Theophobos
Encyclopedia
Theophobos or Theophobus , originally Nasr, was a Persian
or Kurdish commander in Byzantine
service under Emperor Theophilos
(r. 829–843).
Originally he was a member of the Khurramite
sect in western Iran
, which was being persecuted by the Abbasid Caliphate. In 833, they were defeated by Caliph al-Mu'tasim
(r. 833–842). Thus, in 834, Nasr with some fourteen thousand other Khurramites, crossed Armenia and fled to the Byzantine Empire
. There they converted to Christianity, were given widows from military families as wives, and enrolled into the Byzantine army
in the so-called "Persian tourma". Nasr, now baptized Theophobos ("fearful/respectful of God"), was placed at the head of these troops, named patrikios and given the hand of either Theophilos' sister or his sister-in-law in marriage.
Theophobos and the new Khorramite corps campaigned with Theophilos in his successful 837 campaign in the region of the upper Euphrates
, where they brutally sacked the city of Sozopetra/Zapetra. In the same year, some 16,000 more Khurramites fled into the Empire, following the definite suppression of their religion in Azerbaijan
.
Theophobos also participated in the campaign of 838 against the invasion of Caliph al-Mu'tasim
(r. 833–842). He was present at the catastrophic Byzantine defeat at the Battle of Anzen
, where he reportedly saved the Emperor's life on several occasions. In the aftermath of the battle, the "Persian" troops assembled at Sinope
and declared Theophobos emperor, most likely against his will. The exact reason behind this move or sequence of events are unclear. However, after the defeat at Anzen, the rumour had spread to Constantinople
that Theophilos had been killed, and it appears that Theophobos, who was possibly an iconodule (as opposed to the staunchly iconoclast Theophilos) was put forth among the Empire's elite as the new emperor.
At any rate, Theophobos quickly engaged in secret negotiations with the Emperor, who in 839 led an army against the rebels. Theophobos agreed to surrender and was restored to his high offices, while his men, numbering some 30,000, were reportedly split up into regiments of 2000 men and divided among the districts. As Theophilos' health declined however, and in order to prevent any usurpation of the throne from his infant son and heir, Michael III
(r. 842–867), in 840 or 842, Theophilos had his brother-in-law Petronas secretly execute Theophobos by decapitation.
Persian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
or Kurdish commander in 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...
service under Emperor Theophilos
Theophilos (emperor)
Theophilos was the Byzantine emperor from 829 until his death in 842. He was the second emperor of the Phrygian dynasty, and the last emperor supporting iconoclasm...
(r. 829–843).
Originally he was a member of the Khurramite
Khurramites
The Khurramites were an Iranian religious and political movement with its roots in the movement founded by Mazdak. An alternative name for the movement is the Muḥammira "Red-Wearing Ones" , a reference to their symbolic red dress.-Origins and History:The sect was founded by the Persian cleric...
sect in western Iran
Greater Iran
Greater Iran refers to the regions that have significant Iranian cultural influence. It roughly corresponds to the territory on the Iranian plateau and its bordering plains, stretching from Iraq, the Caucasus, and Turkey in the west to the Indus River in the east...
, which was being persecuted by the Abbasid Caliphate. In 833, they were defeated by Caliph al-Mu'tasim
Al-Mu'tasim
Abu Ishaq 'Abbas al-Mu'tasim ibn Harun was an Abbasid caliph . He succeeded his half-brother al-Ma'mun...
(r. 833–842). Thus, in 834, Nasr with some fourteen thousand other Khurramites, crossed Armenia and fled to 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...
. There they converted to Christianity, were given widows from military families as wives, and enrolled into the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
in the so-called "Persian tourma". Nasr, now baptized Theophobos ("fearful/respectful of God"), was placed at the head of these troops, named patrikios and given the hand of either Theophilos' sister or his sister-in-law in marriage.
Theophobos and the new Khorramite corps campaigned with Theophilos in his successful 837 campaign in the region of 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...
, where they brutally sacked the city of Sozopetra/Zapetra. In the same year, some 16,000 more Khurramites fled into the Empire, following the definite suppression of their religion in Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
Theophobos also participated in the campaign of 838 against the invasion of Caliph al-Mu'tasim
Al-Mu'tasim
Abu Ishaq 'Abbas al-Mu'tasim ibn Harun was an Abbasid caliph . He succeeded his half-brother al-Ma'mun...
(r. 833–842). He was present at the catastrophic Byzantine defeat at the Battle of Anzen
Battle of Anzen
The Battle of Anzen or Dazimon was fought on July 22, 838 at Anzen or Dazimon between the Byzantine Empire and the forces of the Abbasid Caliphate...
, where he reportedly saved the Emperor's life on several occasions. In the aftermath of the battle, the "Persian" troops assembled at Sinope
Sinop, Turkey
Sinop is a city with a population of 36,734 on İnce Burun , by its Cape Sinop which is situated on the most northern edge of the Turkish side of Black Sea coast, in the ancient region of Paphlagonia, in modern-day northern Turkey, historically known as Sinope...
and declared Theophobos emperor, most likely against his will. The exact reason behind this move or sequence of events are unclear. However, after the defeat at Anzen, the rumour had spread to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
that Theophilos had been killed, and it appears that Theophobos, who was possibly an iconodule (as opposed to the staunchly iconoclast Theophilos) was put forth among the Empire's elite as the new emperor.
At any rate, Theophobos quickly engaged in secret negotiations with the Emperor, who in 839 led an army against the rebels. Theophobos agreed to surrender and was restored to his high offices, while his men, numbering some 30,000, were reportedly split up into regiments of 2000 men and divided among the districts. As Theophilos' health declined however, and in order to prevent any usurpation of the throne from his infant son and heir, Michael III
Michael III
Michael III , , Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian-Phrygian Dynasty...
(r. 842–867), in 840 or 842, Theophilos had his brother-in-law Petronas secretly execute Theophobos by decapitation.