Basil Apokapes

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Basil Apokapes (also Apocapes) was a Byzantine general and noble in the 11th century. He came from the Armenian-Georgian Apokapai family. His father, Michael Apokapes, held high offices and commanded Edessa under the Byzantine emperor Michael IV.

In 1054 Basil helped defend Manzikert against a Seljuk assault led by Toğrül, successfully repulsing the attack. From 1059 to 1065 he served as the doux (military governor) of Paraistrion, a region along the Danube in northern Bulgaria. In 1064 he, together with the future emperor Nikephoros Botaneiates and Botaneiates’ sons, was defeated and captured by the Oghuz Turks crossing the Balkans. An epidemic weakened the invaders, and the prisoners were later released.

After the defeat of Romanos IV by Andronikos Doukas in 1071, Basil appears to have served under Philaretos Brachamios in Cilicia. He was the governor of Edessa from 1077 until his death in 1083. Basil Apokapes died in Edessa around 1083 or 1084 and was buried at the Monastery of Saint George Ko'tewor in Edessa. He was born about 1020 in Tayk.