Περίληψη : The city of Sougdaia laid on the eastern part of the Taurian Chersonesus and its foundation goes back to the beginnings of the 3 rd century. The inhabitants were Christians and partly Greek-speaking. During the Μiddle Byzantine period Sougdaia belonged to the theme of Cherson, whereas from the 12 th century was under the suzerainty of various powers of the Crimea region. It was the see of an autocephalous archbishopric and later of a metropolis. In 1475 the Ottomans conquered the city. Άλλες Ονομασίες Sougdaia, Sougdia, Soldaja, Sodaja, Soldadia, Surož, Sogdak, Sudak Γεωγραφική Θέση Crimean peninsula, Ukraine Ιστορική Περιοχή Taurike Διοικητική Υπαγωγή Byzantine empire (theme of Cherson) / State of the Tatars of Crimea / Gazaria (Genoese colonies of Crimea) 1. Sougdaia during the Early and Middle Byzantine period Sougdaia (mod. Sudak, Ukraine) lies on the southern shore of the Crimea peninsula, about 50 klm. NW of Kaffa (mod. Feodosia). The date of its foundation remains uncertain. The city already existed in early Byzantine period, since its first report in a written source is dated to the 7 th century. 1 Nevertheless, according to the local tradition that is preserved in much later «recollections», 2 Sougdaia had been founded in the year AD 212. This date can not be cross-checked with other testimonies; however, the results of the archaeological research that have been conducted in the region speak for the foundation of the city during the Roman period. The city-founders were in all probability the Alans, as the Iranian etymology of its name implies. 3 Sougdaia s historical course during the Early and Middle Byzantine period is scarsely known. It appears that its administrative dependency on the Byzantine Empire, as well as of the rest of the Taurian cities, was exceptionally loose. At the same time, the Christianization of its population moved on, whereas within the city a Greek-speaking population was probably settled, whose presence became more intense during later periods. From the 8 th century Sougdaia appears as an autocephalous bishopric, subordinated directly to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The first report to the Sougdaia bishopric is attested in the Acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which are signed by the bishop Stephan. The latter one was an adherent of the Iconophile party, having been imprisoned by Constantine V and reinstated by the empress Eirene. His Vita is preserved in various versions and mentions that Stephan was buried in the church of Hagia Sophia at Sougdaia, which was erected in the year 793 according to the local tradition. 4 The Middle Byzantine period at Sougdaia is characterised by signs of decline, whereas the maintenance of the Byzantine control over the region is uncertain. Later legends mention occupation of the city by the Rus in the 8 th or 9 th century, 5 whereas the archaeologists have brought to light remains of buildings of the 6 th century which had been left abandoned in the 8 th -9 th century. The city was probably under the suzerainty of the Khazars in the 9 th -10 th century. During the same period (early 10 th century) the church of Sougdaia was promoted to the rank of an archbishopric. 2. Sougdaia from the 11th to the 14th century A new period of prosperity for Sougdaia is attested from the 11 th century, when the city belonged administratively to the theme of Cherson, as it is known due to a preserved inscription mentioning Leo Aliates as strategos of Cherson and Sougdaia. 6 The addition Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/1/2017 Σελίδα 1/5
of the name of Sougdaia in the older form of the name of the theme shows the importance that this city had for the Byzantines during that period. The exact time of the enrolment of Sougdaia to the Byzantine Empire is uncertain, but it was probably linked to the defeat of the Khazars by the Byzantines in 1016. The direct administrative dependency of Sougdaia on the Byzantine Empire did not last for long. Already by the end of the 11 th century it appears that the city had passed to the suzerainty of the Cumans, who kept it until the 13 th century, in spite of the annexation of the neighbouring theme of Cherson to the Empire of Trepizond after 1204. Around 1222 the Seljuks laid siege on Sougdaia, 7 whereas in 1223 and 1238 the Tatars raided the region inflicting great disasters. Around 1249 Sougdaia was subjugated to the State of the Crimean Tatars. During the same period it is reported that its population numbered 8.300 inhabitants. 