around the year 912 in Cappadocia, the rugged heartland of Anatolia (modern Türkiye). His family had a distinguished military record; his grandfather, father, and brother all serving as generals. In 945 Nikeforos was appointed as military governor of the strategic, centrally located “Anatolic Theme.” In 961 he led an expedition that recaptured the island of Crete, which had been occupied by the Muslims since the 820s. Returning to the East, he reconquered the province of Cilicia and advanced deep into Syria, earning his nickname, “Pale Death of the Saracens.”

On March 15 963, Emperor Romanos II died suddenly at the age of twenty-five.

“The most common view … was that it was caused by excessive debauchery, overeating and heavy drinking. The less kind version claimed that his death had been caused by his twenty-two year-old wife, the unbelievably beautiful Theofano. It was claimed that she poisoned him.” (p. 262]

A powerful palace official, the eunuch Iosêph Bríggas (usually rendered as “Joseph Bringas”) was the de facto head of state. The Byzantine elite resisted the idea of women exercising political power. Eunuchs, on the other hand were trusted because they had no sons to promote into high office in the Byzantine game of thrones. On July 2, the army proclaimed Nikeforos emperor. Briggas tried to organize Constantinople to resist, but the population turned against him and he was forced to flee. On August 16, Nikephoros was crowned as emperor and married empress Theophano.

In 964, Nikeforos took personal command of the Eastern army. In a series of brilliant campaigns, he recaptured many cities from the Muslims. A devout Orthodox Christian, he came into conflict with the Church by demanding that soldiers who fell in battle against the Muslims be regarded as martyrs for the faith.

Nikeforos’ ascetic life style alienated his youthful, fun-loving wife, who took as a lover John Tzimiskes, a handsome young commander, a nephew of Nikeforos. A plot to assassinate the emperor soon took shape. On December 11, 969, Tzimiskes led a team of conspirators into Nikephoros' bedchamber, through a door Theophano had left unlocked, and stabbed him to death. A few days later, John was crowned as emperor. John ruled capably until his death at the age of about 51 in 976. As usual in Constantinople, there was suspicion that he had been poisoned.

The text is enhanced by 52 clearly drawn maps and numerous well-chosen illustrations. As appendices, this book includes new translations of several military manuals written by or for Nikeforos. This deeply researched book will be read with enjoyment by anyone interested in the history of the Eastern Roman (“Byzantine”) empire.

The author, Ilkka Syvänne is described as an “independent researcher.” He earned his doctorate in history in 2004 from the University of Tampere, Finland. He has written extensively about ancient and medieval warfare. He lives in Kangasala, Finland.

---///---

Our Reviewer: Mike Markowitz is an historian and wargame designer. He writes a monthly column for CoinWeek and is a member of the ADBC (Association of Dedicated Byzantine Collectors). His previous reviews include The Cambridge Companion to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Archaic Greece, Amazons: The History Behind the Legend, The Byzantine World, Classical Controversies, Reassessing the Peloponnesian War, War and Masculinity in Roman and Medieval Culture, Nemesis: Medieval England's Greatest Enemy, The Wars of the Roses: A Medieval Civil War, The Emperor and the Elephant, Tiberius, The Roman Empire and World History, Leadership in the Ancient World: Concepts, Models, Theories, A History of the Greek World from 479 to 323 B.C., Commanders and Command in the Roman Republic and Early Empire, and Love, War and Diplomacy: The Discovery of the Amarna Letters and the Bronze Age World They Revealed.

---///---

StrategyPage reviews are published in cooperation with The New York Military Affairs Symposium

www.nymas.org