Wikipedia
Bardas (; died 21 April 866) was a Byzantine noble and high-ranking minister. As the brother of Empress Theodora, he rose to high office under Theophilos (r. 829–842). Although sidelined after Theophilos's death by Theodora and Theoktistos, in 855 he engineered Theoktistos's murder and became the de facto regent for his nephew, Michael III (r. 842–867). Rising to the rank of Caesar, he was the effective ruler of the Byzantine Empire for ten years, a period which saw military success, renewed diplomatic and missionary activity, and an intellectual revival that heralded the Macedonian Renaissance. He was assassinated in 866 at the instigation of Michael III's new favourite, Basil the Macedonian, who a year later would usurp the throne for himself and install his own dynasty on the Byzantine throne.
Bardas or Vardas was a medieval Greek name of Armenian origin, originally alluding to Saint Vardan:
- Bardas (died 866), uncle and regent of Emperor Michael III
- Bardas Phokas the Elder (died 968), Byzantine general
- Bardas Phokas the Younger (died 989), Byzantine general and rebel against Emperor Basil II
- Bardas Skleros (died 991), Byzantine general and rebel against Emperor Basil II
- Bardas Parsakoutenos, Byzantine general and grandson of Bardas Phokas the Elder