Nicetas (cousin of Heraclius)

Nicetas was the cousin of Emperor Heraclius, helping him the wars against Phocas and the Persians in the Byzantine-Sassanid War of 602–628. He helped Heraclius revolt against Phocas by conquering Egypt in 610.^[1] At Egypt, Nicetas established a power base because of his friendship with Patriarch John the Almsgiver of Alexandria, whom he installed on the patriarchal throne.^[2][3][4] He was also ritual brothers through the rite of adelphopoiesis with Patriarch John.^[5]

To fight the Persians, he combined his forces with Heraclius in Syria only to be defeated by Shahin Vahmanzadegan.^[6] Later, he continued to resist the Persian advances only to be checked in 613, where he won a costly victory near Emessa.^[7] A later source also records a victory over the Persians at Caesarea in 614. It is possibly for this occasion that a large gilt statue was erected in his honour at Constantinople.^[4]

With the invasion of Egypt in 616, Nicetas defended Egypt against Persians in Alexandria. After Alexandria was betrayed to the Persians, Nicetas fled to Cyprus along with Patriarch John.^[8] Nicetas disappears from sources after this. It is possible that he died soon after, depriving Heraclius of a trusted commander.^[9][10]

He was the father of the Empress Gregoria.

Citations

1. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 53
2. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 87
3. ^ Greatrex & Lieu 2002, p. 194
4. ^ ^{a b} Martindale, Jones & Morris 1992, p. 942
5. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 59
6. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 77
7. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 78
8. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 91
9. ^ Kaegi 2003, p. 92
10. ^ Martindale, Jones & Morris 1992, p. 943

References

• Greatrex, Geoffrey; Lieu, Samuel N. C. (2002), The Roman Eastern Frontier and the Persian Wars (Part II, 363–630 AD), Routledge, ISBN 0-415-14687-9 
• Kaegi, Walter Emil (2003), Heraclius: emperor of Byzantium, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-52-1814-596, http://books.google.com/books?id=tlNlFZ_7UhoC 
• Martindale, John R.; Jones, A.H.M.; Morris, John (1992), The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire - Volume III, AD 527–641, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521201608