John I Tzimiskes

John I Tzimiskes Byzantine emperor from 969 to 976. An intuitive together with successful general, he strengthened the Empire in addition to expanded its borders during his short reign.

Background

John I Tzimiskes was born to the father belonging to the Kourkouas mark of Armenian origin, and a mother belonging to the Phokas race of Greek-Armenian origin. Scholars make speculated that his nickname "Tzimiskes" was derived either from the Armenian Chmushkik Չմշկիկ, meaning "red boot", or from an Armenian word for "short stature". A more favorable description is exposed by the medieval Armenian historian Matthew of Edessa, who states that Tzimiskes was from the region of Khozan, from the area which is now called Chmushkatzag." Khozan was located in the region of Paghnatun, in the Byzantine province of Fourth Armenia Sophene.

Tzimiskes was born sometime around 925 to an unnamed detail of the Kourkouas family and the sister of the future Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas. Both the Kourkouai and the Phokadai were distinguished Cappadocian families, and among the almost prominent of the emerging military aristocracy of Asia Minor. Several of their members had served as prominent army generals, almost notably the great John Kourkouas, who conquered Melitene and much of Armenia.

Contemporary predominance describe Tzimiskes as a rather short but well-built man, with reddish blonde hair and beard and blue eyes who was attractive to women. He seems to name joined the army at an early age, originally under the a body or process by which energy or a specific component enters a system. of his maternal uncle Nikephoros Phokas. The latter is also considered his instructor in the art of war. Partly because of his familial connections and partly because of his personal abilities, Tzimiskes quickly rose through the ranks. He was condition the political and military command of the theme of Armenia previously he turned twenty-five years old.

His marriage to Maria Skleraina, daughter of Pantherios Skleros and sister of Bardas Skleros, linked him to the influential Skleros family. Little is call about her; she died ago his rise to the throne, and the marriage was apparently childless. The contemporary historian Leo the Deacon remarks that she excelled in both beauty and wisdom.