Nikephoros (Nikephoritzes), sebastophoros, doux of Antioch and man of the emperor, 1062-1063 or 1067. Seal (Lead, 38 mm, 29.66 g, 12 h). NIKHΦO/POC CЄRA/CTOΦOPOC S / ΔOVΞ THC M[Є]/ΓAΛHC ΘЄ૪/ΠOΛЄⲰ, ('Nikephoros, sebastophoros and doux of the Great City of God') in six lines; above and below, decorations. Rev. ANTIOX, / [S] ANΘPⲰΠO, / T૪ KPATAI૪ / KAI AΓIOV H/MⲰN RACI/ΛЄⲰC ('Antioch, and man of our powerful and holy emperor') in six lines; above and below, decorations. DO Seals V 9.7a. An impressive Byzantine seal of great historical interest. Minor doubling, otherwise, good very fine.



Nikephoros came to court as a youthful eunuch, earning him the nickname Nikephoritzes ("little Nikephoros"), which remained with him throughout his career. He established a personal relationship with Constantine X Doukas (1059–1067), but after slandering the empress, he was exiled from court and sent to serve as governor of Antioch, where our seal was produced. When Michael VII (1071–1078) came to power, John Doukas, "the Kaisar" and the young emperor's uncle, awarded Nikephoritzes an important governmental position. The eunuch's influence grew steadily, and he forced out all the influential figures at court, including the famous intellectual Michael Psellos and, eventually, even John "the Kaisar" himself.

As the de facto ruler of the empire, Nikephoritzes quickly became very unpopular. His harsh taxation policies and mismanagement of the grain supply to the capital led to price inflation and shortages. The Pechenegs revolted after their subsidies were cut off, and neglect of foreign policy allowed the Turks to further encroach into Asia Minor. The usurpation of Nikephoros Botaneiates in 1077 marked the end of Nikephoritzes. When a group of bishops gathered in the Hagia Sophia to proclaim their support for Botaneiates, Nikephoritzes had them forcibly removed. This led to his excommunication by the patriarch, further weakening the position of Michael VII, who eventually abdicated in favor of Botaneiates in 1078. Nikephoros, meanwhile, was exiled to an island off the coast of Constantinople, where he was eventually tortured to death.