Stauracius
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Stauracius (d. January 11, 812) was a Byzantine emperor and son of Nicephorus I.
He was paralyzed by a sword wound to his neck while fighting against the Bulgars at the Battle of Pliska (July 26, 811), in which his father was killed. Stauracius was saved by the Imperial guard which retreated from the battlefield, protecting the crown heir. Because of his wound he was formally crowned at Adrianople, the first time an emperor had been crowned outside of Constantinople since the deposition of the last western emperor in 476. During his short reign there was a constant battle at the imperial court for an heir. Stauracius' sisters tried to influence him to choose their husbands. He lost patience with them and threatened to abolish the Empire and declare a republic. In the end one of his sisters gained enough support to arrange for her husband, Michael I Rhangabes, to depose Stauracius on October 2, 811. Stauracius retired to a monastery where he died five months later.
| Preceded by: Nicephorus I | Byzantine Emperor | Succeeded by: Michael I Rhangabes Template:End boxde:Staurakios es:Estauracio fr:Staurakios it:Stauracio di Bisanzio ja:スタウラキオス fi:Staurakios pl:Staurakios |