Optimates ( Greek θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων , from Latin Optimates , “Best People”) is a theme of the Byzantine Empire , located in the western part of Asia Minor .
History
Optimates appeared at the end of the VI century, thanks to the emperor Tiberius II Constantine (reigned in 574-582). [1] According to the Stratigikon of Basileus of Mauritius , the Optimates ( Ὀπτιμάτοι "Best People") were an elite division of the federals , and probably were of Gothic origin. [2] The number of this cavalry unit was 1,000 to 5,000, and they were part of the central reserve army. Taxiarchs led them. [3] [4] Their descendants, nicknamed Gothograeci (Greek: Γοτθογραῖκοι ), according to Theophanes the Confessor, lived in northern Bithynia at the beginning of the VIII century. [5] By this time, according to Warren Treadgold, the number of optimites was 2,000. [3]
In the middle of the VIII century, after the pacification of Emperor Constantine V (reigned 741-775) by the ruler of the theme Opsiky Artavazd , the corps was demoted. They were sent to a new theme that emerged from the former possession of the rebel governor. Education occupied the peninsula near Constantinople, as well as the shores of Nicomedia Gulf to the Sangary River. The capital of the theme was the city of Nicomedia . [2] [6] The first mention of Optimates as a theme took place in 774/775, [7] but it is clear that after the collapse of Artavazd, serious changes took place in the structure of Asia Minor themes. [8] Thema Opsyky subsequently lost part of the remaining possessions that were part of the Theme of Bukelaria . [9]
Soon after the Battle of Manzikert , the rural areas of the Themes became the victim of Seljuk raids, but Nicomedia remained under the rule of the Romans . The region was recaptured under Emperor Alexei I Komnin (reigned in 1081–1118), with the active help of the participants of the first crusade . [10] After the capture of Constantinople by the Europeans in 1204, the region came under the power of the Latin Empire . Fema was conquered by the Nicene Emperor John III Vatac in 1240 [2] . After that, the Optimates were ruled by Byzantium until the beginning of the XIV century, when the region was conquered by Ottoman beilik . [eleven]
Administrative device
Unlike other fems, in Optimaty there was a corps of 4,000 mule drivers who provided supplies to the imperial metropolitan tagmata . [12] The low status of this theme was mentioned by Emperor Konstantin VII Bagryanorodny (reigned in 913–959), indicating the absence of a division into it ( Turma or Drung ). [2] [13] Thus, the local domestic ranked last among the provincial stratigans in the hierarchy of the empire. [2]
Notes
- ↑ Haldon, 1999 , p. 196.
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 1529.
- ↑ 1 2 Treadgold, 1995 , pp. 96–97.
- ↑ Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 2018.
- ↑ Lounghis, 1996 , pp. 32–33.
- ↑ Treadgold, 1995 , p. 99.
- ↑ Theophanes the Confessor & Turtledove, 1982 , 446–447 (p. 134).
- ↑ Haldon, 1984 , pp. 222–227.
- ↑ Lounghis, 1996 , pp. 29–31.
- ↑ Treadgold, 1995 , p. 218; Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 1483.
- ↑ Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 1484.
- ↑ Haldon, 1999 , p. 158.
- ↑ Lounghis, 1996 , p. 34.
Literature
- Haldon, John F. Byzantine Praetorians: An Αdministrative, itutionnstitutional and Social Survey of the Opsikion and the Tagmata, c. 580-900 . - Bonn, Germany: R. Habelt, 1984. - Vol. 3.- ISBN 3774920044 .
- 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 .
- The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . - New York, New York and Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1991 .-- ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6 .
- Lounghis, TC The Decline of the Opsikian Domesticates and the Rise of the Domesticate of the Scholae (English) // Byzantine Symmeikta: journal. - 1996. - No. 10 . - P. 27-36 . - ISSN 1105-1639 . Archived on November 21, 2015.
- Theophanes the Confessor. The Chronicle of Theophanes: Anni mundi 6095-6305 (AD 602-813) / Theophanes the Confessor, Harry Turtledove. - Philadelphia, Pennsylavnia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1982. - ISBN 978-0812211283 .
- Treadgold, Warren T. Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081 . - Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1995 .-- ISBN 0804731632 .