Stephen Hagiochristophorites

Stephen Hagiochristophorites (Greek: Στέφανος Ἁγιοχριστοφορίτης, romanized: Stephanos Hagiochristophorites; c. 1130 – 11 September 1185) was the most powerful member of the court of Byzantine emperor Andronikos I Komnenos (ruled 1183–1185). He was killed while trying to arrest Isaac II Angelos, who subsequently deposed and replaced Andronikos.

Life

Stephen Hagiochristophorites was of humble origin. The archbishop Eustathius of Thessalonica records that his father was a tax-collector. In the second half of the reign of Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180), Hagiochristophorites tried to attach himself to the imperial court, but was confronted by the ridicule and hostility of the aristocracy. Indeed, according to Eustathius, when he attempted to seduce an aristocratic lady and take her to wife to advance his own position, he was publicly flogged and had his nose cut off. Nevertheless, his determination was rewarded, and he was able to climb the administrative hierarchy, finally culminating in the office of administrator of the army, which he apparently received from Manuel I himself and held during the short reign of his son, Alexios II Komnenos (r. 1180–1183).

Andronikos I Komnenos seized power in 1182, nominally as co-emperor with Alexios II. Hagiochristophorites retained his post, and rapidly established himself as the new emperor's most trusted and powerful minister.