Kourtikios

The Kourtikios (Greek: Κουρτίκιος} family is one of the major Byzantine aristocratic families of Armenian origin. In spite of being an old family, they are considered to be one of Theodore II Laskaris' New Men. The feminine form of the name is Kourtikissa.
==History==
As well as many of the Byzantine patricians, the family descends from Armenians who sought the Emperor's protection in the latter centuries of the first millennium. The name derives from its founder K'urdik, an Armenian nobleman who surrendered his domains to Emperor Basil I in the late ninth century and became his vassal. Throughout the next centuries, the Kourkitioi produced several senior military commanders and generals, and intermarried with the great aristocratic families of Skleros, Doukas and Komnenos. However, they declined abruptly declined in the twelfth century, impoverished and insignificant.
The family was revitalized by Theodore II, who saw merit in its members and raised them to high offices of state. Of particular note was Thomas Kourkitios, an eunuch who served as Theodora of Antioch's personal secretary.
Category:Byzantine families