Philaretos Brachamios, kouropalates and stratopedarches (of the East)

The Armenian general Philaretos Brachamios
Philaretos Brachamios, kouropalates and stratopedarches (of the East), circa 1070-1080. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 14.80 g, 12 h). On the left, [O AΓIOC], on the right, ΘЄ/OΔ/ω/O, (\'Saint Theodore\') Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left. Rev. [+ΦI]ΛAPЄ/TO K૪PO/[Π]AΛAT, S CTP/TOΠЄΔA/[P]\' O RPAX/... (\'Philaretos Brachamios, kouropalates and stratopedarches\') in six lines. Cf. Seibt, Philaretos Brachamios, p. 286-287 and Theodoridis 37 (all with the addition \'of the East\'). Minor weakness of strike, otherwise, very fine.


Philaretos Brachamios was a Byzantine general of Armenian descent who rose to fame in the wake of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, a disastrous defeat that led to the loss of most of eastern Asia Minor by the central Byzantine government. However, a series of local Byzantine military commanders continued to fight the Seljuks in the late 11th century, the most successful of which was Philaretos, who controlled large parts of Cilicia, Armenia and Syria as a semi-autonomous warlord. His main strongholds were the important cities of Melitene and Antiochia, the latter of which was lost to the Seljuks in 1086, just twelve years before it was captured by the knights of the First Crusade in 1098. Philaretos is not mentioned much in historiographical sources, but a number of seals attest his cursus honorum.

Leu Web 12 Lot 1575
29.05.2020