George Maniakes

George Maniakes (; ; died 1043) was a Byzantine army general during the 11th century. He was the catepan of Italy in 1042. He is known as Gyrgir in Scandinavian sagas. He is popularly said to have been extremely tall and well built, almost a giant.

Biography

Maniakes was a Greek general of the Byzantine Empire, Also with him were Norman mercenaries under William de Hauteville, who earned his nickname Iron Arm by defeating the Emir of Syracuse in single combat. However, he soon ostracized his admiral, Stephen, whose wife was the sister of John the Eunuch, the highest-ranking man at court. He then publicly humiliated Arduin, the leader of the Lombard contingent, causing them to desert along with the Normans and Norsemen. In response, he was recalled by Emperor Michael IV, who was also Stephen's brother-in-law. Although the Arabs soon recaptured the island, Maniakes' successes there later inspired the Normans to invade Sicily themselves.

Maniakes' achievements in Sicily were largely ignored by the emperor, and he revolted against Constantine IX in 1042, despite having been appointed catepan of Italy. The person most responsible for inciting Maniakes to revolt was one Romanus Sclerus. Sclerus, like Maniakes, was one of the immensely wealthy landowners who owned large areas of Anatolia - his estates bordered Maniakes', and the two were rumored to have attacked each other in a dispute over land. Sclerus owed his influence with the emperor to his famously charming sister, Maria Skleraina, who had a very positive influence on Constantine in most areas. Finding himself in a position of power, Sclerus used it to poison Constantine against Maniakes - ransacking his house and even seducing his wife, using the charm for which his family was famous. Maniakes' response to Sclerus' demand that he surrender command of the Empire's forces in Apulia was to torture him brutally; sealing his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth with excrement. Maniakes was then proclaimed emperor by his troops (including the Varangians) and marched on Constantinople. In 1043 his army clashed with troops loyal to Constantine near Thessalonica, and although initially successful, Maniakes was killed in the melee after receiving a fatal wound (according to Psellus' account). Constantine's extravagant punishment of the surviving rebels was to parade them in the hippodrome, sitting backwards on donkeys. His death put an end to the rebellion. In Sicily, the town of Maniace and the Syracusan fortress Castello Maniace are named after him.

In popular culture In the historical drama series Vikings: Valhalla, George Maniakes is played by actor Florian Munteanu. His portrayal in the series is highly fictionalized, with major deviations from historicity. As an example, George Maniakes rebelled against Emperor Constantine IX, not Emperor Romanos as depicted in the series.