Philaretos Brachamios | |
|---|---|
 Seal of Philaretos Brachamios,Protokouropalates andDomestic of the Scholae. | |
| Domestic of the Schools of the East Protosebastos | |
| In office 1078 – c. 1087 | |
| Monarchs | Alexios I Komnenos Nikephoros III Botaneiates |
| Doux ofAntioch Kouropalates | |
| In office 1078 – c. 1087 | |
| Monarch | Nikephoros III Botaneiates |
| Stratopedarches of the East Kouropalates | |
| In office c. 1069 – c. 1071 | |
| Monarch | Romanos IV Diogenes |
| Doux Kouropalates | |
| In office c. 1068 – c. 1069 | |
| Monarch | Romanos IV Diogenes |
| Topoteretes ofCappadocia Protospatharios Hypatos | |
| In office c. 1060 – c. 1068 | |
| Monarch | Constantine X Doukas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1030 |
| Died | c. 1087 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Byzantine Empire |
| Years of service | c. 1060–c.1087 |
Philaretos Brachamios (Greek:Φιλάρετος Βραχάμιος;Armenian:Փիլարտոս Վահրամ Վարաժնունի,romanized: Pilartos Vahram Varajnuni;Latin:Philaretus Brachamius) was a distinguishedByzantine general andwarlord ofArmenian heritage. He was for a time the ruler of a quasi-independent state that refused to recognise EmperorMichael VII. Philaretos is attested on seals astaxiarches (commander of an infantry regiment), as well asprotospatharios andtopoteretes (deputy commander) of theTagmata ofCappadocia, then asmagistros anddoux (duke), and finally askouropalates anddoux.
Since the 1060–1070s, theArmenian highlands and theAnti-Taurus Mountains had been exposed toTurkoman warriors and their rule, while the presence of localChristian lords in the region stretching from theCilician plain toDiyar Mudar persisted.[1]
Philaretos is described byMichael the Syrian as having a "tough and robust character" whileMatthew of Edessa saw him as a "lawless and most evil prince".[2] Philaretos held a high command in the army ofRomanus IV Diogenes. In 1069 he was given the command of the main Byzantine army that was protecting the frontier of Mesopotamia while Romanus participated in the siege of Akhlat.[3] He was defeated by theSeljuk Turks who advanced deep intoCappadocia andLycaonia and plundered at will before rapidly retreating with their spoils. He was present at theBattle of Manzikert in 1071, where he commanded a division of Romanus' army, and remained at the head of a considerable body of troops after the defeat.[4]
In the aftermath of the battle, he commanded the forces of the fortressRomanopolis, and refused to recognise the authority ofMichael VII Doukas. As the only remaining Byzantine general in the southeast he established a quasi-autonomous realm in the neighbourhood ofGermanicia, which stretched fromCilicia toEdessa.[citation needed] The core of his army was composed of 8,000 "Franks" (Normans) underRaimbaud. In 1078, at the beginning of the rule ofNikephoros III Botaneiates, he agreed to abandon his imperial claims on condition that Botaneiates appoint him as theduke of Antioch, which included Edessa.[5] Several seals testify him asmegas domestikos andprotokouropalates, thensebastos, then evenprotosebastos. Philaretos also tried to entice the Syriac Patriarch to restore the patriarchal seat to theMonastery of Bārid, but the patriarchs remained inAmid, their special diocese, and in themonastery of Mor Bar Sauma.[6]
He retained his dukedom until theTurks began to press heavily upon him. In December 1084, helost Antioch toSuleiman I, ruler of theTurks of Rum.[7] In 1087, Edessa fell toMalik Shah and Philaretos escaped back to the fortress of Germanicia; however, some sources indicate that he died in 1086. He was the last well-knownDomestic of the Schools of the East. His sons handed Germanicia to theFirst Crusade in 1098. After his death, his principality fell apart and various other Armenians took control of fractions of it:Kogh Vasil controlled the area ofKaysun,Raban andHromkla,Thoros controlled Edessa,Gabriel heldMelitene and a certainConstantine the town ofGargar.[8][9]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)| Preceded by | Doux of Antioch 1078–1084 | Seljuk conquest |