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Against the backdrop of a disintegrating empire, still reeling from the shock of Manzikert (1071), comes the story of four usurpers all called Nicephorus. The first, Nicephorus
Bryennius was declared emperor in November 1077 in Adrianopolis. The second banner of revolt was raised by a more powerful and aristocratic general, Nicephorus Botaniates, who defeated Bryennius and marched in victory to
Constantinople, where the emperor Michael VII wisely abdicated and snuck away. Botaniates was crowned as Nicephorus III. His most loyal supporter was the young general Alexius Comnenus, nephew of the emperor Isaac I. Alexius
loyally put down another rebellion, this one by Nicephorus Basilacius, but when his own brother-in-law, Nicephorus Melissenus rose in revolt, Alexius sided with him. Three years after his victorious entry into Constantinople, the
old and senile Nicephorus III himself abdicated and his young general and erstwhile friend, Alexius Comnenus ascended the throne as Alexius I. |
