Staurakios

Staurakios (died 11 January 812) was the shortest-reigning Byzantine emperor, ruling for just sixty-eight days. The only son of Nikephoros I, he was crowned co-emperor on Christmas Day 803 and in 807 married Theophano of Athens.

He fought beside his father in the invasion of Bulgaria and survived the Battle of Pliska on 26 July 811, but with a severed spine. Carried back to Constantinople on a litter, he was proclaimed emperor, but his wounds made the succession disputed.

On 2 October his brother-in-law Michael I Rangabe deposed him. Staurakios was forced into a monastery and died there three months later.