A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology

(ὁ Βοτανιάτης,) emperor of Constantinople A. D. 1078-1081. He belonged to an illustrious family which boasted of a descent from the Fabii of Rome. He was looked upon as a brave general, but his military skill was the only quality that recommended him. It is related in the life of the emperor Michael VII. Parapinaces, how Michael lost his throne in consequence of the contemporaneous rebellion of Bryennius and Botaniates, the subject of this article, and that the latter succeeded Michael on the throne. Botaniates was crowned on the 25th of AMarch, 1078, and soon afterwards married Maria, the wife of Michael, from whom she became divorced by the deposed emperor taking holy orders. Before Nicephorus could enjoy his crown he had to defend it against Bryennius, whom he routed and made a prisoner in the bloody battle of Salabrya. Bryennius met the fate of most of the unfortunate rebels: he had his eves put out, and was finally assassinated. Nicephorus made himself so detested by his brutal manners, his ingratitude, and his debaucheries, that his short reignr of three years was little more than an uninterrupted struggle against rebels, amongst whom Basilacius, who was defeated on the Vardar by Alexis Comnenus, Constantine Ducas, and Niceiphorus Melissenus, aspired to the throne. The 1;s.t was still in arms when the two Cotineni, Alexis and Isaac, were compelled to leave the court if they would maintain their dignity and independence, in consequence of which Alexis was proclaimed emperor and took up arms against his sovereign. Unable to resist the torrent, Nicephorus made propositions to Melissenus to abdicate in his favour, but Alexis Comnenus soon compelled him to do so in his own, and occupied the throne in his stead (1st of April, 1081). Nicephorus was obliged to become a monk and conform to the austere rules of St. Basil: lie died some time after his deposition. His complaint that he regretted the loss of his throne and liberty less than the necessity he was under to refrain from eating meat, shows sufficiently what sort of man he was. (Zonar. vol. ii. p. 289, &c.; Brvenn. 3.15, &c.; Seylit. p. 857, &c.; Joel. p. 185; Glyc. p. 332; Manass. p 135.)

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