Γεωγραφική Θέση Northern (Central) Turkey (Northeastern Asia Minor) Ιστορική Περιοχή Pontos Polemoniakos. Διοικητική Υπαγωγή

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1 Περίληψη : The region of the theme of Chaldia in northeastern Asia Minor was originally part of the theme of Armeniakon. Its organization into a theme dates back to the beginning of the 9 th century with a view to defend the borderline from the Arab threat. The location of the theme in the border and its loose ties to Constantinople resulted in incitement to rebellions by the strategoi of the region and caused many problems to the central administration. Γεωγραφική Θέση Northern (Central) Turkey (Northeastern Asia Minor) Ιστορική Περιοχή Pontos Polemoniakos Διοικητική Υπαγωγή 1. Theme of Chaldia The theme of Chaldia was originally a tourma in the northeastern part of the theme of Armeniakon. It is not clear when it was officially established. The first mention of a strategos of Chaldia in the sources dates back to 842/1 1 and the establishment of the theme is placed around the third decade of the 9 th century, 2 or even earlier, if the mention of a duchy of Chaldia in 824 in a letter (the latin copy survives) of the emperor Michael II to the Frank emperor Louis I, the successor of Charlemagne, refers to a strategos of Chaldia and if the mention of someone with authority of strategos in the life of St. George of Amastris (+825), written by Ignatios Deacon, 3 is not merely an anachronism. 4 The theme is recorded in the eighth place among the themes of Asia Minor by Constantine Porphyrogennetos in his work De thematibus (On themes), 5 but no further information can be elicited, since the scholar emperor is not very analytical. He just mentions that the capital of the theme, Trebizond, was an ancient greek colony and tries to etymologize the name Chaldia by associating it with the biblical Chaldea of Mesopotamia. 6 Some further evidence can be found in other works of Porphyrogennetos. In De administrando imperii, there is information about the activities of the officials of the region, 7 while in De cerimoniis (Book of Ceremonies), it is mentioned that the strategos of the theme was paid ten litres of gold by the state and received another ten from the kommerkion, 8 information indicative of the nature of the region's economy, based both on its own production and on transit trade. 9 Some further information about the military capabilities of the theme and the number of its fortresses can be found in the works of Arab historians. 10 Finally, a significant number of officials are known from seals and other indirect references Capital and communication At the time of the writing of De thematibus, the theme of Chaldia bordered with the theme of Armeniakon in the west, the themes of Colonea and Mesopotamia in the south and Armenia in the west. It coincided basically with the province of Pontos Polemoniakos, as recorded in the Synecdemos of Hierokles. 12 Its capital and metropolitan see 13 was Trebizond. It is known that the city had been an important hub of transport and commerce with the inland of Asia Minor, as well as a forward base of operations in the distant provinces of the East, since it was the only safe harbor on the northern shore of Pontos. It was also the starting point of the main road towards the inland of Asia Minor, to Theodosioupolis (Erzerum) Relationship with the central authority The region of the theme of Chaldia was the theater of operations of the conflicts between the Byzantines and the Arabs during the 8 th and the 9 th century. That was one of the reasons why it was organized into a theme, at the same time, more or less, of the Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/8/2017 Σελίδα 1/5

