George Maniaces

George Maniaces

George Maniakes ( _el. Γεώργιος Μανιάκης, transliterated as Georgios Maniaces, Maniakis, or Maniaches, _it. Giorgio Maniace) (d.1043) was a prominent Byzantine Greek general during the 11th century.

Life

Maniakes first became prominent during a campaign in 1031, when the Byzantine Empire was defeated at Aleppo but went on to capture Edessa from the Seljuk Turks. His greatest achievement was the partial reconquest of Sicily from the Arabs beginning in 1038. Here, he was assisted by the Varangian Guard, which was at that time led by Harald Hardrada, who later became king of Norway. There were also Norman mercenaries with him, under William de Hauteville, who won his nickname "Iron Arm" by defeating the emir of Syracuse in single combat. However, he soon ostracised his admiral, Stephen, whose wife was the sister of John the Eunuch, the highest ranking man at court, and, by publicly humiliating the leader of the Lombard contingent, Arduin, he caused them to desert him, with the Normans and Norsemen. In response, he was recalled by the emperor Michael IV, also brother-in-law of Stephen. Although the Arabs soon took the island back, Maniakes' successes there later inspired the Normans to invade Sicily themselves.

Maniakes' accomplishments in Sicily were largely ignored by the Emperor, and he revolted against Constantine IX in 1042, though he had been appointed catepan of Italy. The individual particularly responsible for antagonizing Maniakes into revolt was one Romanus Sclerus. Sclerus, like Maniakes, was one of the immensely wealthy landowners who owned large areas of Anatolia - his estates neighboured those of Maniakes and the two were rumoured to have attacked each other during a sqaubble over land. Sclerus owed his influence over the emperor to his famously charming sister the Sclerina, who, in most areas was a highly positive influence on Constantine. Finding himself in a position of power, Sclerus used it to poison Constantine against Maniakes - ransacking the latter's house and even seducing his wife, using the charm his family were famed for. Maniakes response, when faced with Sclerus demanding that he hand command of the empires forces in Apulia over to him, was to brutally torture the latter to death, after sealing his eyes, ears, nose and mouth with excrement. Maniakes was then proclaimed emperor by his troops (including the Varangians), and marched towards Constantinople, in 1043 his army clashed with troops loyal to Constantine near Thessalonika, and though initially successful, Maniakes was killed during the melee after receiving a fatal wound (according to Psellus' account). Constantine's extravagant punishment of the surviving rebels was to parade them in the Hippodrome, seated backwards on donkeys. With his death, the rebellion ceased. In Sicily, the town of Maniace and the Syracusan fortress of Castello Maniace are both named after him.


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • History of Islam in southern Italy — Arabic painting made for the Norman kings (c. 1150) in the Palazzo dei Normanni, originally the emir s palace at Palermo …   Wikipedia

  • 1043 — Events* Rus Byzantine War (1043). * Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England at Winchester Cathedral. * Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor marries Agnes de Poitou. * The revolt of George Maniaces against Byzantine Emperor Constantine IX ends… …   Wikipedia

  • Normans — This article is about the people. For other uses, see Norman (disambiguation). Norman expansion by 1130 The Normans were the people[1] who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse …   Wikipedia

  • 11th century — As a means of recording the passage of time, the 11th century is the period from 1001 to 1100 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian/Common Era. In the history of European culture, this period is considered the early part of the… …   Wikipedia

  • John the Eunuch — John the Eunuch, also known as the Orphanotrophos ( caretaker of orphans ), was the chief court eunuch during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor Romanus III (1028 1034). Being unable to father one himself, he sought to found a dynasty for his… …   Wikipedia

  • Islam en Italie — Mosquée de Rome L histoire de l islam en Italie commence dès le VIIe siècle, lorsque les premiers Arabes se lancent à l assaut de la Méditerranée. Au IXe siècle la Sicile et plusieurs régions du sud de l …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Byzantine–Arab Wars (780–1180) — Part of the Byzantine Arab Wars …   Wikipedia

  • 1042 — Events*April 18/April 19 Emperor Michael V of the Byzantine Empire attempts to remain sole Emperor by sending his adoptive mother and co ruler Zoe of Byzantium to a monastery. *April 19 Michael V of the Byzantine Empire is deposed by popular… …   Wikipedia

  • List of military commanders — See also: Military History Antiquity Albania*Agron (250 BC 230 BC) The first king to unite the Illyrian tribes together and form a kingdom. During his rule Illyria was a strong kingdom which had a strong military force, especially naval. He… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Byzantine Empire-related topics — NOTOC This is a list of people, places, things, and concepts related to or originating from the Byzantine Empire. Feel free to add more, and create missing pages.AAachen Cathedral, Acacius of Constantinople, Academy, Aegean Sea, Aegyptus (Roman… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”