Rhapsomates

Rhapsomates (or Rapsomates) (Greek: Ῥαψομάτης) was a Byzantine official who led a revolt in the Theme of Cyprus in the early 1090s.

[4] British historian Roderick Beaton dismisses accounts of Rhapsomates' life as reality intertwined with folk tales.

According to Cypriot historian Costas Kyrris the revolt was provoked by heavy taxation and frustration over pirate raids, but this theory is not supported by primary sources.

[7] In February or March 1091, John the Oxite delivered a scathing rebuke to the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos, during which he noted the outbreak of revolts in Crete and Cyprus.

[8] Both took place while the central government was occupied in wars with the Pechenegs in Europe and the Seljuk Turks of Emir Tzachas in Asia Minor.

[9] Although the mere arrival of the fleet of John Doukas off Crete caused the revolt of Karykes to melt away, the megas doux faced much greater resistance on Cyprus.

[4] The revolt did not affect church property as evidenced by the donation of a valuable codex by magistros Epiphanios Paschales to the monastery of Theotokos of Alypos in October 1091.

He hid in a sanctuary of the Holy Cross in a mountainous area (possibly Stavrovouni Monastery) where he was arrested by Boutoumites, who promised not to execute him.

[14] British historian Peter Frankopan connects Rhapsomates with Nikephoros Diogenes who was blinded around 1094 after a failed revolt, presumably then receiving the nickname stitched eyes.

[2] In the aftermath of the revolt, Alexios I appointed Eumathios Philokales as governor with the title of stratopedarches and sent a large garrison[15][16] to thwart any invasion attempts by Tzachas.