Licario, called Ikarios by the Greek chroniclers, was a Byzantine admiral of Italian origin in the 13th century.
14 Facts About Licario
1.
2.
Licario was born in Karystos in Latin-held Euboea, from a Vicentian father and a local woman.
3.
Licario repaired the strong fortress, assembled a small group of followers, and began raiding the surrounding estates, belonging to the island's nobles.
4.
Licario became the Emperor's vassal according to Western feudal rules, and in turn was strengthened with imperial troops.
5.
Between then and 1275, according to the Venetian chronicler Marino Sanudo, Licario himself served in the Byzantine army in Asia Minor, where he scored a victory against the Turks.
6.
Licario attacked his native Karystos, seat of the southern triarchy, and took it, after a long siege, in the same year.
7.
In turn, Licario pledged to provide 200 knights to the Emperor.
8.
Gradually, Licario reduced the Latin strongholds on the island, until, by 1278, he had seized almost all of it except for the capital, the city of Negroponte.
9.
Licario commanded the Byzantine navy in a series of expeditions against the Latin-held Aegean islands.
10.
Licario then turned to reducing the remaining Latin strongholds on the island, becoming its total master except for the city of Negroponte itself, and ruling it from the fortress of Fillia.
11.
Licario's fleet carried out further naval expeditions: the islands of Sifnos and Serifos were taken, and Licario's ships raided the Morea.
12.
Licario himself sailed to Constantinople, presenting Emperor Michael VIII with his captives.
13.
Licario's conquests proved temporary only, as the Byzantines were gradually evicted by the Venetians and the other Latin lords.
14.
Nevertheless, Licario proved one of the most successful military leaders in Michael VIII's employ, and his victories greatly enhanced the emperor's own standing and prestige amongst the Latins.