Bardas Skleros or Sklerus - (Vardas Skleros) was a Byzantine general of Armenian origin who led a wide-scale Asian rebellion against Emperor of Armenian origin Basil II in 976-979. Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βασιλεία Ῥωμαίων) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... See also: Asian and Eurasian World map showing Asia. ... For the Danish youth organization, see Rebel (Denmark) A rebellion is, in the most general sense, a refusal to accept authority. ... Painting of Basil II, from an 11th century manuscript. ... Events January 10 - Basil II becomes Eastern Roman Emperor, see Byzantine Emperors. ... Events: The Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, is founded. ...

Background

Bardas (Vard) belonged to the great Skleros family of Armenian origin, which owned enormous estates at the eastern outskirts of Asia Minor. His mother Gregoria descended from Armeno-Byzantine Basil I's brother Bardas. The greatest coup of his early career was a brilliant defense of Constantinople against the army of Svyatoslav I of Kiev in 970. He reportedly managed to inflict as many as 20,000 casualties on the barbarians, while the campaign claimed the lives of merely 25 Byzantine soldiers. Anatolia (Greek: ανατολη anatole, rising of the sun or East; compare Orient and Levant, by popular etymology Turkish Anadolu to ana mother and dolu filled), also called by the Latin name of Asia Minor, is a region of Southwest Asia which corresponds today to the Asian portion of Turkey. ... Basil, his son Constantine, and his second wife, emperess Eudoxia Ingerina. ... Map of Constantinople. ... ... Events Major volcano eruption in Mashu Japan Devastating decade long famine begins in France Byzantine Emperor John I successfully defends the Eastern Roman Empire from massive barbarian invasion Construction completed on Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo, worlds oldest Islamic university Births Leif Ericson, Norse explorer Seyyed Razi, important Muslim...

After he had shown himself equal to dealing with the fiercest enemies of Byzantium, Bardas became a trusted advisor to Emperor John - Iovhannes, who was likewise of Armenian stock and his brother-in-law. Upon John's death, Skleros aspired to replace him as an acting emperor. The eunuch Basileios, who actually led the imperial government, entertained other plans, however, deposing Bardas from his key post of general in the East (Domestic of the Scholae) in 975. Ioannes, protected by God and the Virgin Mary. ... The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy. ... Events Coronation of King Edward the Martyr Births Deaths July 8 Edgar of England Categories: 975 ...

According to Michael Psellus, Skleros was "a man who was not only a competent planner, but extremely clever in carrying out his schemes, possessed of vast wealth (no mean asset in one who aimed at a throne), with the prestige of royal blood and of success in great wars, with all the military caste at his side to help on his enterprise". Michael Psellus is the name of two writers of the Byzantine Empire: Michael Psellus the Elder, a theologian Michael Psellus the Younger, a historian. ...

Rebellion

Upon hearing the news of his deposition, Skleros came to an agreement with local Armenian, Georgian and even Muslim rulers who all vowed to support his claims to the imperial crown. He successfully stirred up rebellion among his relatives and adherents in the Asian provinces, rapidly making himself master of Caesaria - in Protin Armenia, as well as Antioch, and most of Asia Minor and Western provinces of Great Armenia. Caesarea Mazaca (modern Kayseri) is an ancient town of Anatolia which served as the residence of the kings of Cappadocia. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

After several navy commanders defected to Skleros's side, he dashed to Constantinople, threatening to blockade the Dardanelles. The rebels made their first mistake when they dispatched their navy to follow Basileios's fleet to Greece, where their ships were scattered without difficulty. Map of Constantinople. ... The Dardanelles (Turkish: Çanakkale Boğazı), formerly Hellespont, is a narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea with the Sea of Marmara. ...

Having lost supremacy at sea, Skleros at once laid siege to the town of Nicaea, which was considered a key to the capital. The town was fortified by a certain Manuel Erotikos, father of the future Emperor Isaac and progenitor of the Komnenoi dynasty. Iznik (formerly Nicaea) is a city in Anatolia (now part of Turkey) which is known primarily as the site of two major meetings (or Ecumenical councils) in the early history of the Christian church. ... Isaac I Comnenus (c. ... Byzantine emperor Alexius I Comnenus The Comnenus or Komnenos family was an important dynasty in the history of the Byzantine Empire. ...

