Nikoulitzas Delphinas

Nikoulitzas Delphinas (Greek: Νικουλιτζάς Δελφινάς^[a]) was an 11th-century Byzantine magnate and local lord of Larissa, in Thessaly. He took part in a revolt initiated by the Vlachs of Thessaly in 1066.

He was the grandson of Nikulitsa, the governor of Servia and archon of the Vlachs of Hellas.^[1] The younger Nikoulitzas bore the rank of protospatharios, but is not known to have had any official position.^[2]

Nikoulitzas had his own fortress with a garrison of men, and was one of the most powerful lords of Thessaly.^[3] The Vlachs and Slavs of the region started planning a revolt in 1065, prompted by the taxation increases and corruption in the same area. When Nikoulitzas heard this from his spies^[4] he went to Constantinople to warn the Emperor Constantine X Doukas, but the Emperor dismissed him and no measures were taken.^[3]

Upon returning to Larissa Nikoulitzas saw the growing movement and tried to talk the rebels out of it. They insisted on Nikoulitzas becoming their leader, as he had a fort and a private army. Nikoulitzas declined, as his two sons were in Constantinople, fearing they would come in harm's way. The rebels however forced Nikoulitzas to take a leadership position and the revolt began.^[3]

The revolt ended by negotiation, but the Emperor captured Nikoulitzas and imprisoned him in Amaseia, on the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor.^[1] His son-in-law was the writer Kekaumenos, whose Strategikon is the only source on him and the revolt.^[1][5]

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