X-Nico

6 unusual facts about Nikephoros II Phokas


Catanzaro

Byzantine general Nikephoros Phokas was responsible for the naming of the "Rock of Niceforo".

Frederic Harrison

In 1904 he published a "romantic monograph" of the 10th century Byzantine resurgence, Theophano, and in 1906 a verse tragedy, Nicephorus.

Nikephoros II Phokas

Whereas Bishop Liutprand describes the emperor's hair as being bristly, Leo The Deacon says it was black with "tight curls" and "unusually long".

On 19 November 2004, the Hellenic Navy named its tenth Kortenaer class frigate in his honour as Nikiforos Fokas F-466 (formerly HNLMS Bloys Van Treslong F-824).

Also, in the Rethymno regional unit in Crete, a municipality (Nikiforos Fokas) is named after him, as are many streets throughout Greece.

In the war with the Abbasid Caliphate under Al-Muti, Nikephoros began with a severe defeat in 954, from which he recovered in the following years with victories in Syria, starting in 957.



see also

Bardas Phokas

Bardas Phokas the Elder (c. 878 – c. 968), Byzantine general and father of emperor Nikephoros II Phokas

Bardas Phokas the Younger (died 13 April 989), Byzantine general and rebel, son of Leo Phokas the Younger, the brother of Nikephoros II Phokas