Bardas – Βάρδας Culture: Recognised as Byzantine, but in all truth I’m a Roman Period: 10th-12th Century Weapon of Choice: Single Sword Living History Life: Since 1997 Current goal: Enabling others with their living history goals Real Name: Drew

History

Born in the County of Edessa, I was raised as a simple farmer. My name has two historical sources, one from the Rebellion leader Bardas Sklerus (or Skleros), and from the General Bardas Phocas, who was born and raised in neighbouring Armenia. The movements of the crusades swept me to the trading city of Antioch, where I was first exposed to all of the different cultures from the region. It was also a rough and tumble place that was a birthing ground for many a young hot-blooded warrior. The moving of trade items and people back to the Byzantine seat of power in Constantinople swept me West, and it was during that time that I was able to secure a position in the mighty Roman army. Skirmishes in the west further honed my abilities no the battle field.

As with Phocas, one of my namesakes whose name lives on in Crete/Handakas as the surname Phocaides, I have made the sea voyage to this strange yet interesting port. Once the seat of the ancient Minoan empire, along with the Labyrinth and the mighty Minotaur, this land holds me for the moment as part of my tutelage as an Akolothous in the Army