The Thracian Theme ( Greek Θρᾳκήσιον θέμα ), also known as Thema Thrace ( Greek θέμα Θρᾳκησίων ) is a Byzantine Theme in western Asia Minor. Created in the middle of the 7th - beginning of the 8th century, it was one of the largest and most important administrative formations of the empire.
Content
History
Ground
The exact date of the foundation of the Thrace of Thracessius is unknown, but the first mention of it took place in 711, when Christopher was sent by Emperor Justinian II to the rebellious fairy of Kherson . Theme Stratig is mentioned only in the year 741. [1] [2] [3] [4] It was supposed that in this way Frakisis was a Turma of the Anatolian Theme , and that she received her new status after 695 or the first years of the 8th century. Some modern historians believe that the theme is related to the Thracianus exercitus ( Thracian army ) mentioned in 687. Consequently, Thracessius was one of the first themes founded in Asia Minor. [1] [3] [5]
Title
The first themes were formed on the basis of the remnants of the eastern armies of Byzantium, which could not prevent the Arab invasions in the 640s. Representatives of the Magister militum settled in Thrace, descended from the Thracian diocese [6] [7]
VIII-X centuries
The first known stratigus of Thrace was Sisinnios, who supported Emperor Constantine V (pr. 740-775) in his struggle with the usurper Artavazd (pr. 741-742). However, later the governor was blinded because of a suspicion of a conspiracy. Basileus began to designate supporters of iconoclasm , and in Thrace they became Michael Lachonodracon, who actively pursued icon worshipers and monks. He did this so successfully that by 772, according to historian Warren Treadgold, he was able to "get rid of monasticism in his theme." [8] [9] Other governors were also actively involved in the life of the empire. Varda Turok, who became a stratigue in the 790s, rebelled against Nicephorus I in 803 (pr. 803-811); [8] Konstantin Kontomit , defeated the Cretan Saracens in 841 at Mount Latros , and married a representative of the imperial family; [10] Petronius, uncle of Emperor Michael III (pr. 842-867) and the Byzantine general in 856-863; [11] and Simvatius, who, together with the ruler of the Themes Opsikiy Georgy Pigan, tried to overthrow Vasily the Great. [eight]
In the X century, the Arab threat came to naught, and the Thracissian soldiers were used in expeditions against the Cretan emirate in 911, 949 and 960. [12] By 1029, the fema no longer had its former strategic importance, and its appointment as the stratigue of Konstantin Diogenes indicated a demotion. [13]
XI-XIV centuries
Most of the themes were captured by the Seljuks at the end of the 11th century, but were later recaptured by the combined army of John Duke and the participants of the first crusade (1096-1099). John II Comnenus (pr. 1118–1143) restored the theme and sent his governor, Philip, to Philadelphia. The southern part of Thrace was included in the new themes of Melasa and Melanoudion . [1] [14] The Thracian Theme became one of the last Asia Minor possessions of the empire that opposed the raids of various beyliks . By the beginning of the XIV century, its territory was reduced to the city of Smyrna , captured by Beylik Aydin in 1330. [one]
Administrative device
The composition of the theme included Ionia (the Roman province of Asia ), Lydia , the northern part of Caria , and part of Phrygia. In the west, Thrace was bordered by the Aegean Sea, in the north - with Opsicius , in the west - with Anatolik , in the south - with the theme of Kivirreota . The administrative structure included 20 cities, the largest of which were Smyrna and Ephesus [1] [15]
The Theme Stratig received an annual salary of 40 pounds of gold. The Arab geographer Kuama ibn Jafar reports that there were 6,000 warriors under the command of the governor, and according to Ibn al-Fakih , all 10,000. [1] [16] The West Bank of Asia Minor was under the jurisdiction of the Samos theme , which responded for the supply of ships and seafarers' anbor. [2]
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 2080.
- ↑ 1 2 Nesbitt & Oikonomides, 1996 , p. four.
- ↑ 1 2 Lambakis, 2003 , Chapter 2.1 .
- ↑ Pertusi, 1952 , pp. 124–125
- ↑ Haldon, 1997 , pp. 212–214.
- ↑ Haldon, 1999 , p. 73.
- ↑ Pertusi, 1952 , p. 124.
- ↑ 1 2 3 Lambakis, 2003 , Chapter 3 .
- ↑ Treadgold, 1997 , pp. 364–365.
- ↑ Treadgold, 1988 , pp. 325, 355, 454.
- ↑ Treadgold, 1997 , pp. 450–451.
- ↑ Lambakis, 2003 , Chapter 4 .
- ↑ Lambakis, 2003 , Chapter 5 .
- ↑ Haldon, 1999 , p. 97.
- ↑ Pertusi, 1952 , p. 125; Lambakis, 2003 , Chapter 2.2 .
- ↑ Pertusi, 1952 , p. 126.
Literature
- Haldon, John F. Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture . - Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 1997 .-- ISBN 978-0-52-131917-1 .
- Haldon, John F. Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565-1204 . - London, United Kingdom: University College London Press (Taylor & Francis Group), 1999 .-- ISBN 185728495X .
- Kazhdan, Alexander Petrovich. The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . - New York and Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1991. - ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6 .
- Lambakis, Stylianos. Θρακησίων Θέμα : [] . - Athens, Greece: Foundation of the Hellenic World, 2003.
- Nesbitt, John W. & Oikonomides, Nicolas (1996), Catalog of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient , Washington, District of Columbia: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, ISBN 0-88402-250-1 , < https://books.google.com/books?id=SzA76UaLhNkC >
- Pertusi, A. Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus: [] . - Rome, Italy: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1952.
- Treadgold, Warren T. The Byzantine Revival, 780–842 . - Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1988 .-- ISBN 0-8047-1896-2 .
- Treadgold, Warren T. Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081 . - Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1995 .-- ISBN 0804731632 .
- Treadgold, Warren. A History of the Byzantine State and Society . - Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1997 .-- ISBN 0-8047-2630-2 .