Theophilos Kourkouas

Theophilos Kourkouas
Allegiance	Byzantine Empire
Years of service	ca. 923–960s
Rank	strategos of Chaldia, Mesopotamia (?) and Theodosiopolis, Domestic of the Schools (?)
Relations	John Kourkouas, Romanos Kourkouas, John Tzimiskes

Theophilos Kourkouas (Greek: Θεόφιλος Κουρκούας, fl. ca. 920–960s) was a distinguished Byzantine general in the 10th century. He was also the grandfather of the Byzantine emperor John I Tzimiskes (r. 969–976).

Theophilos was a scion of the Kourkouas family, a clan of Armenian origin that had established itself as one of the chief families among the Anatolian military aristocracy by the early 10th century. His father was likely called Romanos, and he was possibly the grandson of John Kourkouas the Elder, who served as commander of the Hikanatoi regiment and conspired against Emperors Basil I (r. 867–886) in the 870s. Theophilos is probably to be identified with the person referred to in contemporary Arabic and Armenian sources as ash-Shamīshāq or Ch‘mšshik respectively, indicating that he already bore the surname or sobriquet of Tzimiskes, which was famously borne by his grandson, the Emperor John I Tzimiskes (r. 969–976). Although the Byzantine sources insist that this surname was given exclusively to the later emperor, and that it derived from the Armenian word for a type of small reddish sandals worn by women in the East, it may well have derived from the river and homonymous town of Chimichgezek in the southern portion of the theme of Mesopotamia, where presumably Theophilos was active, perhaps as the local strategos (military governor).

Theophilos was the younger brother of the celebrated general John Kourkouas, who was appointed as Domestic of the Schools (i.e. supreme commander of the imperial armies) in circa 923 by Emperor Romanos Lekapenos (r. 920–944) and served in this post for 22 years. Theophilos is first mentioned in 923,when along with his brother he suppressed of the revolt of the strategos of Chaldia, Bardas Boilas. He succeeded the defeated rebel as governor of this strategically important province until ca. 940. From 927 on, when John Kourkouas launched continuous campaigns against the neighbouring Muslim border emirates, Theophilos assisted him ably, especially in the direction of Armenia, and emerged as his brother's chief aide and lieutenant. The history of Theophanes Continuatus laud his excellence and valour, and compared for his exploits in Upper Mesopotamia with Justinian I's general Solomon.

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