says it was black with "tight curls" and "unusually long". John Julius Norwich says, about his murder and burial, "It was a honourable place; but Nikephoros Phocas, the White Death of the Saracens, hero of Syria and Crete, saintly and hideous, magnificent and insufferable, had deserved a better end". Descendants During the last decades of the tenth century, the Phokades repeatedly tried to get their hands again on the throne, and almost succeeded when Nikephoros' nephew, Bardas Phokas the Younger, rebelled against the rule of Basil II. His death, possibly by cardiac arrest, put an end to the rebellion, and ultimately to the political prominence of the Phokades, although Bardas the Younger's own son, Nikephoros Phokas Barytrachelos, launched another abortive revolt in 1022 along with Nikephoros Xiphias. Praecepta Militaria Phokas was the author of a military manual, the Praecepta Militaria. Modern honours On 19 November 2004, the Hellenic Navy named its tenth in his honour as Nikiforos Fokas F-466 (formerly HNLMS Bloys Van Treslong F-824). Also, in the Rethymno regional unit in Crete, a municipality (Nikiforos Fokas) is named after him, as are many streets throughout Greece. See also Phokas (Byzantine family) References Sources Taxiarchis Kolias, " Nicephorus II Focas 963–969, The Military Leader Emperor and his reforms ", Vasilopoulos Stefanos D. Athens 1993, , (Worldcat, Greek National Bibliography 1993, Biblionet). Ioannes A. Melisseides & Poulcheria Zavolea Melisseidou, "Nikefhoros Phokas (El) Nikfur", ek ton Leontos tou Diakonou, Kedrenou, Aboul Mahasen, Zonara, Ibn El Athir, Glyka, Aboulfeda k.a. Historike Melete, Vol.1–2, Vergina, Athens 2001, (Vol.1) (Vol.2), (Worldcat, Greek National Bibliography 2001/2007/2009, Biblionet). External links Coinage of Nikephoros II Phokas Written works by Nikephoros II Phokas; Greek Opera Omnia by Migne Patrologia Graeca with analytical indexes 910s births 969 deaths Burials at the Church of the Holy Apostles Year of birth uncertain 10th-century Byzantine emperors 10th-century murdered monarchs 10th-century Byzantine writers 960s in the Byzantine Empire Macedonian dynasty Byzantine generals Byzantine people of the Arab–Byzantine wars Byzantine people of the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars Assassinated Byzantine emperors Byzantine Crete Domestics of the Schools Phokas family Governors of the Anatolic Theme People of medieval Crete People associated with Mount Athos People associated with Great Lavra