George Maniakes: Life of a Rebel and His Place in Byzantine Historiography

Abstract

George Maniakes, who had lived between c. 997-1043, is one of the most important commanders of the time between the rule of Basil II and Alexios Komnenos. Maniakes, whose name was first mentioned in 1030 as the strategos of Telouch theme, had been sent to Italy twice after gaining successes in the East, and in both phases he had expanded the lands and the influence of Byzantine Empire in Italy. However, having been subjected to injustices at the end of these phases, eventually revolted and marched against emperor Constantine Monomachus. In the battle between two sides, Manikes, who was on the verge of the victory according to the sources, lost his life because of an unknown spear blow. Byzantine, Latin and Armenian sources give information about Maniakes, and he is also mentioned in a Viking saga. Maniakes left a mark for his life time as a result of his bravery, courage and martial talent and while he was indeed a rebel, he was nearly portrayed as a hero. In this paper, beside his life, some controversial issues such as his origin is studied, and the expressions of Byzantine history writers about him were given place, and also the remarks regarding his place on Byzantine historiography are stated.

Keywords

• George Maniakes, Byzantine, Constantine Monomachos, Italy.

Georgios Maniakes: Βir İsyancının Hayatı ve Bizans Tarih Yazımındaki Yeri

Abstract

Yaklaşık olarak 997-1043 yılları arasında yaşamış olan Georgios Maniakes, II. Basileos ve Aleksios Komnenos arasındaki dönemin en önemli komutanlarından birisidir. Tarih eserlerinde adı ilk olarak 1030 yılında Telukh temasının strategosu olarak geçen Maniakes, doğuda kazandığı başarıların ardından iki defa İtalya’ya gönderilmiş ve her defasında bu bölgede Bizans İmparatorluğu’nun topraklarını ve nüfuzunu arttırmıştır. Ancak burada bulunduğu iki dönemin sonunda da haksızlıklara uğrayan Maniakes en sonunda isyan ederek İmparator Konstantinos Monomakhos’a karşı harekete geçmiştir. İmparatorluk ordusuyla yapılan muharebede, kaynakların belirttiğine göre neredeyse galip gelmekte olan Maniakes, nereden geldiği bilinmeyen bir mızrak darbesi ile hayatını kaybetmiştir. Bizans, Latin ve Ermeni kaynaklarında kendisiyle ilgili bilgiler verilen Maniakes, bir Viking sagasında da konu edinilmiştir. Yiğitliği, cesareti ve askerlik yeteneği ile elde ettiği başarıları sonucunda yaşadığı dönem için büyük bir iz bırakmış olan Maniakes, nihayetinde bir isyancı olduğu halde, Bizans kaynaklarında neredeyse bir kahraman gibi betimlenmiştir. Bu çalışmada Georgios Maniakes’in hayatının yanında kökeni konusu örneğindeki gibi birtakım tartışmalar irdelenmiş, bunun yanında Maniakes ile ilgili Bizans tarih yazarlarının anlatımlarına yer verilmiş ve onun Bizans tarih yazımındaki yeri hususunda görüşler bildirilmiştir.

Keywords

• Georgios Maniakes
• Bizans
• Konstantinos Monomakhos
• İtalya

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