Tzimikus Monomachus
Regent/Princeps and Autocrat of the Rasenna Herus Tzimikus (a.k.a. Monomachus)
Regent of future Emperor Aurakios, led very successful campaigns in Agrihenia, conquering the tribes to the banks of the Oltune and settling the region with Rasennan families.
Physical Description
General Physical Condition
Tzimikus is described as being a shorter, stout, and hardy figure. Through Lucanor's account, we might think that he was a repulsive figure but this seems to be a biased view of the man. It was likely that he was seen as a provincial barbarian by the notoriously uptight Rasennan nobility. His skin tone is mocked by the court historian as like that of an Agrihenian and of a barbarian while those of a similar background as Tzimikus are praised for their olive skin.
Mental characteristics
Personal history
Little is documented about the early life of Herus Tzimikus as he was born to farmers belonging to a provincial family in a province of little attention. We hear of him first when names are listed of the captains of the Tagma troops of which Tzimikus is noted as commander of the Cubrati, commonly thought of as the 2nd most prestigious unit behind the Scholai. Tzimikus seems to have won his position due to his ties with the regent Georgios Stratiacus who seems to have been a good friend and trusted political ally of the provincial. It would be through Stratiacus that Tzimikus would be promoted to captain of the Scholai and essentially as head of the imperial army as the emperor Aurakios was not of age at this time. Tzimikus is supposed to have led the Tagma to victory against marauding Yarmeg and Beihan nomads as well as against the confederation of the Lecolanes who crossed the Rhor. Tzimikus wins acclaim in the records of this period as he is called "Most splendid of the Scholai, their righteous commander and he who fights in the ranks of the honorable soldiery". This reference to his position in the ranks of his troops seems to be in his common epithet of Monomachus, which loosely translates as "he who fights in the front" which seems to be in reference to his direct and inspiring presence in the ranks of the Tagma. Tzimikus would win further renown during his war against a strong confederation of Yarmeg clans commonly called the Khakyars who had occupied much of the land beyond the Oltune. The "Khakyar War" would earn Tzimikus tremendous renown as the vanquisher of the feared Yarmeg and savior of Agrihenia as he led successful campaigns against them, annexing territory to the banks of the Oltune and settling the area with retired soldiers of his retinue and sponsored citizens from Agrihenia Prope and beyond. For these successes, he was named Domestic of the Oltune, making him overseer of both Agrihenian provinces which quickly became known for producing tough and skilled soldiers in later years.
As Domestic of the Oltune provinces, Tzimikus had the political clout in the capital to get himself named regent of Emperor Aurakios after the death of Georgios Stratiacus in 714 B.E. Tzimikus' administration began on rocky footing as the martial leader instantly clashed with the political figures of the imperial court due to the new regent's infamous curt and blunt behavior. In his role, Tzimikus is supposed to have made several advances on Aetia Straticus, the mother of the emperor, and generally to have had little patience for court proceedings and formalities. Famously, the regent would greatly insult the court tutor and historian, Maurinus Lucanor who wrote the surviving histories of this period. Lucanor would famously comment on Tzimikus in his brief description of the regent's reign.
The account by Lucanor should be taken with tremendous caution but can be seen as an account of how the regent was perceived by the traditional nobility for his crassness and unflinching boldness in his conduct towards them. By this account, we can conceive of Tzimikus' popularity being solely due to his conquests as he quickly made many enemies in the court of the empire which sought to undermine him from the moment he arrived in the capital.
The coup that toppled Tzimikus from power seemed to have begun with his dismissal of Evistrus Attaliates, the captain of the Curbati who quickly sought to gain support for an overthrow of the regent. Attaliates found support among the noble families of the capital but was imprisoned under suspicion of such plans. Under these circumstances, Cyrelius Kalarios, captain of the Scholai and a former subordinate of Tzimikus seems to have hatched a daring plan to free Attaliates and assassinate Tzimikus with the aid of his ally and lover, Aetia Stratiacus, the mother of the emperor. With Aetia's aid, Kalarios secretly freed Attaliates and the two men stealthily entered the imperial palace during the night while the regent slept. Aetia had falsely seduced the regent and had been in bed with him that night, leaving the door unlocked and attracting the night guards away from the door temporarily, allowing Kalarios himself to sneak in and kill Tzimikus with a dagger.
The morning after the assassination, Tzimikus' head was displayed from the balcony of the palace which compelled the imperial nobility to acclaim Kalarios as the new regent. As the new regent, Kalarios surprisingly did not immediately damn Tzimikus' memory, instead, he commemorated the former regent's military successes while criticizing his domestic policies. Kalarios' actions after the assassination continued as he had his co-conspirator Attaliates put to death on forged charges in order to eliminate opposition to his new regime.
As Domestic of the Oltune provinces, Tzimikus had the political clout in the capital to get himself named regent of Emperor Aurakios after the death of Georgios Stratiacus in 714 B.E. Tzimikus' administration began on rocky footing as the martial leader instantly clashed with the political figures of the imperial court due to the new regent's infamous curt and blunt behavior. In his role, Tzimikus is supposed to have made several advances on Aetia Straticus, the mother of the emperor, and generally to have had little patience for court proceedings and formalities. Famously, the regent would greatly insult the court tutor and historian, Maurinus Lucanor who wrote the surviving histories of this period. Lucanor would famously comment on Tzimikus in his brief description of the regent's reign.
