Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas: The White Death of the Saracens is the first ever English-language biography of the man who broke the hold of Islam over Byzantine Rome so that by the year 968 his forces could invade the Muslim lands almost unopposed. This was the result of his military reforms and remarkable talents as a military leader.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of how he reformed military equipment, tactics, and strategy to achieve this. Ambushes, battles, and military campaigns are discussed in unprecedented detail. Special attention is also given to the influence of Nikephoros’s ascetic Christian lifestyle on the morale of the armed forces.

Despite his religiosity, Nikephoros was a dedicated military man, and the civilian population of the Empire was constantly reminded of this. Soldiers were housed in Constantinople and received many favors, and Nikephoros even pressured the Church to declare soldiers who died in combat as martyrs. Ilkka Syvänne carefully examines the relationship between the Church and the armed forces in the emperor’s policies.

Of course, Nikephoros had his human weaknesses, which led to his untimely assassination. Why and how this happened is also analyzed in detail. The assassination of Nikephoros robbed the Byzantine Romans of their ‘Bearer of Victory,’ but his military reforms and campaigns paved the way for Byzantine Rome to reach its peak under his immediate successors.

Pages: 400, Dimensions: 15.6x15.6cm