Karbeas
Encyclopedia
Karbeas was a Paulician leader, founder and ruler of the Paulician principality of Tephrike from ca. 843 until his death in 863.
He was initially a protomandator (senior staff officer) at the service of Theodotos Melissenos, the Byzantine
strategos
of the Anatolic theme
. During the first decades of the 9th century, the Paulicians were established as a numerous and warlike community but seen as heretics by the Byzantine state and consequently suffered on-and-off persecution. Under the leadership of their spiritual and military head, Sergius-Tychicus, they staged a number of revolts against Byzantium from their various strongholds throughout Anatolia, collaborating with the Arabs on occasion. As a result, the Byzantine empress-regent Theodora
launched an empire-wide pogrom against the Paulicians in 843, where allegedly up to 100,000 Paulicians perished. With some 5,000 followers, Karbeas fled to the Arab emirate of Melitene. With the aid of the emir of Melitene Omar al-Aqta, Karbeas established an independent Paulician state centered around Tephrike on the Upper Euphrates
, which also included the newly-founded cities of Amara and Argaous. From there he participated regularly in the raids (razzias) by the Arab emirates into Byzantine Anatolia
. According to the Patriarch Photius, Karbeas was only the military leader of the Paulician community, and no successor to Sergius as the spiritual head was appointed. He died in 863, either of natural causes or at the hands of the Byzantines in the Battle of Lalakaon, and was succeeded by his nephew, Chrysocheir.
Karbeas has been suggested as the inspiration behind Karoes, the Muslim uncle of the father of Digenes Akritas, the eponymous hero of the most famous of the Acritic songs
.
He was initially a protomandator (senior staff officer) at the service of Theodotos Melissenos, the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
of the Anatolic theme
Anatolic Theme
The Anatolic Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Anatolics was a Byzantine theme in central Asia Minor...
. During the first decades of the 9th century, the Paulicians were established as a numerous and warlike community but seen as heretics by the Byzantine state and consequently suffered on-and-off persecution. Under the leadership of their spiritual and military head, Sergius-Tychicus, they staged a number of revolts against Byzantium from their various strongholds throughout Anatolia, collaborating with the Arabs on occasion. As a result, the Byzantine empress-regent Theodora
Theodora (9th century)
Theodora was a Byzantine Empress as the spouse of the Byzantine emperor Theophilos, and regent of her son, Michael III, from Theophilos' death in 842 to 855...
launched an empire-wide pogrom against the Paulicians in 843, where allegedly up to 100,000 Paulicians perished. With some 5,000 followers, Karbeas fled to the Arab emirate of Melitene. With the aid of the emir of Melitene Omar al-Aqta, Karbeas established an independent Paulician state centered around Tephrike on the Upper Euphrates
Euphrates
The Euphrates is the longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia...
, which also included the newly-founded cities of Amara and Argaous. From there he participated regularly in the raids (razzias) by the Arab emirates into Byzantine Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. According to the Patriarch Photius, Karbeas was only the military leader of the Paulician community, and no successor to Sergius as the spiritual head was appointed. He died in 863, either of natural causes or at the hands of the Byzantines in the Battle of Lalakaon, and was succeeded by his nephew, Chrysocheir.
Karbeas has been suggested as the inspiration behind Karoes, the Muslim uncle of the father of Digenes Akritas, the eponymous hero of the most famous of the Acritic songs
Acritic songs
The Acritic songs are the heroic or epic poetry that emerged in the Byzantine Empire probably in the 9th century. The songs celebrated the exploits of the Akrites, the frontier guards defending the eastern borders of the Byzantine Empire. The historical background was the almost...
.