Nicephorus II

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Nicephorus II

(Nicephorus Phocas) (nīsĕf`ərəs fō`kəs), c.912–969, Byzantine emperor (963–69). He was a successful general under Constantine VII and Romanus II. On Romanus' death (963) he married the emperor's widow, Theophano, and was proclaimed emperor by his troops. He left the aristocracy its estates and took property from the monasteries. The heavy taxes he imposed to support his military ventures against the Arabs and the Bulgars caused much discontent. His downfall and murder, however, were the result of a palace intrigue between Theophano and her lover, John Tzimisces. Tzimisces succeeded to the throne as John IJohn I
(John Tzimisces) , c.925–976, Byzantine emperor (969–76). With the aid of Emperor Nicephorus II's wife, Theophano, John had Nicephorus murdered and himself proclaimed emperor.
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Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas acted to enhance the Byzantine presence by forbidding the use of the Latin rite in the two provinces of Apulia and Calabria.

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The driving out of Basilio from the city by the tyrant Nicephoro presumably refers to the violent circumstances under which the army general Nikephoros II Phokas seized power following the death of Romanos in 963.

385) suggests that Theophanu's father was the brother of Mafia Sklerina, first wife of John Tzimiskes, and that through her mother, Sophia Phokas, Theophanu was the great-niece of the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (963-9), but these relationships have not yet been proved.

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