Karykes (Greek: Καρύκης, Latinised Caryces) was the Byzantine governor of Crete who led a rebellion that began in 1090 or 1091 and lasted into 1092 or 1093 during the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos.
The preoccupation of the central government with fighting the Pechenegs and Turks may have forced the local governors of Crete and Cyprus to take matters of defence into their own hands in defiance of Constantinople.
[4] That Karykes was the governor of Crete—bearing the title doux or katepano[5]—is almost certain, although the sources leave open the possibility that he came from elsewhere and seized control of Crete.
His revolt began in late 1090 or early 1091, since the basilikos logos of John the Oxite addressed to Alexios I and dated to February or March 1091 refers to the rebellions in Crete and Cyprus as ongoing.
According to the Life of Saint Meletios the Younger, Doukas visited Euboea first, where he learned that the Cretans had risen up and killed Karykes.
There is a letter of Theophylact of Ohrid addressed to Doukas at Chalkis that may date from this time, which would lend support to the account in the Life.
[1] It has been suggested by some modern historians that the revolt of Karykes may be related to the origins of the twelve Cretan noble families, who claimed a privileged position in Venetian Crete in the 13th century.