Nikephoros Basilakes
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| Nikephoros Basilakes | |
|---|---|
| Usurper of the Byzantine Empire | |
| Reign | 1078 |
| Born | ? |
| Died | ? |
| Predecessor | Michael VII |
| Successor | Nikephoros III |
Nikephoros Basilakes (Greek: Νικηφόρος Βασιλάκης) was a Byzantine governor of Dyrrhachium who tried to overthrow the Emperor Nikephoros III during the eleventh century and was defeated by Alexios I Komnenos.
In the chaos that surrounded the dethronement of Michael VII, Nikephoros Basilakes decided that his time had arrived. Moving into position at Thessalonica, he waited for the outcome of the clash between two other claimants to the throne, Nikephoros III and Nikephoros Bryennios, in order that he might quickly crush the exhausted victor.
His forces comprised of veteran Frank, Sclavonian, Albanian and Greek soldiers, and his confidence in his own abilities and courage convinced him that victory would easily be his. Nikephoros III send his best general, Alexois Komnenos to deal with him, and Alexios managed to entrap Basilakes into a night attack on the imperial camp, on the banks of the Vardar River, some eighteen miles distant from Thessalonica. Defeated, Basilakes fled to Thessalonica where he attempted to defend the city, but was seized by his own soldiers and delivered to Nikephoros III who ordered that Basilakes be blinded.
[edit] References
- George Finlay, 'History of the Byzantine and Greek Empires from 1057 - 1453', Volume 2, William Blackwood & Sons, 1854
