User:Ichthyovenator/Staurakios (son of Michael I)

Staurakios or Stauracius was a younger son of Byzantine emperor Michael I Rangabe ((r. 811 – 813)) and grandson, on his mother's side, of Nikephoros I ((r. 802 – 811)). He was junior co-emperor alongside his father and his elder brother Theophylact c. 811–813, but died young prior to his father's deposition.

Life
Staurakios was the second son of Michael I Rangabe and Prokopia, meaning he was born between 793 and 798. He had four siblings: the brothers Theophylact and Niketas and the sisters Georgo and Theophano. Staurakios's mother Prokopia was a daughter of Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I ((r. 802 – 811)) and a sister of Nikephoros I's son and co-emperor, also called Staurakios. Nikephoros was killed at the Battle of Pliska against Bulgaria on 26 July 811, and the same battle left the elder Staurakios gravely wounded. Though Staurakios succeeded Nikephoros as senior emperor, it soon became apparent that he was slowly dying of his wounds. After Staurakios attempted to have his wife Theophano designated as successor he was deposed in a non-violent palace coup and forced to instead recognize his brother-in-law Michael I as successor.

After Michael I became emperor, he had Theophylact, Staurakios's elder brother, crowned as co-emperor. Per the hagiography of Patriarch Ignatios of Constantinople (Ignatios being the same person as Staurakios's younger brother Niketas), Staurakios was also crowned co-emperor.

Staurakios died young while his father was still reigning as emperor.