2 establishment of the themes of Cappadocia and Paphlagonia, to confront, that is, the arab threat on the eastern border. 15 That administrative reform, however, caused much more problems, since the powerful local families had loose ties to distant Constantinople and their rebellious intentions were obvious. Some of the most important rebellions in the regions were those of John the Chaldian in against the emperor Basil I, 16 Bardas Boilas, Hadrian the Chaldian and Tatzates the Armenian against the emperor Romanos Lekapenos, 17 Theodore Gabras in and Gregory Gabras in 1103/1106 against Alexios I Komnenos. 18 The son of Gregory Gabras, Constantine, also rebelled in 1123 against John II Komnenos and was defeated many years later, in At the time of Manuel II, the imperial authority was finally established. Nikephoros Palaiologos was appointed the last doux of Chaldia some time between 1165 and Forty years later, in 1204, he handed his authority over to Alexios and David Grand Komnenoi, the establishers of the empire of Trebizond. The core of the new empire was the theme of Chaldia Oikonomides, N., Les listes de preseance byzantines des IXe et Xe siecles (Paris 1972), p Lemerle, P., Thomas le slave, Travaux et memoires 1 (1965), pp , Vasilievsky, V. G. (ed.), Zitija sv. Georgija Amastridskago, (St. Petersburg 1893), p On the problems of the research see Βλυσίδου, Β. Κουντούρα Ε. Λαμπάκης Σ. Λουγγής Τ. Σαββίδης Α., Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων (Athens 1998), p Pertusi, A. (ed.), Costantino Porfirogenito de thematibus (Vatican City 1952), p The name actually refers to Chaldis, a deity of the Urartu or Chaldini (=the worshippers of Chaldis) people: Baumstark, A., entry Chaldaioi, in Realencyclopadie der classischen Alterumswissenschaft III.2 (Stuttgart 1899), It survives in the armenian name of the fortress Haltoyaric Klesuraw (modern Kaghdarig: Honigmann, E., Die Ostgrenze des byzantinischen Reiches von 363 bis 10741, Brussels 1935, 540), and in the mountainous regions Halt of modern Pontos, meaning ο άνθρωπος πίσω από τα βουνά : Bryer, A., Greeks and Turkmens: The Pontic exception, Dumbarton Oaks Papers 29 (1975), p. 116; Bryer, A. Winfield, D., The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 1985), p Moravcsik, G. Jenkins, R. (eds), Constantinus Porphyrogenitus De administrando imperio (Washington 1967), pp. 190, 206, Reiske, I. (ed.), Constantini Porphyrogeniti imperatoris de cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae (Bonn 1829), 697; see also Οικονομίδης, Ν., Πόλειςcommercia στην Μικερά Ασία του 10 ου αιώνα, Η Βυζαντινή Μικρά Ασία, 6 ος -12 ος αι. (Athens 1998), pp Bryer, A. Winfield, D., The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 1985), p Brooks, E. W., Arabic Lists of the Byzantine Themes, Journal of Hellenic Studies 21 (1901), pp ; Pertusi, A. (ed.), Costantino Porfirogenito de thematibus (Vatican City 1952), p. 138; Savvides, A. G. C., The Frontier-zone themes (Chaldia-Coloneia) to the Seljuk beginnings, Αρχείον Πόντου 48 ( ), pp ; Βλυσίδου, Β. Κουντούρα Ε. Λαμπάκης Σ. Λουγγής Τ. Σαββίδης Α., Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων (Athens 1998), pp Lists are included in Bryer, A. Winfield, D., The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 1985), pp ; see also Βλυσίδου, Β. Κουντούρα Ε. Λαμπάκης Σ. Λουγγής Τ. Σαββίδης Α., Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων (Athens 1998), pp Pertusi, A. (ed.), Costantino Porfirogenito de thematibus (Vatican City 1952), p See Φιλιππίδης, Χρύσανθος, μητροπολίτης Τραπεζούντος, Η Εκκλησία Τραπεζούντος, Αρχείον Πόντου 4-5 (1933), pp Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/8/2017 Σελίδα 2/5

