Balgitzin
Encyclopedia
Balgitzin in the account of Theophanes the Confessor
, was the Khazar tudun
of Phanagoria during the sojourn of Justinian II
in that town. He was dispatched, along with Papatzys
, by Busir
Khagan
to kill Justinian in 704, after Busir was bribed by Tiberius III. Justinian's Khazar wife Theodora
warned him in advance and Justinian escaped by sea, but not before murdering both Papatzys and Balgitzin.
Some scholars, notably Peter B. Golden, have speculated that Balgitzin is not a proper name but rather a title, identical with Baliqchi
.
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, was the Khazar tudun
Tudun
A tudun was a governor resident in a town or other settlement in Ancient Bulgar/Avar/Gokturk empires, particularly those of the Bulgars and the Khazars. In Gothic THIUDNASSAM means 'kingdom'. The tudun was the personal representative of the imperial government and could function both as an...
of Phanagoria during the sojourn of Justinian II
Justinian II
Justinian II , surnamed the Rhinotmetos or Rhinotmetus , was the last Byzantine Emperor of the Heraclian Dynasty, reigning from 685 to 695 and again from 705 to 711...
in that town. He was dispatched, along with Papatzys
Papatzys
Papatzys was, in the account of Theophanes the Confessor, the Khazar tudun of Kerch during the sojourn of Byzantine emperor Justinian II in Phanagoria. He was dispatched, along with Balgitzin, by Busir Khagan to kill Justinian in 704, after Busir was bribed by Tiberius III...
, by Busir
Busir
Busir or Busir Glavan was Khagan of the Khazars in the late 7th century and early 8th century CE.In 704 Justinian II, who had been exiled at Chersones for nine years, arrived at Busir's court...
Khagan
Khagan
Khagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
to kill Justinian in 704, after Busir was bribed by Tiberius III. Justinian's Khazar wife Theodora
Theodora of Khazaria
Theodora of Khazaria was the second Empress consort of Justinian II of the Byzantine Empire.- Family :She was a sister of Busir, Khagan of Khazars. Their relation to other Khazar rulers such as Bihar, father of Tzitzak, is unknown.- Marriage :...
warned him in advance and Justinian escaped by sea, but not before murdering both Papatzys and Balgitzin.
Some scholars, notably Peter B. Golden, have speculated that Balgitzin is not a proper name but rather a title, identical with Baliqchi
Baliqchi
A title in the Khazar Khaganate. The term Baliqchi means "Fisherman." In the Schechter Letter, the Khazar warlord Pesakh is described with this title. An earlier figure in Khazar history, Balgitzin, was governor of Phanagoria during Justinian II's soujourn there in 705 CE...
.