Nikephoros II Phokas

Nikephoros II Phokas (c. 912–969) was a Cappadocian general whose troops stormed Chandax in 961 after a nine-month siege and reconquered Crete from the Muslims. With John Tzimiskes he sacked Aleppo in 962 and broke Hamdanid power. After Romanos II died in 963, he seized the throne and married Theophano.

He completed the conquest of Cilicia, took Tarsus in 965, recovered Cyprus, and in 969 took Antioch, earning him the name Pale Death of the Saracens. That year Theophano admitted Tzimiskes to his chamber and the conspirators killed him.