Likand ( Greek Λυκανδός ) is the name of a Byzantine fortress and theme (legal formation), known as Fema Likand .
History
Likand fortress was located in the modern city of Elbistan in the south-east of Turkey, in Aladaglari . In 903, Mlech (Melias in Greek sources) settled there and founded a semi-independent principality [1] . This area was of strategic importance, as it was located on the border between Byzantium and the Muslim emirates of Syria and Mesopotamia; in addition, one of the main routes to Byzantine Anatolia passed through the mountains [1] . However, in 905, Melias was expelled from the Byzantine Empire along with other Armenian nobles after the unsuccessful uprising of Andronicus Duci against Emperor Leo VI the Wise [2] . In 908, the Principality of Melias, on the orders of Leo VI, officially received the status of enemas. Melias was instructed to restore the Likand fortress, which was destroyed, to restore all garrisons in an almost uninhabited clerk [1] [2] . Melias excelled in this assignment. The region could soon provide its residents and, according to Konstantin VII Bagryanorodny , "abounded with pastures" [3] . Likand was settled by Armenians and soon Melias managed to expand his control over the neighboring mountainous areas of Tsamond and Simposion [3] .
From Arab sources it is clear that the new and fortified region posed a great threat to the Arabs, in particular, to the nearby Melitene emirate . Violent attacks by the Arabs on Likand began in 909, but they were repelled. Arabs returned only distant cities. In 915, the troops of Melias ravaged the Arab territory to Germanichea (modern Kahramanmaras ) [2] [4] . The importance of Likand and the successes of his ruler were duly recognized and in 916 this region was elevated to the status of a full fema [1] [5] . In 917, troops from Likand took part in the disastrous campaign against Bulgaria, which ended after the defeat of the Byzantines at the Battle of Aheloy [6] .
Feminist troops played an important role in the Byzantine-Arab wars at the beginning and middle of the 10th century, especially in the campaign of John Curcouas , who expanded the borders of the empire to the Euphrates, as well as in the area of Armenia and Syria, as well as in civil wars later than the 10th century [1] [ 7] . Administratively, Likand was often governed by a single stratig, together with the theme of Melitena and Zamonda. There was no bishopric in the theme. Lycand was lost by the Byzantines after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 , when it was captured by the Seljuk Turks. However, the theme still appears in the official list of Byzantine lands of Emperor Alexei I Komnin , sent to Prince Antioch Boemund I in 1108 [1] .
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 1258
- ↑ 1 2 3 Whittow, 1996 , p. 316
- ↑ 1 2 Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, 1840 , pp. 33, 228
- ↑ Kazhdan, 1991 , p. 1334
- ↑ Treadgold, 1997 , p. 474
- ↑ Whittow, 1996 , pp. 316-317
- ↑ Treadgold, 1997 , pp. 479–481
Literature
- De thematibus et de administrando imperio . - E. Weber, 1840.
- Kazhdan, Alexander Petrovich. Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . - New York, New York and Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1991 .-- ISBN 9780195046526 .
- Pertusi, A. Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus: [] . - Rome, Italy: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, 1952.
- Treadgold, Warren. A History of the Byzantine State and Society . - Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1997 .-- ISBN 0-8047-2630-2 .
- Whittow, Mark. The Making of Byzantium, 600-1025 . - Berkeley and Los Angeles, California: University of California Press, 1996 .-- ISBN 0-5202-0496-4 .