Immortals (Byzantine)
Encyclopedia
The Immortals were one of the elite tagmata
military units of the Byzantine Empire
, first raised during the late 10th century. The name derives from a- ("without") + thanatos
("death").
(r. 969-976) for his war with the Rus'. The unit was probably disbanded shortly afterwards, since it does not appear again in the sources. The 10th century historian Leo the Deacon
refers to the impressive spectacle that the Athanatoi made in their gold and silver armour.
The Immortals were however revived under the Emperor Michael VII
(r. 1071–1081), when his minister Nikephoritzes
reorganised the army. This reorganisation was part of an effort to address a major military crisis for the Empire following the disastrous defeat suffered by the Byzantines against the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Manzikert
in 1071. The Seljuks had subsequently overrun most of Asia Minor
, which had provided the main recruiting ground for the pre-Manzikert army.
As part of the reorganisation process, the remnants of the provincial troops of the Eastern themata
(military provinces) were brought together as the Immortals, providing a new tagmatic regiment. The new Immortals may have been cavalry
, like the bulk of the old Byzantine field army, but this is not certain.
The Byzantine historian Nicephorus Bryennius the Younger records that the Immortals numbered 10,000, but this is most likely an allusion to the old Persian Immortal Guard
. He adds that the title of "Immortals" was originally accorded only to officers but was soon applied to the entire corps.
It is not known when the Immortals disappeared from the Byzantine order of battle, but they most likely had been disbanded by 1200.
's novel "Count Robert of Paris
" the Immortals appear as rivals to the Viking or Anglo-Saxon Varangian Guard
for Imperial favour.
Tagma (military)
The tagma is a term for a military unit of battalion or regiment size. The best-known and most technical use of the term however refers to the elite regiments formed by Byzantine emperor Constantine V and comprising the central army of the Byzantine Empire in the 8th–11th centuries.-History and...
military units of the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, first raised during the late 10th century. The name derives from a- ("without") + thanatos
Thanatos
In Greek mythology, Thanatos was the daemon personification of death. He was a minor figure in Greek mythology, often referred to but rarely appearing in person...
("death").
History
The Athanatoi were a body of young men of noble status that was originally raised by John I TzimiskesJohn I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, was Byzantine Emperor from December 11, 969 to January 10, 976. A brilliant and intuitive general, John's short reign saw the expansion of the empire's borders and the strengthening of Byzantium itself.- Background :...
(r. 969-976) for his war with the Rus'. The unit was probably disbanded shortly afterwards, since it does not appear again in the sources. The 10th century historian Leo the Deacon
Leo the Deacon
Leo the Deacon was a Byzantine Roman historian and chronicler.He was born around 950 at Kaloe in Asia Minor, and was educated in Constantinople, where he became a deacon in the imperial palace. While in Constantinople he wrote a history covering the reigns of Romanus II, Nicepheros II, John...
refers to the impressive spectacle that the Athanatoi made in their gold and silver armour.
The Immortals were however revived under the Emperor Michael VII
Michael VII
Michael VII Doukas or Ducas , nicknamed Parapinakēs , was Byzantine emperor from 1071 to 1078.- Life :...
(r. 1071–1081), when his minister Nikephoritzes
Nikephoritzes
Nikephoritzes was an influential Byzantine eunuch official, who served as chief minister and virtual ruler of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Emperor Michael VII Doukas . His actual name was Nikephoros; he received the nickname "Nikephoritzes" as a result of his relative youth when he...
reorganised the army. This reorganisation was part of an effort to address a major military crisis for the Empire following the disastrous defeat suffered by the Byzantines against the Seljuk Turks at the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
in 1071. The Seljuks had subsequently overrun most of Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
, which had provided the main recruiting ground for the pre-Manzikert army.
As part of the reorganisation process, the remnants of the provincial troops of the Eastern themata
Themata
Themata is the debut full-length album by the Australian progressive rock band Karnivool. The album was released independently on 7 February 2005, and was distributed via MGM Distribution. The album was released in the United States on 10 April 2007 via Bieler Bros...
(military provinces) were brought together as the Immortals, providing a new tagmatic regiment. The new Immortals may have been cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, like the bulk of the old Byzantine field army, but this is not certain.
The Byzantine historian Nicephorus Bryennius the Younger records that the Immortals numbered 10,000, but this is most likely an allusion to the old Persian Immortal Guard
Persian Immortals
The "Immortals" was the name given by Herodotus to an elite force of soldiers who fought for the Achaemenid Empire. This force performed the dual roles of both Imperial Guard and standing army during the Persian Empire's expansion and during the Greco-Persian Wars...
. He adds that the title of "Immortals" was originally accorded only to officers but was soon applied to the entire corps.
It is not known when the Immortals disappeared from the Byzantine order of battle, but they most likely had been disbanded by 1200.
Literary Reference
In Walter ScottWalter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
's novel "Count Robert of Paris
Count Robert of Paris
Count Robert of Paris was the second-last novel by Walter Scott. It is part of Tales of My Landlord, 4th series.-Plot introduction:...
" the Immortals appear as rivals to the Viking or Anglo-Saxon Varangian Guard
Varangian Guard
The Varangian Guard was an elite unit of the Byzantine Army in 10th to the 14th centuries, whose members served as personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperors....
for Imperial favour.