Aposachles (Abu Sahl) Senacherim, nobellisimos
Reference Description
The Armenian prince Abusahl
Aposachles (Abu Sahl) Senacherim, nobellisimos. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 22.73 g, 12 h), circa 1075-1100. [Θ/ΘE/O/Δ]ω/[P]O[C]-Δ/MH/TP/IO/C; on either side of medallion, IC-XC Saint Theodore (on the left) and Saint Demetrios (on the right), both raising their hands in gesture of supplication towards a medallion of Christ. Rev. [+K]Є RH[O] / A[Π]OCA[XΛH] | NWRЄ[ΛΛICI]/Mω Tω [CЄNA]|XHPЄ[IM] ('Lord, help Abu Sahl, nobellisimos') in five lines. One parallel example appeared in Roma 9 (22-3-2015) and was edited by W. Seibt: The Sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs, the Last King of Vaspurakan, as Byzantine Aristocrats, in: in Revue des Études Arméniennes 37 (2016-2017), p. 119-133, p. 124, fig 4.A. Somewhat corroded, otherwise, very fine.
Aposachles or Abusahl was an Armenian prince and one of the sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs (Sennacherib-John), the last Artsruni King of the small Kingdom of Vaspurakan, located to the south and southeast of lake Van. He was named after his grandfather, King Abusahl Hamazasp, who ruled in 958/9-968/9. In 1022, Abusahl's father Yovhannēs was forced to cede his kingdom to the Byzantine Empire after he had made the unfortunate choice of joining the anti-Byzantine alliance of the Georgian King Georgi I (998/1002-1027). Although the king is not attested on seals, his wife Chususa and his sons David, Atom, Aposachles and Constantine all appear in the sigillographic record with Byzantine court titles, giving evidence to their elevated status in Byzantine aristocracy. However, none of the family members received any civil or military commands before the 70s of the 11th century, when the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Manzikert shook the Empire. Evidently, any reservations the Byzantines might have had about the loyalty of the former royal family of Vaspurakan were put aside in this time of crisis. The seals of Abusahl mention the dignities of proedros and kouropalates, while our example mentions the highest stage of his career, when he became nobellisimos (cf. Seibt pp. 119-133).
Aposachles (Abu Sahl) Senacherim, nobellisimos. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 22.73 g, 12 h), circa 1075-1100. [Θ/ΘE/O/Δ]ω/[P]O[C]-Δ/MH/TP/IO/C; on either side of medallion, IC-XC Saint Theodore (on the left) and Saint Demetrios (on the right), both raising their hands in gesture of supplication towards a medallion of Christ. Rev. [+K]Є RH[O] / A[Π]OCA[XΛH] | NWRЄ[ΛΛICI]/Mω Tω [CЄNA]|XHPЄ[IM] ('Lord, help Abu Sahl, nobellisimos') in five lines. One parallel example appeared in Roma 9 (22-3-2015) and was edited by W. Seibt: The Sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs, the Last King of Vaspurakan, as Byzantine Aristocrats, in: in Revue des Études Arméniennes 37 (2016-2017), p. 119-133, p. 124, fig 4.A. Somewhat corroded, otherwise, very fine.
Aposachles or Abusahl was an Armenian prince and one of the sons of Senek'erim Yovhannēs (Sennacherib-John), the last Artsruni King of the small Kingdom of Vaspurakan, located to the south and southeast of lake Van. He was named after his grandfather, King Abusahl Hamazasp, who ruled in 958/9-968/9. In 1022, Abusahl's father Yovhannēs was forced to cede his kingdom to the Byzantine Empire after he had made the unfortunate choice of joining the anti-Byzantine alliance of the Georgian King Georgi I (998/1002-1027). Although the king is not attested on seals, his wife Chususa and his sons David, Atom, Aposachles and Constantine all appear in the sigillographic record with Byzantine court titles, giving evidence to their elevated status in Byzantine aristocracy. However, none of the family members received any civil or military commands before the 70s of the 11th century, when the disastrous defeat in the Battle of Manzikert shook the Empire. Evidently, any reservations the Byzantines might have had about the loyalty of the former royal family of Vaspurakan were put aside in this time of crisis. The seals of Abusahl mention the dignities of proedros and kouropalates, while our example mentions the highest stage of his career, when he became nobellisimos (cf. Seibt pp. 119-133).
Provenance
Leu Web 10 Lot 1885
07.12.2019
07.12.2019
Files
Collection
Citation
“Aposachles (Abu Sahl) Senacherim, nobellisimos,” Armenian Numismatic Research Organization, accessed December 26, 2024, https://armnumres.org/index.php/items/show/1241.