#androgynous

Joseph Bringas (Greek: Ὶωσῆφ Βρίγγας) was an important Byzantine eunuch official in the reigns of Emperor Constantine VII (r. 945–959) and Emperor Romanos II (r. 959–963), serving as chief minister and effective regent during the latter. Having unsuccessfully opposed the rise of Nikephoros Phokas to the imperial throne in 963, he was exiled to a monastery, where he died in 965.Joseph had many enemies: general Nikephoros Phokas, John Tzimiskes, Empress-dowager Theophano. But his most dangerous and powerful enemy was his predecessor and rival, another eunuch Basil Lekapenos. Only with the help of Basil, Nikephoros and Tzimiskes could overthrow the power of Joseph Bringas.Upon his accession, Romanos II dismissed Basil and favoured Joseph Bringas, instead, who assumed Basil's positions of paradynasteuon, protos, and parakoimomenos. This began a fierce rivalry and even hatred between the two men. Basil remained on the sidelines for the duration of the reign, but when Romanos died in early 963, his sons Basil II and Constantine VIII were underage, and a struggle for the throne erupted. Basil sided with the distinguished general Nikephoros Phokas against Bringas. Basil armed his numerous attendants—some 3,000 according to the sources—and with the urban mob attacked Bringas and his supporters and seized control of the city and the ports. Bringas sought sanctuary in the Hagia Sophia, while Basil mobilized the imperial dromon and other vessels to Chrysopolis, where Phokas awaited with his army. Phokas entered the city, and was crowned senior emperor as guardian of Romanos II's young sons. As a reward for his role in Phokas' elevation to the throne, Basil was restored to his old post as parakoimomenos and received the new exalted rank of proedros (fully proedros tes Synkletou, "president of the Senate"). Bringas was banished first to his native Paphlagonia, and then to the monastery of Asekretis at Pythia near Nicomedia, where he died in 965.Bringas is described as feminine from the outside, but brave in nature, passionate in deeds, zealous, harsh and very proud." The owner of the seal affixed to at least two communications to the Bulgarian capital is Joseph, patrikios, praipositos, imperial protospatharios and imperial sakellarios. It can generally be dated to the mid-10th century. An individual holding these positions in the Byzantine administration is known from this time. He is Joseph Bringas, the famous courtier and eunuch. His name is first mentioned in 945: We find the following information for the year 945 in Theophanes Continuatus. "The God-loving and beauty-loving basileus Constantine found the patrikios and praipositos Joseph, a man of a disposition similar to his (he was judicious in the state affairs and his wit was quicker than a bird's) and initially appointed him sakellarios and later drungarios of the fleet, which he entrusted to his full control." The name of the same Joseph is later reported prior to the death of Constantine VII in 959 and in connection with the ascension of Romanos II (959-963): "On his deathbed, the basileus appointed his son Romanos autokrator and entrusted him to the care of the patrikios and praipositos Joseph, whom he charged by oath to protect his son using his great experience."Later on, the parakoimomenos Joseph Bringas held key positions in the imperial government during the reign of Romanos II. - Studies in Byzantine Sigillography, Volume 9edited by Jean-Claude Cheynet, Claudia Sode

"Joseph Bringas was a eunuch with a brilliant career under the reign of Constantine VII (905-959 A.D.). Originally a slave (he was not a Greek), he belonged to the same family as one of the emperor’s enemies and after noticing his worth, the emperor had him castrated, a mark of honour at the time. Bringas was then able to gain access to thehighest ranking positions of the state including prime minister, chancellor, and head of the Senate."-- The various types and roles of eunuchs in the Byzantine Empire.Athens University, Greece"He (Leo) inevitably comments negatively about eunuchs: Constantine Gongyles, who led the failed expedition to Crete in 949, is a eunuch of the bedchamber, an effeminate fellow from Paphlagonia" (7.4-5); he has John Tzimiskes in a speech (40.3) call Joseph Bringas "an effeminate fellow, whose very sex is doubtful, an artificial woman. . . ." In describing eunuchs who are successful Leo comments "although he happened to be a eunuch" ([66.1, 94.6-7]) or "although a eunuch" ([107.20])." -- The History of Leo the Deacon: Byzantine Military Expansion in the Tenth Century By Leo (the Deacon)