Philaretos Brachamios, protokouropalates and domestikos of the scholai of Anatolikon
Reference Description
Philaretos Brachamios, protokouropalates and domestikos of the scholai of Anatolikon, circa 1070-1080. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 12.45 g, 12 h). Θ / A/[O]ΓC/I - [Θ]/PЄ/Ⲱ/Δ Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left hand on shield. Rev. +ΦI[Λ]AP/ЄTO AK૪/ΠA S ΔOM[Є]/T CXOΛ TI / AN TO RP/[A]X\' (\'Philaretos protokouropalates and generalissimus of the eastern regiments\') in six lines. Laurent, Vatican, 113 (different legend breaks and abbreviations). Seibt, Philaretos Brachamios, p. 289 (same). Theodoridis 38 (same). Leu Web Auction 11 (2020), 2259 (same). Minor surface roughness, 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 whom 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. Our seal dates to the 70s of the 11th century and it mentions Philaretos as the supreme commander of the eastern regiments, without naming any of his later, higher court dignities.
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 whom 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. Our seal dates to the 70s of the 11th century and it mentions Philaretos as the supreme commander of the eastern regiments, without naming any of his later, higher court dignities.
Provenance
Leu Web 19 Lot 3463
25.02.2022
25.02.2022
Files
Collection
Citation
“Philaretos Brachamios, protokouropalates and domestikos of the scholai of Anatolikon,” Armenian Numismatic Research Organization, accessed May 5, 2024, http://armnumres.org/items/show/1279.