3 14. Stratil-Sauer G., Verkehrsgeographische Bemerkungen zur Stadt Trapezunt im ostpontischen Gebiet, Αρχείον Πόντου 29 ( ), pp ; Bryer, A. Winfield, D., The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington D.C. 1985), pp ; Brandes, W., Die Stadte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert (Berlin 1989), pp Lemerle, P., Thomas le slave, Travaux et memoires 1 (1965), pp. 265, Βλυσίδου, Β., Εξωτερική πολιτική και εσωτερικές αντιδράσεις την εποχή του Βασιλείου Α. Έρευνες για τον εντοπισμό των αντιπολιτευτικών τάσεων στα χρόνια (Athens 1991), pp Runciman, S., The Emperor Romanus Lecapenus and his Reign (Cambridge 1963), pp Cheynet, J.-Cl., Pouvoir et contestations a Byzance ( ) (Paris 1990), pp , Σαββίδης, Α. Γ. Κ., Παρατηρήσεις για τα βυζαντινά θέματα Παφλαγονίας και Χαλδίας κατά τη μεταγενέστερη περίοδο της ιστορίας τους (τέλη 11 ου αρχές 13 ου αιώνα), Πρακτικά Γ Πανελληνίου Συνεδρίου για τον Ελληνισμό της Μικράς Ασίας (Thessaloniki 1996), pp [reprint in the volume Από το Βυζάντιο στην Τουρκοκρατία (Athens 1997), pp ]. Βιβλιογραφία : Bryer A.A.M., "A Byzantine Family: the Gabrades, c ", University of Birmingham Historical Journal, XII, 1970, Brandes W., Die Städte Kleinasiens im 7. und 8. Jahrhundert, Amsterdam 1989, Berliner byzantinistische Arbeiten 56 Ιωαννίδης Σ., Ιστορία και Στατιστική Τραπεζούντος και της περί ταύτην Χώρας, ως και τα περί της ενταύθα Ελληνικής Γλώσσης, Κωνσταντινούπολη 1870 Bryer A.A.M., Winfield D., The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of Pontos, I, Washington, D.C. 1985, Dumbarton Oaks Studies 20 Χρύσανθος Φιλιππίδης, μητροπολίτης Τραπεζούντος, "Η Εκκλησία Τραπεζούντος", Αρχείον Πόντου, 4/5, 1933, Βλυσίδου Β., Λουγγής Τ., Λαμπάκης Σ., Σαββίδης Α., Κουντούρα-Γαλάκη Ε., Η Μικρά Ασία των θεμάτων. Έρευνες πάνω στη γεωγραφική φυσιογνωμία και προσωπογραφία των βυζαντινών θεμάτων της Mικράς Aσίας (7ος-11ος αι.), Αθήνα 1998, Eρευνητική Bιβλιοθήκη 1 Cheynet J.-C., Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance ( ), Paris 1990, Byzantina Sorbonensia 9 Ελευθεριάδης Ι.Π., Ιστορικόν σχεδιάγραμμα περί της επαρχίας Χαλδίας, Αθήνα 1903 Karpov S., "Από το θέμα της Χαλδίας στην αυτοκρατορία των Μεγάλων Κομνηνών", Sjuzjumov M., Το Βυζάντιο και οι επαρχίες του, Sverdlovsk 1982, Σαββίδης Α., "Παρατηρήσεις για τα βυζαντινά θέματα Παφλαγονίας και Χαλδίας κατά τη μεταγενέστερη περίοδο της ιστορίας τους, τέλη 11ου-αρχές 13ου αι.", Πρακτικά Γ πανελληνίου συνεδρίου για τον Ελληνισμό της Μικράς Ασίας, Θεσσαλονίκη 1996, Savvides A.G.C., "The Frontier-zone themes (Chaldia-Coloneia) to the Seljuk Beginnings", Αρχείον Πόντου, Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/8/2017 Σελίδα 3/5

4 48, , Γλωσσάριo : kommerkion This name had two meanings in Byzantium 1. Commercium (lat.), which in late Roman times designated the frontier cities where exchanges with foreign merchants were authorised. 2. Kommerkion, which was a circulation and sales tax, paid at the customs, and collected on mercandise imported into the empire and on merchandise reaching Constantinople by the sea. It appears in the sources c. 800 and was also called dekate, its rate being 10 percent of the merchandise value. province An administrative unit in the Roman and Byzantine Empire. Established in the Roman Empire it is radically reformed by Diocletian, who abolishes the distinction between imperial and senatorial provinces and increases their number by dividing large provinces into smaller ones. Moreover, Diocletian divided the State into 12 dioceses, which included groups of provinces. Administrative reformations in the Byzantine era further increased the number of provinces while reducing their size. Provinces survived until the emrgence of the administrative system of the themes, around 7 th c. However the term appears on commerciarii seals until the 9 th c., and in written sources of the 11 th -12 th c. as a synonym of the theme. strategos ("general") During the Roman period his duties were mainly political. Οffice of the Byzantine state s provincial administration. At first the title was given to the military and political administrator of the themes, namely of the big geographic and administrative unities of the Byzantine empire. Gradually the title lost its power and, already in the 11th century, strategoi were turned to simple commanders of military units, responsible for the defence of a region. Synekdemos of Hierokles A geographical text book composed a little before 535 by Hierokles the Grammarian. It constitutes a list of 64 provinces and 923 (originally 935) cities of the Empire, being the most important source for the administrative and political geography of the Byzantine Empire prior to the Arab raids. It is assumed to have been based on state documents, and presents the political, administrative, and, to an extent, the ecclesiastical geography from mid- 5th c. However, it contains additions from the age of Justinian I, while some of its evidence is still under discussion. Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos used it as a major source, along with Stephen of Byzantium, for the composition of the work De thematibus. This most important work of Hierokles was published by G. Parthey (Hieroclis Synecdemus, Berlin, 1866), and A. Burckhardt (Hieroclis Synecdemus, Leipzig, 1893). The last and most authoritative edition is E. Honigmann (ed.), Le Synekdèmos d'hiéroklès et l'opuscule géographique de Georges de Chypre (Brussels 1939). theme A Byzantine term that signifies wide military and administrative units under the administration of a strategos (general). The institution was consolidated in the 7th century and was characteristic for the organization and the division of Byzantine Empire at the Middle Byzantine period. The term applies also to the army unit that resided in each administrative unit and was staffed by farmer-soldiers. The thematic system was maintained until the end of Byzantine period. However, in the Later Byzantine period it was used in order to declare mostly tax units. tourma (lat. turma, meaning squadron) Administrative division of a theme in the Middle Byzantine period. A tourma was further subdivised into droungoi and banda. Πηγές Vita of St. George of Amastris: Βίος Αγ. Γεωργίου Αμάστριδος, ed. Vasilievski, V.G. (Petrograd 1893). Pertusi A. (ed.), Costantino Porfirogenito de thematibus (Città del Vaticano 1952). Moravcsik. G. Jenkins, R. (eds.), Constantinus Porphyrogenitus De administrando imperio (Corpus Fontium Historiae Byzantinae 1, Washington D.C. 1967). Reiske, J.J. (ed.), Constantini Porphyrogeniti imperatoris de cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae I II (Corpus Scriptorum Historiae Byzantinae, Bonn 1829). Παραθέματα Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/8/2017 Σελίδα 4/5

5 Constantine Porphyrogenitus, De thematibus 73: Τὸ δὲ καλούμενον θέμα Χαλδία καὶ ἡ μητρόπολις λεγομένη Τραπεζοῦς Ἑλλήνων εἰσὶ ἀποικίαι, καθὼς καὶ Ξενοφῶν ἐν τῇ Ἀναβάσει Κύρου λέγει. Τὰ δὲ ἄνω καὶ μεσόγαια τῆς μικρᾶς Ἀρμενίας εἰσὶ προοίμια. Τοῦτο δὲ πιστοῦται ἐξ αὐτῶν τῶν ὀνομάτων ἡ τὲ γὰρ Κελτζηνὴ καλουμένη καὶ ὁ Συσπειρίτης καὶ τὸ Γοιζάνον. Μαρτυρεῖ δὲ καὶ περὶ τούτων ἡ θεία Γραφὴ ἐν τῇ τετάρτῃ τῶν βασιλείων τοὺς γὰρ κατοικοῦντας τὴν Σαμάρειαν αἰχμαλώτους λαβόντες Ἀσσύριοι κατῴκισαν αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ ποταμῷ Γοιζάνῳ. Ἔλαβε δὲ τὴν προσωνυμίαν τοῦ καλεῖσθαι Χαλδία ἐκ τῆς τῶν Περσῶν προσηγορίας, καὶ τῆς αὐτῶν ἀρχαιογόνου πατρίδος Χαλδίας, ὅθεν καὶ Χαλδαῖοι προσονομάζονται. Pertusi A. (ed.), Costantino Porfirogenito de thematibus (Città del Vaticano 1952) Constantine Porphyrogenitus, De cerimoniis: ὁ στρατηγὸς Χαλδίας λλ. ἰ, ὡς λαμβάνων ἀπὸ τοῦ κουμερκίου ἑτέρας λλ. ἰ Reiske, J.J. (ed.), Constantini Porphyrogeniti imperatoris de cerimoniis aulae Byzantinae I (CSHB, Bonn 1829), p Χρονολόγιο 824: Mention of the duchy of Chaldia (according to a view, the region can be considered a theme from that time) Between 820 and 842: Most probable dates of the establishment of the theme : Rebellion of John the Chaldian 923: Rebellion of Bardas Boilas, Hadrian the Chaldian and Tatzates : Rebellion of Theodore Gabras : Rebellion of Gregory Gabras : Rebellion of Constantine Gabras Βοηθ. Κατάλογοι : John the Chaldian, patrikios and strategos : Alexios, protospatharios and strategos 923: Bardas Boilas, strategos : Theophilos Kourkouas, patrikios and strategos : Bardas Phokas, doux of Chaldia and Colonea : Basil, patrikios /75: Theodore Gabras, patrikios, topoteretes sebastos and doux of Chaldia Ca : Nikephoros Palaiologos, doux of Chaldia Δημιουργήθηκε στις 29/8/2017 Σελίδα 5/5