8 The administrative dependency of Sougdaia to the State of Tatars in the 13 th and 14 th century was characterized by great amounts of autonomy, exactly as it was during the previous Byzantine period. A paramount role in the political administration played the local notables, who are mentioned in the Greek sources by the Byzantine title of sebastos, whereas in Latin documents of the 14 th century they are referred to as «proti», the local magistrates of the 18 villages around Sougdaia. In the same time, during the Late Byzantine period rearrangements in the ecclesiastical administration of the region have been noted as well: between the years 1275 and 1282 the archbishopric (which had annexed the nearby Phoulloi from the end of the 11 th century and is referred to ever since as archbishopric of Sougdophoulloi) was promoted by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the rank of a metropolis. 3. The period of Genoese dominion (1365-1475) During the second half of the 13 th century the establishment of Venetian and Genoese commercial colonies at Sougdaia and at other Taurian ports inaugurated a period of financial flourishing for the city, which was developed to an important centre of transitional commerce. At the same time, however, Sougdaia was involved to the disputes between the two Italian maritime cities, whereas from 1320 the hostile attitude of the already converted to Islam Tatars had disastrous consequences for the Greek-speaking Christian population of the city. Taking advantage of the situation, the Genoese of Kaffa occupied Sougdaia on the 19 th of July, 1365, transforming it to a commercial colony administrated directly from Genoa. The new rulers of the city took care of the refortification of the city (the ruins of the Genoese castle are preserved until today) and brought a large part of the deported Greek population back to their homestead. The Genoese dominion at Sougdaia lasted until the end of 1475, when the Ottomans captured the castle after a long-standing siege. 9 1. Pritsak, O., Sougdaia, in Kazhdan, A. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford History of Byzantium 3 (New York Oxford 1991), p.1.931. 2. Συναξάριον, Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ. (ed.), «Αι ιστορικαί ενθυμήσεις του κώδικος 75 Ιεράς Μονής Αγίας Τριάδος Χάλκης», in Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), p. 127, no. 94. 3. The place name «Sougdaia» derives either from the adjective sugda (=pure, holy) or from the word sugded or sogdad of the Ossetian dialect (Alanian branch of the Iranian languages). Cf. Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), pp.12-13, and de la Vaissière, E., Saint André chez les Sogdiens: aux origines de Sogdaia, en Crimée, in Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar (Centre de recherche d'histoire et Civilisation de Byzance, Monographies 25, Paris 2006), pp. 171-180. 4. See Bogoyan, A., La Vie arménienne de Saint Étienne de Sougdaia, in Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar (Centre de recherche d'histoire et Civilisation de Byzance, Monographies 25, Paris 2006), pp. 87-107, and Ivanov, S.A., The Slavonic Life of saint Stefan of Surozh, in Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar (Centre de recherche d'histoire et Civilisation de Byzance, Monographies 25, Paris 2006), pp. 109-167. Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/1/2017 Σελίδα 2/5
5. Pritsak, O., Sougdaia, in Kazhdan, A. (editor-in-chief), The Oxford History of Byzantium 3 (New York Oxford 1991), p. 1.931, is referred to a Russian manuscript of the 16 th century that mentions the fall of the city to the Rus during the reign of Leo III (717-741), whereas Obolensky, D., The Byzantine Commonwealth. Eastern Europe, 500-1453 (London 1971), p.182, speaks about the same episode, which he dates, however, in the first half of the 9 th century. 6. Latyšev, V., Sbornik grečeskich nadpisej christianskich vremen iz Južnoj Rossii (St. Petersburg 1896), no. 8. 7. Peacock, A.C.S., The Saljuq Campaign against the Crimea and the Expansionist Policy of the Early Reign of 'Ala' al-din Kayqubad, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society 16 (2006), pp.133-149. 8. Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), pp. 63-65. Besides the Greek, αλανικού and ταταρικού element, Armenians, Latins and Jews were settled at Sougdaia as well. 9. Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), pp. 58-59. Βιβλιογραφία : Bratianu G.J., Recherches sur le commerce génois dans la Mer Noire au XIIIe siècle, Paris 1929 Vasiliev A.A., The Goths in the Crimea, Cambridge Mass. 1936 Νυσταζοπούλου Μ., Η εν τη Ταυρική χερσονήσω πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος. Συμβολή εις την ιστορίαν του μεσαιωνικού ελληνισμού της νοτίου Ρωσίας, Αθήνα 1965, Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7 Obolensky D., The Byzantine Commonwealth. Eastern Europe, 500-1453, London 1971 Sekirinskij S., Očerki istorii Suroža, Sinferopol 1955 Obolensky D., "The Crimea and the North before 1204", Αρχείον Πόντου, 35, 1978, 123-133 Pritsak O., "Crimea", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium 1, New York Oxford 1991, 547-548 Pritsak O., "Sougdaia", Kazhdan, A. (ed.), The Oxford History of Byzantium 3, New York Oxford 1991, 1931 Latyšev V., Sbornik grečeskich nadpisej christianskich vremen iz Južnoj Rossii, St. Petersburg 1896 de la Vaissière E., "Saint André chez les Sogdiens: aux origines de Sogdaia, en Crimée", Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar, Paris 2006, Monographies 25, 171-180 Bozoyan A., "La Vie arménienne de Saint Étienne de Sougdaia", Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar, Paris 2006, Monographies 25, 87-107 Ivanov S. A., "The Slavonic Life of saint Stefan of Surozh", Zuckerman, C. (ed.), La Crimée entre Byzance et le Khaganat khazar, Paris 2006, Monographies 25, 109-167 Peacock A.C.S., "The Saljuq Campaign against the Crimea and the Expansionist Policy of the Early Reign of Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/1/2017 Σελίδα 3/5
'Ala' al-din Kayqubad", Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, 16, 2006, 133-149 Δικτυογραφία : Genoese fortress in Sudak. Sightseeing of Crimea http://www.mt.crimea.com/crimea/sudak_fortress.html St. Stephen of Sougdaia http://www.phys.uoa.gr/~nektar/orthodoxy/agiologion/saints_08th-10th_centuries/105.htm Σουγδαία http://archeologia.narod.ru/krim/sudak.htm Γλωσσάριo : sebastos ("venerable") Title of honour created by Constantine IX the Monomachos in the middle of the 11th century. Originated from the translation of the imperial adjective augustus. This title was given successively to the two mistresses of the emperor. 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. Πηγές Συναξάριον, Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ. (ed.), «Αι ιστορικαί ενθυμήσεις του κώδικος 75 Ιεράς Μονής Αγίας Τριάδος Χάλκης», in Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), p. 127, no. 94. Latyšev, V., Sbornik grečeskich nadpisej christianskich vremen iz Južnoj Rossii (St. Petersburg 1896), no. 8, 1 8. Παραθέματα The foundation of Sougdaia in early 3 rd century, as mentioned in a marginal note of the year 1296: +ἐκτίσθη τὸ κάστρ(ον) τ(ῆς) σουγδ(αίας) τοῦ εψκʹ, εἰσὶ ἔτι τὸ ἀπὸ κτίσε(ως) τ(ῆς) σουγδ(αίας) μέχρ(ι) τ(ης) σήμ(ε)ρ(ον), εἲ τ(ης) ἐστὶν ἔτο(ς) Ϛωδʹ, ἔτι απδʹ. Συναξάριον, Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ. (ed.), «Αι ιστορικαί ενθυμήσεις του κώδικος 75 Ιεράς Μονής Αγίας Τριάδος Χάλκης», in Νυσταζοπούλου, Μ., Η εν τῃ Ταυρικῄ χερσονήσῳ πόλις Σουγδαία από του ΙΓ μέχρι του ΙΕ αιώνος (Δημοσιεύματα του Αρχαιολογικού Δελτίου 7, Athens 1965), p. 127, no. 94. Commemorative inscription of the year 1059 that attests the administrative dependecy of Sougdaia in the theme of Cherson: +Ἐγένοντο αἱ πόρται τοῦ πραιτωρίου σιδηραῖ, ἐνεκαινίσθησαν καὶ αἱ λοιπαὶ τοῦ κάστρου ἐπὶ Ἰσακίου μεγάλου βασιλέ(ως) καὶ αὐτοκράτορ(ος) Ρωμαί(ων) τοῦ Κομνηνοῦ κ(αὶ) Αἰκατερίνης τῆς εὐσεβεστάτης Αὐγούστης διὰ Λέοντ(ος) π(ατ)ρικίου κ(αὶ) στρατηγοῦ Χερσῶνο(ς) κ(αὶ) Σουγδ(αίας) τοῦ Ἀλιάτ(ου), μη(νὸς) Ἀπρι(λίου), ἰνδ(ικτιῶνος) ιβʹ, ἔτ(ους) Ϛφξζʹ+ Latyšev, V., Sbornik grečeskich nadpisej christianskich vremen iz Južnoj Rossii (St. Petersburg 1896), no. 8, 1 8. Χρονολόγιο 212: Foundation of Sougdaia, according to a later local tradition Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/1/2017 Σελίδα 4/5
7 th century: First mention of Sougdaia in a written source 8 th century: Establishment of the autocephalous bishopric of Sougdaia 9 th 10 th century: Possible subjugation of Sougdaia to the Khazars First half of the 11 th century: Annexation of Sougdaia to the theme of Cherson, probably after 1016 (first report in the sources in the year 1059) End of 11 th century: Sougdaia was enlisted within the area of influence of the Cumans, whereas the bishopric was promoted to the rank of autocephalous archbishopric and was united with the Church of the nearby Phoulloi Around 1222: Siege of Sougdaia by the Seljuks 1223: First tataric raid in the region of Sougdaia 1238: Second tataric raid in the region of Sougdaia 1249: Subjugation of Sougdaia to the State of the Tatars of Crimea. Census of the city population Between 1275-1282: Promotion of the autocephalous archbishopric of Sougdaiophoullon to the rank of a metropolis First half of the 14 th century: Persecution of the Greek speaking Christian population of Sougdaia from the converted to Islam Tatars 19 July 1365: Occupation of Sougdaia by the Genoese End of 1475: Fall of Sougdaia to the Ottomans Δημιουργήθηκε στις 27/1/2017 Σελίδα 5/5