Theophilos Erotikos

Theophilos Erotikos († after 1042) was a Byzantine strategos and usurper against Empress Zoe in Cyprus.

Life and Career

Theophilos Erotikos held office under Emperor Romanos III. Possibly as protospatharios. In 1035 or 1036 he was succeeded by Michael IV. After the failed rebellion of the Serbian archon Stefan Vojislav as governor of Dioclitia, the central part of what is now Montenegro, in 1037/38, Erotikos was deposed and driven out of the country.

Despite this defeat, Theophilos Erotikos was soon appointed Strategos of Cyprus. In the turmoil of the throne following the deposition of Michael V in April 1042, he seized the opportunity and ignited a revolt in the course of which he became a usurper against Empress Zoe on the island of Cyprus.

Serbian Revolts

Around 1034, according to John Scilitze, the Serbs abandoned Byzantine rule; Stefano Vojislav, a Serbian lord who controlled Zeta and Ston, organized a revolt. Theophilos Erotikos was deposed by Stefan Vojislav and driven out of Serbia.

Rebellion in Cyprus

Theophilos Erotikos led a short-lived rebellion in 1042 against Empress Zoe on the island of Cyprus. This rebellion was part of the larger turmoil in the Byzantine Empire at that time, which included heavy fighting with the Bulgarian separatist Peter Deljan from 1040.

Death and Legacy

Theophilos Erotikos died after 1042, although the exact date is unknown. His legacy as a Byzantine general and strategist is marked by his failed rebellions against the empire, but also by his ability to seize power in Cyprus during a time of great turmoil in the Byzantine Empire.

References

Note: The references for this article are not provided in the source snippets, so they will need to be added separately.