David Arianites

David Arianites (Greek: Δαυίδ Ἀριανίτης) was a high-ranking Byzantine commander of the early 11th century.

He hailed from the noble Arianites family of Constantinople.^[1] He initially held the title of patrikios, and became a senior general under Basil II. In 1017 Basil II invaded Bulgaria with a large army including Rus' mercenaries. His objective was the town of Kastoria which controlled the road between Thessaly and the coast of modern Albania. He sent parts of his army under the commanders Constantine Diogenes and David Arianites to loot Pelagonia. Basil II himself managed to capture several minor Bulgarian castles but all attempts to seize Kastoria remained futile.^[2][3]

Basil II installed David Arianites as strategos autokrator of Bulgaria, implying powers of command over the other regional strategoi in the northern Balkans (Sirmium with Ras and Dyrrhachium).^[4] He was seated in Skopje.^[5]

Constantine Arianites, the magistros and doux of Adrianople, is possibly his son or close relative.^[6]

References

1. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=uVZBAAAAcAAJ
2. ^ Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 725-728 (взето на 17.1.2008)
3. ^ Гръцки извори за българската история - ГИБИ, том VI, с. 289-290 (17.1.2008)
4. ^ Stephenson, Paul (2003). The Legend of Basil the Bulgar-Slayer. Cambridge University Press. p. 39. ISBN 9780521815307. 
5. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=nYbnr5XVbzUC&pg=PA528
6. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=vGE8Xq832A0C&pg=PA429&dq=david+arianite&hl=en&ei=vaRWTeLzM4KSOo2npNgE&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=arianites&f=false

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Name	Arianites, David
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