Meanwhile, Basileios recalled from exile Bardas Phocas, a general who had revolted in the previous reign and been interned in a monastery for seven years. Phocas proceeded to Sebastia in the East, where his family demesnes were situated. He came to an understanding with David III of Taik {province of Armenia}, who pledged 12,000 Armenian and Georgian horsemen to Phocas' aid. Bardas Phocas - Vardas Phokas was an eminent Byzantine general of Armenian origine who took a conspicuous part in three revolts pro and contra the ruling Macedonian dynasty. ... Sebastia: Sebastia: Sivas, Turkey is the provincial capital of Sivas Province in Turkey. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

Sklerus instantly left Nicaea for the East and defeated Phocas in two battles, but the latter was victorious in a third. On March 24, 979 two leaders clashed in a single combat, with Sklerus cutting the right ear of Phocas' horse with his lance before sustaining a grave wound in the head. The rumour of his death put his army to flight, but Skleros himself found shelter with his Muslim allies. Thereupon the rebellion was subdued without difficulty. March 24 is the 83rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (84th in Leap years). ... Events: The Tynwald, the parliament of the Isle of Man, is founded. ...

Later years

After the Asian potentates refused to support his further operations against Constantinople, Skleros and his family retreated to Baghdad in 980. They resided in honourable captivity at the caliph's court for six years, dreaming about the invasion of Byzantium. Location of Baghdad within Iraq Baghdad (Arabic: , from Persian بغداد , meaning given by angels) is the capital of Iraq and of Baghdad Province. ... Events Births Emperor Ichijo of Japan Humbert I of Savoy Avicenna Godiva, Countess of Mercia Deaths Categories: 980 ... Caliph is the term or title for the Islamic leader of the Ummah, or community of Islam. ... Byzantium was an ancient Greek city-state, founded by Greek colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas. ...

In 987 Skleros was finally recalled to his homeland by Phocas, who took advantage of the Bulgarian wars to aim at the crown. Skleros promptly mustered an army to support Phocas's cause, but his plans of profitting from the attendant disorders were frustrated when Phocas had him commited to prison. Events Hugh Capet, Count of Paris, crowned King of France Kukulcan conquers Chichen Itza Births Deaths May 21 King Louis V of France Categories: 987 ...

Upon Phocas' death at Abydos (989), Sklerus succeeded him as the leader of the rebellion: "The truth was, the men who had enrolled in Sklerus's army were no longer divided in their loyalties: every one of them was a declared rebel. Their leader inspired them with his own resolute determination and bound them into one coherent body. By favours he won their loyalty, by his kindliness he earned their devotion. He reconciled their differences, ate at the same table as his men, drank from the same cup, called them by name, and by his flattery bound them to his allegiance" (Michael Psellus the Younger). Abydos, an ancient city of Mysia, in Asia Minor, situated at Nagara Point on the Hellespont, which is here scarcely a mile broad. ... Michael Constantine Psellus (Greek: Psellos) the younger, born in 1018 (probably at Nicomedia; according to some, at Constantinople) of a consular and patrician family, was a philosopher. ...

The date of his surrender to the authorities is disputed, as are the circumstances. In 991 Skleros, a blinded and broken man, then residing in semi-captivity in Thrace, was visited by Emperor Basil II on his way to Bulgaria. The famous rebel accepted the title of curopalates and died several days later, presumably on April 2. Events Battle of Maldon Sweyn I of Denmark recovers his throne Births Deaths Theophanu, empress, mother of Otto III Emperor Enyu of Japan Categories: 991 ... Thrace (Greek Θρᾴκη, Thrákē, Bulgarian Тракия, Trakija, Turkish Trakya; Latin: Thracia or Threcia) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe spread over southern Bulgaria, northeastern Greece (Western Thrace), and European Turkey. ... Painting of Basil II, from an 11th century manuscript. ... 2 April is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ...

His bloodline continued, however. A grandson, Basil Sklerus, was married to a sister of Emperor Romanus III. They had two daughters, one becoming a wife and another a mistress of Constantine VIII. It is believed that one of these Skleraina was the grandmother of Vladimir Monomakh. Romanus III (Argyrus), (in Greek Romanos Argyros, written Ρωμανός Αργυρός, lived 968 - April 11, 1034) was a Byzantine emperor(November 15, 1028 to April 11, 1034). ... Constantine VIII (in Greek Konstantinos VIII, written Κωνσταντίνος Η) (960 – November 15, 1028), Byzantine emperor (December 15, 1025 – November 15, 1028) was the son of the Emperor Romanus II and the younger brother of the eminent Basil II, who died childless and thus left the rule of the Byzantine Empire... Volodymyr Monomakh (Ukrainian: Володимир Мономах; Russian: Владимир Мономах; Christian name Vasiliy, or Basil) (1053 -- May 19, 1125) was the ruler of Kievan Rus. ...