Editing Staurakios (section)

===Reign as co-emperor===
Staurakios was not given an official government position upon his father's accession to the throne, but, in the summer of 803, a general named [[Bardanes Tourkos]] revolted against Nikephoros, prompting a change of course.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=14}} Originally {{lang|grc|stratēgos}} of the [[Thracesian Theme]], Nikephoros had consolidated the five major themes of [[Asia Minor]]—Anatolic, Armeniac, [[Bucellarian Theme|Bucellarian]], Opsikion, and Thracesian—under Bardanes{{'}} control as {{lang|grc|monostrategos}} of the combined area.{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=129}} When the Abbasid Caliphate began preparations for an attack that summer, Nikephoros was unable to take command due to an injury sustained in May, the role fell to Bardanes, who advanced his troops and began preparations. There, his troops grumbled over Nikephoros{{'}} financial policies, which included the reinstatement of the estate tax on soldiers; by comparison, Bardanes was considered to be very charitable in dividing war spoils, and thus they declared him emperor on July 19.{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=131}} Treadgold comments that although the rebellion theoretically commanded nearly half of the army, Bardanes seemed to lack the commitment to become emperor, and soon discussed terms with Nikephoros, who swore not to harm Bardanes or his soldiers if Bardanes would surrender and enter the monastery, which Bardanes did in early September.{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|pp=131–132}} Although Nikephoros abided by his pledge not to harm the surrendered men, he did seize a significant amount of money and property from the leaders of the rebellion, fined four of the themes a year's worth of salary,{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=132}} and exiled some bishops to the remote island of [[Pantelleria]], near [[Sicily]].{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|pp=132–133}} Nikephoros soon negotiated a moderate deal with the [[Abbasid Caliph]] [[Harun al-Rashid]], including a small tribute payment.{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=133}} 

Although his revolt was put down by early September, it convinced Nikephoros to consolidate his hold on the throne and secure the succession, by declaring Staurakios co-emperor and heir, which he did on [[Christmas|Christmas Day]] of 803.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=134}} Staurakios was [[Coronation of the Byzantine emperor|crowned]] by the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]] [[Tarasios of Constantinople|Tarasios]] in the [[Hagia Sophia]].{{sfn|Martindale|2001|loc=[http://www.pbe.kcl.ac.uk/data/D70/F35.htm Staurakios 2]}}{{sfn|Martindale|2001|loc=[http://www.pbe.kcl.ac.uk/data/D56/F77.htm Nikephoros]}} By making Staurakios emperor, Nikephoros removed any question of the imperial succession and increased his own legitimacy—although Staurakios, now somewhere between the ages of 11 and 13, was not yet old enough to actually exercise power.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=134}} The contemporary [[chronicler]] [[Theophanes the Confessor]] stated that Staurakios was "completely unfit in appearance, strength, and judgment for such an honor", but this is likely a reflection of Theophanes' own animosity toward Nikephoros and Staurakios.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=1945}} While opponents of Nikephoros decried Staurakios as sickly, Treadgold comments that any health issues he may have had did not prevent later participation in military campaigns; opponents also presented his obedience to his father as a failing.{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|p=134}}

[[File:INC-1870-r Солид. Никифор I и его сын Ставракий. Ок. 803—811 гг. (реверс).png|thumb|upright=1.1|left|Another ''[[Solidus (coin)|solidus]]'' of Staurakios as co-emperor| alt= An image of a golden coin bearing the front-facing image of Staurakios, who is adorned with imperial regalia]]

When Tarasios died in 806, Nikephoros selected a man named [[Nikephoros I of Constantinople|Nikephoros]], who was residing in a monastery, to succeed him. For the installation ceremony of Nikephoros as patriarch, where the new patriarch was [[tonsure]]d, Staurakios was sent to represent his father.{{sfn|Finlay|1854|pp=112–113}} That same year, the Byzantine Empire faced a [[Abbasid invasion of Asia Minor (806)|massive invasion]] from the [[Abbasid Caliphate]], which forced Nikephoros to accept humiliating peace terms,{{sfn|Treadgold|1988|pp=144–146}}{{sfn|Foord|1911|p=215}} paying an annual tribute of 30,000 {{lang|la|nomismata}} and six great gold medals,{{sfn|Foord|1911|p=215}} three for Nikephoros and three for Staurakios.{{sfn|Finlay|1854|p=121}}

Except for the installation ceremony of Patriarch Nikephoros, Staurakios is not mentioned in the sources until 807,{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=15}}{{sfn|Garland|1999|pp=90–91}}{{sfn|Finlay|1854|pp=112–113}} when his father arranged Staurakios' marriage, holding an imperial [[bride-show]] to select a wife on 20 December 807.{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=15}}{{sfn|Garland|1999|pp=90–91}} This was the second recorded Byzantine bride-show, after the one held by [[Constantine VI]] ({{reign|780|797}}) by his mother, Empress Irene.{{sfn|Garland|1999|p=81}} During the bride show, [[Theophano of Athens]] was selected, likely due to the fact that she was a kinswoman of Irene,{{sfn|Herrin|2002|p=134}} and therefore would help add legitimacy to both Nikephoros{{'}} and Staurakios{{'}} rule.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=15}}{{sfn|Garland|1999|pp=90–91}} According to Theophanes, she was chosen despite the fact that she was already engaged to a man, whom she had slept with [[Premarital sex|premaritally]], and was not the most beautiful of the women presented at the bride show.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=15}}{{efn|The [[Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium]] states that Staurakios "raped two beautiful girls",{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=1638}} but this is a misreading of Theophanes, who asserts that Nikephoros selected the two most beautiful girls from the bride show, and engaged in open debauchery with them.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}}} Staurakios and Theophano married that same month.{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=[https://www.degruyter.com/view/PMBZ/PMBZ18083 Staurakios (#6866/corr.)]}}

After his marriage, Staurakios is not mentioned again until 811, when Nikephoros prepared his invasion of the [[Bulgarian Khanate]] in May of that year. The Bulgarians had been a serious threat to the empire since the reign of [[Constantine IV]] ({{reign|668|685}}), who launched a calamitous attack against them. Tensions rose between 808 and 811, resulting in outright warfare. Nikephoros led the campaign over the [[Balkan Mountains]] and into the Bulgarian Khanate alongside Staurakios, who by now was in his late teens,{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=429}} and many senior imperial officials. The campaign saw great success at first, with the Byzantine forces attacking the Bulgarian capital of [[Pliska]], defeating first the 12,000-strong garrison of the city, and then a relief force of 15,000 sent by Khan [[Krum]] ({{reign|803|814}}). In correspondence sent to [[Constantinople]], Nikephoros credited his success to the strategic advice of Staurakios. The victorious Byzantine forces began to march back to the Byzantine Empire, but a desperate Krum managed to trap the Byzantine army in a small valley with palisades, before launching a massive assault two days later, on 26 July 811. The [[Battle of Pliska]] resulted in a Bulgarian massacre of the Byzantine forces. Much of the Byzantine army was destroyed, and Nikephoros himself was slain.{{sfn|Marsh|2013}}{{sfn|Bury|1912|p=15}}