Nicephorus I
Nicephorus I,
d. 811, Byzantine emperor (802–11). He was minister of finance under Empress IreneIrene, c.750–803, Byzantine empress (797–802). She served (780–90) as regent for her son, Constantine VI, and later was made (792) joint ruler. Devoted to the Orthodox Church, she bent most of her efforts to suppressing iconoclasm.
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he deposed and succeeded. He improved the treasury, revised taxation, and vigorously asserted imperial authority over the church. This policy and his appointment of St. NicephorusNicephorus, Saint
, 758?–829?, patriarch of Constantinople (806–15), Byzantine historian and theologian. St. Nicephorus attended the Second Council of Nicaea as lay representative of the emperor.
..... Click the link for more information. to the patriarchate of Constantinople precipitated a conflict with Theodore of StudiumTheodore of Studium, Saint
, 759–826, Byzantine Greek monastic reformer, also called St. Theodore the Studite. As an abbot he was early exiled for opposing the marriage of Emperor Constantine VI to his mistress Theodota.
..... Click the link for more information. , whom he exiled in 809. Nicephorus consolidated Byzantine strength in the Balkans. He was killed while fighting the Bulgars and was succeeded briefly by his son Stauracius and then by his son-in-law, Michael IMichael I
(Michael Rangabe), d. c.845, Byzantine emperor (811–13), son-in-law of Nicephorus I. He supported orthodoxy against iconoclasm and recalled Theodore of Studium from exile. He recognized (812) Charlemagne's claim as emperor.
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