Bardanes Tourkos

Bardanes, nicknamed Tourkos, "the Turk" (fl.

795–803), is a Byzantine general of Armenian origin who launches an unsuccessful rebellion against Emperor Nikephoros I (r. 802–811) in 803.

Although a major supporter of Byzantine empress Irene of Athens (r. 797–802), soon after her overthrow he is appointed by Nikephoros as commander-in-chief of the Anatolian armies.

From this position, he launches a revolt in July 803, probably in opposition to Nikephoros's economic and religious policies.

His troops march towards Constantinople, but fail to win popular support.

At this point, some of his major supporters desert him and, reluctant to engage the loyalist forces in battle, Bardanes gives up and chooses to surrender himself.

He retires as a monk to a monastery he had founded.

There he is blinded, possibly on Nikephoros's orders.

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