| Staurakios | |
|---|---|
| Emperor of the Romans | |
| Byzantine emperor | |
| Co-reign | 25 December 811 – bef. 11 July 813 |
| Predecessor | Michael I Rangabe |
| Successor | Leo V the Armenian |
| Senior emperor | Michael I Rangabe |
| Born | ca. 800 bef. 11 July 813 |
| Dynasty | Nikephorian dynasty |
| Father | Michael I Rangabe |
| Mother | Prokopia |
| Nikephorian dynasty | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chronology | ||
| ||
| Succession | ||
| ||
Staurakios orStauracius (Greek:Σταυράκιος,romanized: Staurákios; ca. 800 – bef. 11 July 813) was the third son of theByzantine emperorMichael I Rangabe (r. 811–813) and grandson, on his mother's side, ofNikephoros I (r. 802–811). He was junior co-emperor alongside his father during the latter's reign.
Staurakios was born toMichael Rhangabe andProkopia. He was the couple's third child, according to the list of his siblings given in thehagiography ofPatriarch Ignatius I of Constantinople.[1] The same source also states that he was crowned alongside his brotherTheophylakt.[2] He was named after his maternal uncle, emperorStaurakios.
Following the death of Nikephoros in theBattle of Pliska on 26 July 811 and the crippling of his only son and heir Staurakios in the same battle, on 2 October theByzantine Senate and thetagmata guard units acclaimed Nikephoros's son-in-law Michael Rhangabe as emperor and forced Staurakios to abdicate.[1][3] Michael immediately set about to consolidate his rule, distributing lavish gifts, crowning his wife asaugusta on 12 October, and finally, crowning Staurakios as co-emperor in theHagia Sophia on Christmas Day, 25 December 811.[1][4]
Nothing further is known of Staurakios rather than he died in unknown circumstances before 11 July 813, when Michael, faced with a military revolt underLeo the Armenian, abdicated the throne.[1][5] He pre-deceased his father.[6]