"the Agrihenian is a monstrosity of a man, a pygmy, fat-headed badger with a revolting visage like that of a diseased ox. Disgraced by a crooked neck far too long in inches and very bristly on account of the raggedness of his hair. In color, a half breed of an Agrihenian yokel and a frontier barbarian. In speech, so bold of tongue, so thoroughly a simpleton by nature and so committed to perjury of all kinds with the subtly of a hammer upon the head".
The account by Lucanor should be taken with tremendous caution but can be seen as an account of how the regent was perceived by the traditional nobility for his crassness and unflinching boldness in his conduct towards them. By this account, we can conceive of Tzimikus' popularity being solely due to his conquests as he quickly made many enemies in the court of the empire which sought to undermine him from the moment he arrived in the capital.
The coup that toppled Tzimikus from power seemed to have begun with his dismissal of Evistrus Attaliates, the captain of the Curbati who quickly sought to gain support for an overthrow of the regent. Attaliates found support among the noble families of the capital but was imprisoned under suspicion of such plans. Under these circumstances, Cyrelius Kalarios, captain of the Scholai and a former subordinate of Tzimikus seems to have hatched a daring plan to free Attaliates and assassinate Tzimikus with the aid of his ally and lover, Aetia Stratiacus, the mother of the emperor. With Aetia's aid, Kalarios secretly freed Attaliates and the two men stealthily entered the imperial palace during the night while the regent slept. Aetia had falsely seduced the regent and had been in bed with him that night, leaving the door unlocked and attracting the night guards away from the door temporarily, allowing Kalarios himself to sneak in and kill Tzimikus with a dagger.
The morning after the assassination, Tzimikus' head was displayed from the balcony of the palace which compelled the imperial nobility to acclaim Kalarios as the new regent. As the new regent, Kalarios surprisingly did not immediately damn Tzimikus' memory, instead, he commemorated the former regent's military successes while criticizing his domestic policies. Kalarios' actions after the assassination continued as he had his co-conspirator Attaliates put to death on forged charges in order to eliminate opposition to his new regime.
Education
Schooled in military affairs as commander of a Tagma unit
Employment
Captain of the Curbati and later Scholari
Leader of the imperial army during the war against the Khakyars
Domestic of the Oltune Themes
Regent of the Emperor Aurakios
Leader of the imperial army during the war against the Khakyars
Domestic of the Oltune Themes
Regent of the Emperor Aurakios
Accomplishments & Achievements
Appointment to the Cubrati and Scholai tagma units
Victories in the field against the Lecolanes and Khakyars
Appointment to the themes of the Oltune
Appointment to the imperial regency
Victories in the field against the Lecolanes and Khakyars
Appointment to the themes of the Oltune
Appointment to the imperial regency
Failures & Embarrassments
Failed in diplomatic dealings with the imperial court
Intellectual Characteristics
Turse
Confrontational
Blunt
Confrontational
Blunt
Morality & Philosophy
Anything can be won with the sword
Personality Characteristics
Motivation
See personal success and ascension up the social ladder
Successes in the field and abroad through military conquest for the empire
Successes in the field and abroad through military conquest for the empire
Virtues & Personality perks
Militarily Adept
Ambitious
Talented
Courageous
Charismatic
Ambitious
Talented
Courageous
Charismatic
Vices & Personality flaws
Stubborn
Short Tempered
Inflexible
Terse
Trusting
Short Tempered
Inflexible
Terse
Trusting
Social
Contacts & Relations
Subordinate of Georgios Stratiacus
Commander and superior of Cyrelius Kalarios
Regent of Emperor Aurakios
Commander and superior of Cyrelius Kalarios
Regent of Emperor Aurakios
Religious Views
Known to be quite a pious man, Tzimikus had a hard time adjusting to life in the palace as he quickly found that his own adherence to the word of the gods was not taken nearly as seriously by his subordinates and ministers. Among the ranks of soldiers in the empire, zealous and pious attitudes existed as strong components of military life and would maintain their importance in the ranks in strength akin to Tzimikus for centuries after his murder.
Social Aptitude
Notoriously terse in conversation, Tzimikus had little care or respect for the diplomatic and economic aspects of rulership. This wasn't out of general callousness as much as it was out of instilled disdain for the intrigues of the imperial court and the backstabbing culture that had begun showing itself during his day. To his men, Tzimikus was everything one would want from a commander, he was courageous, talented, and dedicated to his role and his men.
Ethnicity
Life
764 B.E
707 B.E
57 years old
Circumstances of Birth
Born to provincials in Agrihenia Prope
Circumstances of Death
Assassinated and usurped by Cyrelius Kalarios
Birthplace
Sivisapoli, Agrihenia Prope
Children
Gender
Male
Eyes
Dark Green
Hair
Short Brown
Skin Tone/Pigmentation
Tan
Height
5'7
Weight
230 lbs
Quotes & Catchphrases
"Those moved to tears by the words of their superiors often cry in joy upon the sight of their blood."
Belief/Deity
Manus and the Pantheon of the Rasenna
Aligned Organization
Comments