Prokopia (Greek: Προκοπία; c. 770 – after 813) was the empress consort ofMichael I Rhangabe of theEastern Roman Empire. She was a daughter ofNikephoros I. The name of her mother is not known. Her only known sibling isStaurakios.^[1]

Prokopia marriedMichael Rhangabe during the late 8th century. He was a son ofTheophylaktos Rhangabe, admiral of theAegean fleet.

In 802, thereigning empressIrene was deposed by an alliance ofpatricians andeunuchs. Their leader was Prokopia's father Nikephoros, the finance minister (logothetēs tou genikou). On 31 October 802, Nikephoros was declared to be the next emperor, making Prokopia a member of the imperial family.^[2] Her husband received the high court dignity ofkouropalatēs.

On 26 July 811, Nikephoros was killed while fighting againstKrum of Bulgaria at theBattle of Pliska. Much of theEastern Roman army was annihilated with him in what is considered one of the worst defeats in Roman history.^[3] Among the few survivors wasStaurakios, who succeeded him as emperor.

Staurakios had not escaped the battlefield unharmed. A sword wound near his neck had left him paralyzed. Members of the imperial guard had managed to transfer him toAdrianople but he never fully recovered. The matter of Staurakios' succession was deemed urgent and two factions emerged at court. One centered on Theophano, wife of the emperor, who reportedly sought to succeed her husband. The other centered on Prokopia, who intended to place her husband on the throne.^[4]

Prokopia failed to persuade her brother to go along with her wishes at first. He apparently favored Theophano. However Michael and Prokopia had gathered enough support at court to threaten Staurakios himself. Unable to face this opposition in his condition, Staurakios declared his brother-in-law as his designated heir and abdicated at the same time. He then retired to a monastery. Prokopia had become the new empress consort.^[5]

On 2 October 811, Michael I Rhangabe succeeded to the throne and Prokopia became the empress consort. She is said to have effectively dominated the court for his brief reign.^[6] She insisted on following her husband in campaigns but her presence reportedly was not welcomed by the troops.

Michael generously distributed money to the army, the bureaucracy, and the Church in an effort to establish himself. He also reopened negotiations withCharlemagne and recognized the rival emperor asbasileus (emperor) (but not as Emperor of the Romans). However thewar with Krum continued and would bring the downfall of the imperial couple.

On 22 June 813, Michael's forces lost theBattle of Versinikia. The imperial army was significantly larger than the Bulgarian but failed to use its size to its advantage. Michael was among the first to retreat from the battlefield and other units followed his lead. Krum advanced toEast Thrace andConstantinople itself had become a viable target. Whatever support Michael and Prokopia had managed to gain did not long survive the military defeat.

On 11 July 813, Michael abdicated the throne in favor ofLeo V the Armenian.Theophanes Continuatus, the continuation to the chronicle ofTheophanes the Confessor, records that Prokopia opposed the abdication to no avail.^[7]

While Michael and his sons were exiled to thePrinces' Islands, Prokopia moved to a private monastery which appears to have been constructed earlier inConstantinople according to her orders.^[8] Her year of death is not known.

Prokopia and Michael I had at least five children:

• Theophylaktos (c. 792 – 15 January 849), co-emperor from 812 to 813. He was castrated and exiled to a monastery. His date of death was recorded by Theophanes Continuatus.
• Staurakios (c. 793 – 813). Died prior to the abdication of his father. Circumstances unknown.
• Niketas (c. 797 – 23 October 877). He was castrated and exiled to a monastery. Later emerged as PatriarchIgnatios of Constantinople.
• Gorgo. Became a nun.
• Theophano. Became a nun.

Ignatios was later declared asaint. His hagiography records one of his sisters having helpediconodules during the persecutions ofTheophilos (r. 829–842). However which one is unclear.

A hagiography cites thatPaul of Xeropotamou (born Procopius), who also became a saint of the Orthodox Church, was another son.^[9][10]

• 770s births
• 9th-century deaths
• 8th-century Byzantine women
• 8th-century Byzantine people
• 9th-century Byzantine empresses
• Nikephorian dynasty
• Augustae
• Daughters of Byzantine emperors
• Byzantine people of Arab descent
• Mothers of Byzantine emperors

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata