Uploaded January 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
Nikephoros I ousted Irene of Athens and ruled for nine years reforming the empire, fighting off its enemies in the west, north and east but was slain at the end of a victorious campaign at the battle of Pliska.
Predecessor: Irene
youtube.com/watch?v=rIfHUZ_1JY8&t=311s
Successor: Staurakios
youtu.be/cFZ6RC9l4o4
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Charlemagne
02:33 Revolt of Bardanes Tourkos
04:57 Early Campaigns
08:00 Mad Monks
09:22 Further Campaigns
13:02 Balkan Conquests
15:43 The Vexations of Nikephoros I
19:31 Further Successes
23:09 The Pliska Campaign
26:20 The Battle of Pliska
30:59 Conclusion
Bibliography:
Primary Sources
Al-Tabari, The History of the Prophets and Kings, Vol 40, Translated by Various, (1985-2007).
Chronicle of 811, About the Emperor of Nicephorus and How He Left His Bones in Bulgaria, Translated by Paul Stephenson, (2006).
Chronicle of Monemvasia, Chronicle of Monemvasia and the Question of the Slavonic Settlements in Greece, Translated by Peter Charanis, (1950).
Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle AD284 - 813, Translated by Cyril Mango and Roger Scott (1997).
Scholarship
Brubaker, L. and Haldon J. (2011) Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era 680-850, A History, Cambridge.
Bury, J. B. (1912) A History of the Eastern Roman Empire (AD802-867), Cambridge.
Fine, J. V. A. Jr. (1983) The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, (Michigan).
Herrin, J. (1987) The Formation of Christendom, London.
Kaegi, W. E. Jr. (1981) Byzantine Military unrest 471-843: An Interpretation, Amsterdam.
Niavis, P. (1984) The Reign of the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I, Edinburgh.
Treadgold, W. (1979) ‘The Bride-Shows of the Byzantine Emperors’ in Bruxelles 49, 395-413.
Treadgold, W. (1988) The Byzantine Revival 780-842, Stanford.
Treadgold, W. (1995) Byzantium and Its Army 284-1081, Stanford.
Sophoulis, P. (2012) Byzantium and Bulgaria, 775-831, Brill.
Email
easternromanhistory@gmail.com
Discord
discord.gg/wxVmswV
If you would like to support Eastern Roman History, I have a Patreon:
patreon.com/EasternRomanHistory
Music Credits:
'Eastern Theme', 'Western Greek Battle Theme', 'Roman Battle Theme', 'Eastern Greek Battle Theme' and 'Eastern Battle Theme' by Morgan Casey and Nick Wylie from Europa Barbarorum.
'Rockets' by Duane Decker from Rise of Nations by Big Huge Games.
'Tutorial', 'Cry of Pain', 'Cry of Agony', 'Doubtful Atmosphere' and 'Battle on the Bridge' by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata from Final Fantasy Tactics by Square.
All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.
Nikephoros I ousted Irene of Athens and ruled for nine years reforming the empire, fighting off its enemies in the west, north and east but was slain at the end of a victorious campaign at the battle of Pliska.
Predecessor: Irene
youtube.com/watch?v=rIfHUZ_1JY8&t=311s
Successor: Staurakios
youtu.be/cFZ6RC9l4o4
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
01:34 Charlemagne
02:33 Revolt of Bardanes Tourkos
04:57 Early Campaigns
08:00 Mad Monks
09:22 Further Campaigns
13:02 Balkan Conquests
15:43 The Vexations of Nikephoros I
19:31 Further Successes
23:09 The Pliska Campaign
26:20 The Battle of Pliska
30:59 Conclusion
Bibliography:
Primary Sources
Al-Tabari, The History of the Prophets and Kings, Vol 40, Translated by Various, (1985-2007).
Chronicle of 811, About the Emperor of Nicephorus and How He Left His Bones in Bulgaria, Translated by Paul Stephenson, (2006).
Chronicle of Monemvasia, Chronicle of Monemvasia and the Question of the Slavonic Settlements in Greece, Translated by Peter Charanis, (1950).
Theophanes the Confessor, Chronicle AD284 - 813, Translated by Cyril Mango and Roger Scott (1997).
Scholarship
Brubaker, L. and Haldon J. (2011) Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era 680-850, A History, Cambridge.
Bury, J. B. (1912) A History of the Eastern Roman Empire (AD802-867), Cambridge.
Fine, J. V. A. Jr. (1983) The Early Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Sixth to the Late Twelfth Century, (Michigan).
Herrin, J. (1987) The Formation of Christendom, London.
Kaegi, W. E. Jr. (1981) Byzantine Military unrest 471-843: An Interpretation, Amsterdam.
Niavis, P. (1984) The Reign of the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros I, Edinburgh.
Treadgold, W. (1979) ‘The Bride-Shows of the Byzantine Emperors’ in Bruxelles 49, 395-413.
Treadgold, W. (1988) The Byzantine Revival 780-842, Stanford.
Treadgold, W. (1995) Byzantium and Its Army 284-1081, Stanford.
Sophoulis, P. (2012) Byzantium and Bulgaria, 775-831, Brill.
easternromanhistory@gmail.com
Discord
discord.gg/wxVmswV
If you would like to support Eastern Roman History, I have a Patreon:
patreon.com/EasternRomanHistory
Music Credits:
'Eastern Theme', 'Western Greek Battle Theme', 'Roman Battle Theme', 'Eastern Greek Battle Theme' and 'Eastern Battle Theme' by Morgan Casey and Nick Wylie from Europa Barbarorum.
'Rockets' by Duane Decker from Rise of Nations by Big Huge Games.
'Tutorial', 'Cry of Pain', 'Cry of Agony', 'Doubtful Atmosphere' and 'Battle on the Bridge' by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Masaharu Iwata from Final Fantasy Tactics by Square.
All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.
