15 Facts About Michael Bourtzes

Michael Bourtzes became notable for his capture of Antioch from the Arabs in 969, but fell into disgrace by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas.

Resentful at the slight, Bourtzes joined forces with the conspirators who assassinated Phokas a few weeks later.

Michael Bourtzes re-appears in a prominent role in the civil war between Emperor Basil II and the rebel Bardas Skleros, switching his allegiance from the emperor to the rebel and back again.

Michael Bourtzes was the first prominent member of the Bourtzes family, originating in the upper Euphrates region, which went on to become one of the major clans of the Byzantine military aristocracy during the 11th century.

The date of Michael Bourtzes's birth is unknown, but must be placed sometime between 930 and 935.

Michael Bourtzes is first mentioned in late 968, when he was appointed by Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas as patrikios and strategos of the small theme of Mauron Oros, on the southern outliers of the Amanus Mountains.

Michael Bourtzes then defended this post against repeated attacks of the city's defenders for three days, until the reinforcements led by the stratopedarches Peter arrived and secured the city for the Byzantines.

At this point, Michael Bourtzes was appointed commander of the troops in northern Syria, with his seat at Antioch; indeed, he seems to have been the first to be titled doux of Antioch.

Almost immediately after his appointment, Michael Bourtzes set out in a deep raid into Fatimid-controlled Syria, reaching Tripolis and returning with much booty.

Michael Bourtzes was commanded by Constantinople to lead his force north, join the army of Eustathios Maleinos, now governor of Cilicia, and block the rebel from crossing the Antitaurus Mountains.

Michael Bourtzes's defection brought Skleros control of Antioch as well: Michael Bourtzes commanded his son Constantine to join him, and the city was left in the hands of the Arab Kulayb, who was overthrown by another Arab, Ubaydallah, who joined Skleros.

Uniquely amongst the military leaders who had revolted against him, Basil II continued to rely on Michael Bourtzes and entrusted him again with the critical position of doux of Antioch in 989, in the aftermath of another rebellion, this time of Bardas Phokas.

From this position, over the next few years Michael Bourtzes led the defence of the imperial frontier in a renewed bout of fighting with the Fatimids, as the two empires disputed control over the Hamdanid emirate of Aleppo.

Manjutakin sent a messenger to Michael Bourtzes, claiming that his conflict was with Aleppo, and did not involve the Byzantines, but Michael Bourtzes had the messenger arrested.

At about the same time, the Muslim population of Laodicea, Antioch's seaport, rose in revolt, but Michael Bourtzes was able to put it down and deported the populace to the interior of Byzantine territory in Asia Minor.