7 – Nikephoros II Phokas (969)
Given the fact that he had the names of two former Byzantine Emperors who met terrible fates, perhaps it is not surprising to learn that Nikephoros II followed suit. He was the best Byzantine general of the era, and his military brilliance helped the Empire flourish during the 10th century.
Nikephoros’ career did not get off to the best start however as he suffered defeat to the Abbasid Caliphate in 954 when he was the Byzantine Empire’s supreme commander on the eastern frontier. He recovered by earning several victories in Syria and was placed in charge of the eastern field army when Emperor Romanos II came to power in 959. Two years later, Nikephoros defeated the Muslims and gained the island of Chandax.
After the death of Romanos II in 963, Nikephoros seized power with the aid of his nephew, John Tzimiskes. He did not quell his natural military instincts once he became emperor and his reign was marked by a succession of campaigns. As he spent so much on the army, he was forced to cut back in other departments. As well as forbidding the building of new monasteries, he debased the coinage. The frugality shown in everything outside of the army ensured that Nikephoros was an unpopular emperor and riots were common.
His second wife, Theophano, began an affair with Tzimiskes and the duo plotted the death of the Emperor. On December 11, 969, the conspirators entered the palace dressed as women. Nikephoros learned of a plot to kill him and ordered a full search of the palace. However, the Empress’ chambers were not searched, and the plotters remained hidden. Nikephoros slept on the floor of his room, so the assassins were initially surprised when they saw an empty bed. Nikephoros woke up, and one of the assassins tried to decapitate him but sliced his face instead. The emperor was dragged to the feet of Tzimiskes who called him a tyrant; then one of the assassins beheaded Nikephoros and paraded his head on a spike.