Nicephorus Proclaimed Emperor: Byzantine Army Crowns Its General
The soldiers wouldn't wait for Constantinople's approval. On July 2, 963, the imperial army surrounded their brilliant general Nicephorus Phocas on the Cappadocian plains and proclaimed him Emperor of the Romans—900 miles from the capital. He'd conquered Crete after 135 years of Arab control, turned back every eastern threat. But his troops feared the palace eunuchs would choose a weak successor to young Romanos II. So they forced the crown on him right there, in full armor, still covered in campaign dust. Sometimes empires get made in the field, not the throne room.
July 2, 963
1063 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 2
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