Siege of Antioch (968–969), Revolt of Bardas Skleros, Battle of the Orontes
Michael Bourtzes (Greek: Μιχαήλ Βούρτζης, Arabic: Miḥā’īl al-Burdjī; ca. 930/35 – after 996)[1] was a leading Byzantine general of the latter 10th century. He became notable for his capture of Antioch from the Arabs in 969, but fell into disgrace by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas. Resentful at the slight, Bourtzes joined forces with the conspirators who assassinated Phokas a few weeks later. Bourtzes re-appears in a prominent role in the civil war between Emperor Basil II and the rebel Bardas Skleros, switching his allegiance from the emperor to the rebel and back again. Nevertheless, he was re-appointed as doux of Antioch by Basil II, a post he held until 995, when he was relieved because of his failures in the war against the Fatimids.
Nikephoros began when he dismissed MichaelBourtzes from his position following his disobedience in the siege of Antioch. Bourtzes was disgraced, and he would...
Kekaumenos, who had just been dismissed as doux of Antioch; the vestarches MichaelBourtzes, whose namesake grandfather had captured Antioch for Byzantium a century...
September 994 between the Byzantines and their Hamdanid allies under MichaelBourtzes against the forces of the Fatimid vizier of Damascus, the Turkish general...
Nikephoros' wife Theophano and a number of disgruntled leading generals (MichaelBourtzes and Leo Balantes) to assassinate Nikephoros. After his coronation in...
reconquered by the Byzantine Empire in the year 969 through the strategos MichaelBourtzes and his comrade Isaak Brachamios. Soon after that, many churches and...
the 960s decade. October 28 – Siege of Antioch: Byzantine general MichaelBourtzes (during a night attack) seizes part of Antioch's fortifications. The...
Emperor Basil II sends a Byzantine expeditionary army, led by Dux MichaelBourtzes, to relieve the city in alliance with the Hamdanid Dynasty. Manjutakin...
was reconquered for the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas by MichaelBourtzes and the stratopedarches Peter. It soon became the seat of a dux, who...
September scored a major victory at the Battle of the Orontes against Bourtzes. Bourtzes' defeat forced Basil to intervene personally in the East; with his...
War with the Fatimids over Aleppo. Initial Fatimid victories over MichaelBourtzes lead to the direct intervention of Basil II, who clears northern Syria...
post was occupied at the time by MichaelBourtzes. According to J.-C. Cheynet, Romanos may have been either Bourtzes' deputy or even a stratopedarches...
city was recovered for the Byzantine Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas by MichaelBourtzes and the stratopedarches Peter. It soon became the seat of a doux, the...
was then besieging Antioch with MichaelBourtzes. Following the capture of Antioch on October 28, 969, Petros and Bourtzes made their way to Aleppo, defeating...
stationed there 1000 footmen and 500 horsemen under the command of MichaelBourtzes to raid the countryside of the nearby city of Antioch. The castle provided...
Emperor Basil II sends a Byzantine expeditionary army, led by Dux MichaelBourtzes, to relieve the city in alliance with the Hamdanid Dynasty. Manjutakin...
the mid-11th century. Its holders included famed generals such as MichaelBourtzes, Nikephoros Melissenos, and possibly also the future Byzantine emperors...
Saint Michael Choniates (or Acominatus; Greek: Μιχαὴλ Χωνιάτης or Ἀκομινάτος; c. 1140 – 1220) was a Byzantine Greek writer and cleric, born at Chonae...
Syria. On 28 October 969, Antioch fell to the Byzantine commander MichaelBourtzes. The fall of the great metropolis of northern Syria was soon followed...
by their successors until the mid-11th century. In September 994, MichaelBourtzes, the Byzantine military governor (doux) of Antioch and northern Syria...
Emperor Basil II appointed him governor of Antioch in succession to MichaelBourtzes following the latter's defeat in the Battle of the Orontes in September...
the first bishop. October 28 – Siege of Antioch: Byzantine general MichaelBourtzes (during a night attack) seizes part of Antioch's fortifications. The...
MichaelBourtzes, Constantine Doukas and John Doukas, appeared before the Emperor to request similar promotions. According to the eyewitness Michael Psellos...
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