the brother of the empress Theodora; and uncle of the famous Photius, is said to have had no other good quality besides that of loving the sciences and polite literature, which he established in the Eastern empire; for he was treacherous, cruel, and ambitious. In the year 856, he assassinated Theodore, general of the emperor Michael's forces, and obtained his post. At length he caused the disgrace of the empress Theo- dora; and St Ignatius, patriarch of Constantinople, reproaching him for his vices, he had him deposed in 858, in order to make room for Photius. Bardas was assassinated by Basilus the Macedonian, in 866.