Theoktistos 2

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexM
FloruitE IX
Dates802 (taq) / 821 (tpq)
ReligionChristian
LocationsConstantinople;
Constantinople (officeplace);
Constantinople (residence);
Chalcedon (Bithynia) (residence);
Adrianoupolis (Macedonia);
Constantinople;
Chalcedon (Bithynia)
OccupationMonk
TitlesKuaistor (both);
Magistros (both);
Patrikios (dignity)
Textual SourcesGenesii, Josephi, Regum Libri Quattuor, eds. A. Lesmüller-Werner and I. Thurn, CFHB 14 (Berlin, 1978) (history);
Scriptor Incertus de Leone Armenio, ed. I. Bekker, Leo Grammaticus (Bonn, 1842), pp. 335-362; app. crit., R. Browning, Byz 35 (1965), pp. 391-41; ed. with comm. and tr., Fr. Iadevaia (Messina, 1987) (history);
Theodorus Studita, Epistulae, ed. G. Fatouros, CFHB 31.1-2 (Berlin/New York, 1992) (letters);
Theophanes Confessor, Chronographia, ed. C. de Boor, 2 vols. (Leipzig, 1883-85, repr. Hildesheim/NewYork, 1980); tr. and comm. C. Mango and R. Scott, The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, Oxford 1997 (chronicle);
Theophanes Continuatus, ed. I. Bekker (Bonn, 1838) (history);
Vita A Theodori Studitae, Auctore Theodoro Daphnopate? (BHG 1755), PG 99. 113-232 (hagiography);
Vita B Theodori Studitae, Auctore Michaele Monacho Studita (BHG 1754), PG. 99. 233-328 (hagiography);
Vita C Theodori Studitae, Auctore Incerto (BHG 1755d), ed. B. Latyshev, "Vita S. Theodori Studitae in codice Mosquensi musei Rumianzoviani no 520", VV 21 (1914), pp. 258-304 (hagiography)

On 31 October 802, Theoktistos 2 patrikios and kuaistor (Θεόκτιστος πατρίκιος καὶ κυαίστωρ) supported the overthrow of the empress Eirene 1 by Nikephoros 8: Theoph. AM 6295.

In 811 Theoktistos 2 was magistros; after the death of the emperor Nikephoros I (26 July), he and the domestikos of the Scholai Stephanos 11 proclaimed Staurakios 2 as emperor at Adrianople; however Staurakios 2 was expected shortly to die of his wounds and Theoktistos 2 agreed with the proposal that the next emperor should be Michael 7; Theoktistos 2, Michael 7 and Stephanos 11 all suffered indignities from Staurakios 2 and they joined forces with one another, and with the patriarch Nikephoros 2, in promoting the cause of Michael 7, although previously they had been enemies of one another; they had Michael 7 proclaimed emperor on 2 October 811: Theoph. AM 6303 (Θεόκτιστος δὲ ὁ μάγιστρος).

A magistros, Theoktistos 2 opposed peace proposals put forward by the Bulgar ruler Krum 1 and used his authority to carry the senate in rejecting them, against the wishes of the emperor Michael I (Michael 7) (in 812): Theoph. Cont. I 5 (p. 13), cf. Scyl., p. 12 (ὁ μάγιστρος Θεόκτιστος ἐπ' ἀρέτῃ καὶ συνέσει πρωτεύων τῷ τότε), Genesius I 10 (Θεοκτίστῳ μαγίστρῳ). Magistros, in 812/813 he, with the other top officials, is said to have dominated Michael I (Michael 7) so far as affairs of state were concerned (the emperor was περὶ δὲ τῆς τῶν πραγμάτων διοικήσεως ἀκυβέρνητος, δεδουλωμένος Θεοκτίστῳ μαγίστρῳ καὶ τοῖς λοιποῖς ἄρχουσιν: Theoph. AM 6305.

Presumably identical with the unnamed magistros who with the patriarch (Nikephoros 2) and the megas domestikos (Stephanos 11) and other patrikioi were consulted by Michael I (Michael 7) after the defeat of Bersinikia; they advised assembling all the imperial forces, but the proclamation of Leo V (Leo 15) and the overthrow of Michael 7 changed the situation: Scriptor Incertus 339-340.

A magistros, Theoktistos 2 was the addressee of a letter from Theodoros 15 (Theodore the Stoudite), written in c. 809, in which Theodoros 15 explained his position over the Moechian controversy; he is styled ἡ μεγίστη σου ὑπεροχή and is addressed as ὦ δέσποτα: Theod. Stud., Ep. 24 (addressed Θεοκτίστῳ μαγίστρῳ). He subsequently adopted the monastic dress and entered a monastery under the guidance of Theodoros 15, probably at Chalcedon, where he received a visit from Theodoros 15 in 821 when Theodoros 15 was released from the restrictions of exile: Vita A Theod. Stud., 220A (Θεόκτιστον ἐκεῖνον ὀψόμενος, τὸν πάλαι μὲν τῇ τοῦ μαγίστρου τετιμημένον ἀξίᾳ, νῦν δὲ τὸν μονάδα βίον ἀνῃρημένον ὑπ' αὐτῷ καθηγητῇ καὶ ποιμένι), Vita B Theod. Stud., 316BC (τὸν πάλαι μάγιστρον Θεόκτιστον ὑπ' αὐτοῦ πρώην ἀποκαρθέντα, καὶ τηνικαῦτα τῷ ἰδίῳ προσκαρτεροῦντα μοναστηρίῳ), Vita C Theod. Stud. ¤70, p. 298 (Θεόκτιστον ἐκεῖνον τὸν μάγιστρον, τὸν πάλαι παρ' αὐτοῦ ἀποκαρέντα). Cf. also Theoktistos 19.

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