| Theodore Mangaphas | |
|---|---|
| Usurper of theByzantine Empire | |
 Billonaspron trachy coin attributed to Mangaphas | |
| Reign | 1188–1189 1203/1204–1205 |
Theodore Mangaphas orMankaphas (Greek:Θεόδωρος Μαγκαφᾶς,fl. c. 1188–1205) was aGreek nobleman fromPhiladelphia,[1] who assumed the title ofByzantine emperor twice, first during the reign ofIsaac II Angelos (r. 1185–1195 and 1203–1204), and secondly after the sacking ofConstantinople during theFourth Crusade.
He was given the sobriquetMorotheodoros (Μωροθεόδωρος) meaning "Theodore the Fool", by the Greek chroniclers after his repeated failed usurpations.[2]
In circa 1188, Theodore, likely already the ruler of his nativePhiladelphia, secured the allegiance of the larger part of the city's inhabitants, but also of the surrounding areas ofLydia and the support of theArmenian communities in theTroad. He then proclaimed himself emperor in opposition toIsaac II Angelos (r. 1185–1195 and 1203–1204), and even minted his own silver coinage.[3][4][5] As the revolt gained ground, its progress alarmed Isaac so much that the emperor marched against Theodore in person. After some initial skirmishes, Theodore was besieged in Philadelphia (June 1189), but then Isaac learned of the rapid approach of theHoly Roman Emperor,Frederick Barbarossa (r. 1155–1190) who was on his way to take part in theThird Crusade. This made Isaac anxious to conclude the war against Theodore, and so he agreed to pardon Mangaphas, on the condition that the usurper submitted himself to Isaac and agreed to lay aside the imperial symbols and surrender hostages. He was then allowed to retain control of Philadelphia as its governor.[3][4][6]
In circa 1193 (or possibly 1190), however,Basil Vatatzes, thedoux of theThracesian theme andmegas domestikos of the Byzantine army, forced him to flee to the court of theSeljuk Turks atIconium. There, theSultanGhīyāth al-Dīn Kaykhusraw (r. 1192–1196 and 1205–1211) allowed Theodore to enroll troops among the nomadic tribes, and with these bands he ravaged the frontier lands of theByzantine Empire in 1195–1196.[3][4] During which time in 1193, he sacked the church inChonai and sold captive Christian prisoners.[7]
In late 1196, the new emperor,Alexios III Angelos (r. 1195–1203), bought Mangaphas from the sultan, on condition that his life was to be spared, and that he would not spend the rest of his life in prison.[8] He remained in prison for an unknown period of time before he was released (at any rate before 1204) and returned to Philadelphia.[3][4]
In the chaos of theFourth Crusade and the eventualfall ofConstantinople in 1204, a number of individuals took advantage of the situation to proclaim themselves independent or lay claim to the vacant imperial throne. Mangaphas may have returned to Philadelphia before or after the fall of the city, and quickly re-established his dominant position there, founding an independent state in the area.[3][4] After securing Philadelphia, he decided to take onHenry of Flanders, one of the Crusader chieftains and futureLatin Emperor (r. 1206–1216), who was encamped atAdramyttium and who was attempting to crush the remaining Byzantine resistance inAnatolia. Although he managed to take Henry by surprise, his forces were no match for the Latin heavy cavalry and were crushed at theBattle of Adramyttium on 19 March 1205.[9] Retreating back to Philadelphia, he remained there until his remaining territories were overrun byTheodore Laskaris ofNicaea in 1205. Nothing more is heard of him, and it is presumed that he died in captivity in the Nicaean court.[3][4]
Theodore's surname,Mangaphas, is not Greek, and represents perhaps aHellenized form of theTurkishmankafa meaning fool or idiot. It is hence possible that it was not his actual surname, but a translation into Turkish of his Greek sobriquetMorotheodoros, which then was adopted by the later Greek chroniclers. There is, however, also evidence for the existence of other members of the Mangaphas family in the 11th and 13th centuries independently of Theodore.[10] In addition, a number of silver coins found in a hoard inAphrodisias, and which is commonly attributed to Mangaphas,[11] seems to include "M[angaphas]" as if it were his proper surname.[12]