1. Birth - family

The exact date of Niketas’ birth cannot be determined; he was probably born between 880 and 890,¹ perhaps c. 885.² Through indirect sources from his later life, we can conclude that during the issue of Leo VI’s tetragamy in 906/907, Niketas was already of mature age. In any case, he must have been younger than Arethas of Caesarea or the Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos (901-907/912-925).

While it still remains unconfirmed, it is assumed that Niketas was born in Paphlagonia, probably in the city of Amastris (mod. Amasra). His father, Andrew, was a priest in Paphlagonia, where his large family lived. His mother’s name does not survive. However, we know that one of his brothers was called Peter, while another brother had a name ending in –rianos. His father’s brother was probably called Paul and was a sakellarios in the Patriarchate and abbot of the monastery of St Phokas in Constantinople.

Niketas’ two names have inspired many theories. The most common one is that he assumed the name David when he became a monk, after the Emperor Leo VI confined him in the monastery of Agathos in Constantinople, in the quarter of Psamathia (mod. Samatya).³ On the other hand, it is not even certain that Niketas became a monk during this imprisonment; we could, therefore, presume that he simply had two secular names.⁴

2. Upbringing - Education

It is certain that Niketas completed the second stage of his education (enkyklios paideia) in his home place of Paphlagonia. He continued his studies in Constantinople, where he was perhaps brought or called by his uncle, Paul. In the capital, Niketas started to associate with some of the most educated men of his age: the Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos, the Patriarch Euthymios (907-912) and Arethas of Caesarea. It is possible that he was also the latter’s pupil, but this allegation cannot be argued with certainty.⁵ In any case, he was a friend and colleague of Arethas of Caesarea and corresponded in writing with him, until Arethas accepted Leo VI’s fourth marriage, during the replacement of Nicholas Mystikos by Euthymios in the patriarchal throne. Not much is known with certainty about Niketas’ character and type of education. However, it is certain that his contemporaries considered him an important scholar, whose excellent education brought him glory and attracted the attention of Emperor Leo VI.

3. Activity

The high education that he received in Constantinople gave Niketas David the Paphlagonian many epithets, confirming the level of education that he possessed. He was a philosopher and an orator, as well as scholastikos. It remains unconfirmed, however, if Niketas was also a didaskalos, a teacher in the literal sence, that is if he taught in one of the schools of the capital.

His first appearance in the political scene was caused by the issue of the tetragamy of Leo VI. Niketas was a firm opponent of the approval and recognition of the emperor’s fourth marriage. He also opposed the use of oikonomia, which, in this case, would allow Leo VI to have his marriage to Zoe Karbonopsina recognised without many consequences. In this matter, Niketas was on the same side as the Patriarch Nicholas Mystikos and his ‘teacher’ and friend, Arethas.

In 907, Leo VI wanted to have his marriage to Zoe sanctioned at all costs, since she had given him his only male heir. Therefore, he managed to dethrone Nicholas Mystikos (2 February 907) and replace him with Euthymios (907-912). Despite the approval of the emperor’s actions by Arethas and even though the new patriarch sanctioned the marriage, Niketas David remained firm in his opposition. In one of his surviving letters, Niketas mentions that he was pressured by the Pope Nicholas I to stand by the emperor’s side; this pressure did not seem to have brought any results.⁶ It appears that Niketas was very decisive in defending his beliefs. His contemporaries had been impressed by this attitude, as is shown in an episode from the Life of the Patriarch Euthymios:⁷ Leo VI tries in vain to intimidate Niketas, after the latter had suffered a large number of accusations. The text does not mention the issue of the tetragamy as a reason for this strife. However, the portrayal of Niketas as a firm and strong-willed man is remarkable, especially because the author was a supporter of the emperor and the patriarch, and certain of Niketas’ guilt.⁸

Niketas David’s denial to shift his position in the matter of the Emperor’s fourth marriage greatly damaged his relationship with Leo VI. Niketas withdrew from public life, becoming a hermit near Medea, in the west coast of the Black Sea. A few months later, probably in the second half of 907 or at the beginning of 908, the strategos of Thrace in Medea arrested Niketas, with the charge of being a spy for the Bulgars. Niketas was brought before Leo VI in Constantinople, where he was accused of having composed a libel against the patriarch and the emperor. After this incident, Niketas was imprisoned, and then freed on the patriarch’s initiative and moved to the Asian side of the Bosporos, in the monastery of Agathos, where he was confined for two years. It is possible that while there, he was under the personal custody of the Patriarch Euthymios; after all, the monastery of Agathos was a methochion of the monastery of St. Euthymios, erected by Leo VI in the quarter of Psamathia, in honour of Euthymios.⁹ However, it appears that even during this two-year ‘exile’ in this monastery of the capital, Niketas did not become a monk. He was then imprisoned in the monastery of St Phokas (where his uncle Paul used to be hegoumenos) for 20 months, from October 910 until May 912; that was when Nicholas Mystikos returned to the patriarchal throne after the Emperor Leo VI’s death (11 May 912).

4. Death

Little is known for the last period of Niketas’ life. It is certain that he was still alive during the monocracy of Leo VI’s son, Constantine Porphyrogennetos (945-959). Even though he had once been the main opponent of the recognition of the marriage of Leo with Constantine’s mother, Niketas David appeared to be in good terms with Constantine VII; he dedicated to him a Life of St John Chrysostom, which he composed. What remains unsure are Niketas David Paphlagon's last days. It appears that Niketas Paphlagon left Constantinople, or was exiled, and returned to Paphlagonia. It is speculated that he died there, after 947.

5. Oeuvre

Niketas was the author of many written works.¹⁰ He wrote approximately 50 encomia of saints, a treatise on the end of the world, a commentary on the Psalms and a number of homilies.¹¹ In his theological works, he stresses the contrast between God’s omnipotence and man’s humble position. He is also the author of the Life of the Patriarch Ignatios (867-877), which is essentially a libel against the Patriarch Photios (858-867, 877-886); it is considered his most important work.¹² Six of his letters also survive.