# Theoktistos

_Byzantine regent for emperor Michael III from 842 to 855_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/theoktistos
Last updated: 2026-11-07

> Theoktistos or Theoctistus was a leading Byzantine official during the second quarter of the 9th century and the de facto head of the regency for the underage emperor Michael III from 842 until his dismissal and murder in 855. A eunuch courtier, he assisted in the ascent of Michael II to the throne in 820, and was rewarded with the titles of patrikios and later magistros. He held the high posts of chartoularios tou kanikleiou and logothetēs tou dromou under Michael and his son Theophilos. After Theophilos' death in 842, Theoktistos became a member of the regency council, but soon managed to sideline the other members and establish himself as the virtual ruler of the Empire. Noted for his administrative and political competence, Theoktistos played a major role in ending the Byzantine Iconoclasm, and fostered the ongoing renaissance in education within the Empire. He also continued the persecution of the Paulician sect, but had mixed success in the wars against the Arabs. When Michael III came of age in 855, his uncle Bardas persuaded him to throw off the tutelage of Theoktistos and his mother, the Empress-dowager Theodora, and on 20 November 855, Theoktistos was assassinated by Bardas and his followers.

## Quick facts

- **Died:** 20 November 855 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857#P570))
- **Place of death:** Constantinople ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857#P20))
- **Citizenship:** Byzantine Empire ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857#P106))
- **Positions held:** regent (0842–0855); Kanikleios; Logothetes tou dromou ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857#P39))

## Questions

**What positions has Theoktistos held?**  
Positions held by Theoktistos include: regent (0842–0855); Kanikleios; Logothetes tou dromou.

## Related

- [Gyanendra of Nepal](https://diginpl.com/people/gyanendra-of-nepal)
- [Ferdinand II of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-ii-of-aragon)
- [Berengaria of Castile](https://diginpl.com/people/berengaria-of-castile)
- [John II of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/john-ii-of-aragon)
- [Pope Adrian VI](https://diginpl.com/people/pope-adrian-vi)
- [Ferdinand I of Aragon](https://diginpl.com/people/ferdinand-i-of-aragon)

## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Theoktistos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theoktistos) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q3050857](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3050857) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Michael III with Theodora and Theoktistos.png by Unknown, 13th-century author (Public domain)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Michael_III_with_Theodora_and_Theoktistos.png)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Theoktistos, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Michael III with Theodora and Theoktistos.png — Unknown, 13th-century author, Public domain.

## Cite this page

"Theoktistos". DigiNepal. Last updated 7 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/theoktistos. Retrieved 12 November 2026.