2/26/2012

11. plays Pope against Patriarch

1 2/26/2012

Early

• nomadic horsemen from Altaic Steppe • called “Huns” in early Greek sources (Onogurs) ... “under the yoke” of the Avars

The Rider (ca. 710 CE), large carved on the Madara Plateau east of , northeast Bulgaria

Towards a kingdom

• King Organa – nephew Korvat comes to Const. and was baptized Chronicle of John of Nikiu “he overcame all the barbarians and heathens due to life-giving baptism” • Korvat revolts against Avars • forms alliance with Herakleios – Korvat’s son Asparuch not so friendly

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War when convenient • Peace Treaty of 705 • War again 756-75 b/t (iconoclasm) and Asparuh • pacified until the rise of a new leader

Bulgars become more urban

The Khan (809-14)

• by all accounts, a nasty piece of work • Bulgars grow in power after destroys Avars • kills Emp. – uses his skull as a drinking cup – made his fellow drink from it to show allegiance

3 2/26/2012

Krum feasts with his nobles, while the servant (right) is bringing the skull of Nikephoros already made a drinking cup full of wine

from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes

from nomadic pastoralism to sedentary farming cultural change: • need to adapt to agrarian society – everything from work day to economy • dislocation and disassociation with ancient “sacred places” in the S. Russian steppe • growing importance of the – longer contact w/ • cultural diffusion of sophisticated Byzantines weakened the hold of paganism

4 2/26/2012

Khan (814–831)

Khan Omurtag watches the execution of Bishop Manuel, from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes

Fear of Christianity closely tied into Byzantine imperialism

from the Chronicle of John Skylitzes Competition for the “souls” of distant lands Bulgaria borders both and Byzantines 862 Khan Boris (r. 852-907) renews alliance w/Franks 864 Emp. Michael III makes a show of force – sends army and fleet – Boris I surrenders 865 Boris baptized in H. Sophia – spiritual adoption (becomes Michael) – Boris acknowledges sovereignty of – given the title (basileus)

Consequences of Kingly Conversion

• Old Bulgar clans (boyars) revolt immediately • assassination • Boris rallies and crushes rebellion • persuaded to execute all ringleaders (52) plus all their wife and kids by Greeks priests • Photios sends letter to Boris praising him as a new Constantine – DOES NOT DISCUSS A BULGAR PATRIARCH

5 2/26/2012

Boris plays both sides

– deep hatred for Byzantium – ethnic dualism w/Slavs – resentment of pagan clans over brutality Boris opens negotiations with Pope – what are his motivations? – seeking independence – looking to up the ante

Boris plays both sides

866 sends a letter w/106 questions to the Pope Nicholas I – Pope responds • amazingly important for understanding Pagan religious attitudes and doctrinal differences between Western and Eastern churches

Formalistic ritualism?

• baths on Wed and Fri ? • communions w/ no belts? • no meat by eunuchs? • no laymen conduct public prayers for rain? • “ “ make sign of the cross before a meal? • stand in church with arms crossed over torso?

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3 ? of political importance

1. How many true Patriarchs are there? 2. Which (Rome or Const.) is second? 3. Did chrism and communion need to originate from Constantinople and was from there distributed throughout the world?

Nicholas’ answers: questions 1 and 2: • yes 5 patriarchs, but Rome is #1 – Constantinople not founded by an Apostle – should not be even considered a Patriarchate question 3: • ridiculous and contemptuous

What Boris’ ?s reveal

– resentment at monastic interference into political decisions – indicate Byzantine universal pretensions – Bulgarian difficulties assimilating to sedentary life – ruling class reconciling Christian life to military culture – pagan ritual and traditions

7 2/26/2012

Pope wins round 1

866 Greek clergy expelled from Bulgaria – Photios sends encyclical letter 867 Patriarch excommunicates Pope – filioque 868 Michael III assassinated – new emperor Basil compelled to depose Photios – new Patriarch Ignatius restores communion b/w E and W churches

To Cuckold and Kill • : Armenian family resettled in Macedonia – successful boxer and horse tamer – left for the capital – horse taming lead to royal appointment in stables • Michael III befriends him Basil and his son Leo VI (Wise) – makes him co-regent • Michael dies under suspicious circumstances – he was killed by Basil

Macedonian Dynasty (867-1056)

• Basil I Macedonian (867-86) • Leo VI Wise (886-913) • Constantine VII Porphyrogenitos (913-59) • Nikephoros II Phokas (963-9) • Basil II Bulgar Slayer (976-1025) • Michael IV Pamphagonian (1034-41) • Constantine IX Monomachus (1042-55)

8 2/26/2012

Who has jurisdiction of Bulgarian Church? Feb. 870 Council is held to judge who should be Patriarch – Ignatius or Photios – Photios excommunicated • will be reinstated (in a future lecture) • Bulgarian delegation asks Council to choose – papal delegation not prepared for the question – both sides use historical precedence – “neutral” Patriarchs side w/Constantinople E. Church wins Bulgaria

Byzantines tread carefully

• careful not to make same mistakes • divide up Bulgaria into diocese w/ Bishops – at first from Constantinople – soon elite Bulgarian youth come to capital for education – among them, Boris’ son Symeon • Bulgarian pagans clans down, but not out... • (wait and see)

Help from Monastic Exiles

Methodios’ companions convert Bulgaria • Clement 886 Clement sent to Macedonia – succeeds in what couldn’t be done in Moravia 893 Bishop of Macedonia • Naum – remains in NE Bulgaria – founds a school in – royal patronage of Boris and Symeon • Old Slavonic

9 2/26/2012

Boris abdicates (and reclaims) throne

889 Boris abdicates throne to retire to monastery – Old Bulgar clans rise up – eldest son Vladamir tool of boyars • pact w/King Arnulf of – persecutes Christians for 4 years 893 Boris comes out of retirement – summons son Symeon; becomes King – moves capital from Pliska to more Christian Preslav – Slavonic becomes official language of the country

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