Described as one of the finest generals Byzantium ever produced, Tzimiskes led troops under Romanus II and then murdered his uncle Nikephoros Phokas with co-conspirators to seize the throne. Despite the brutality of his accession, his reign was enormously successful — repelling a Russian invasion, expelling the Russian overlord from Bulgaria, pacifying Armenia, sweeping into Mesopotamia unopposed, and returning to the east to conquer Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. He died of poison or disease at age 51 during his eastern campaigns.
Also known as: John Smiskys · John Tzimiskes
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Episode 13 (3 mentions)
Described as one of the finest generals Byzantium ever produced, Tzimiskes led troops under Romanus II and then murdered his uncle Nikephoros Phokas with co-conspirators to seize the throne. Despite the brutality of his accession, his reign was enormously successful — repelling a Russian invasion, expelling the Russian overlord from Bulgaria, pacifying Armenia, sweeping into Mesopotamia unopposed, and returning to the east to conquer Palestine, Syria, and Lebanon. He died of poison or disease at age 51 during his eastern campaigns.
“produced, Nysiphorus Focus and John Smiskys, led its troops into battle.”
“Theophano had become bored and taken his nephew John Smiskys as a lover.”
“Bardus Focus, a giant of a man, had rebelled against John Smiskys and consequently been”
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