Kherson (Byzantine theme)

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The theme of Kherson within the Byzantine Empire around the year 1000.

The theme of Kherson ( Greek  θέμα Χερσῶνος , subject Chersōnos ) originally and formally climates ( Greek  τὰ Κλίματα ) called, was a Byzantine theme in the southern Crimea , whose capital Kherson was.

The theme was officially established in the 830s and was a major hub of Black Sea trade. Despite the destruction of the city of Kherson in the 980s, the topic recovered and prospered. It became part of the Empire of Trebizond after the Fourth Crusade .

history

The area of ​​southern Crimea was long under the control of the Roman and later the Byzantine Empire, after which it came into the possession of the Khazars . Byzantine control was restored under Emperor Theophilos (ruled 829-842). Traditionally, the theme of Kherson is dated to 833/834, but modern historians believe that the theme was founded in connection with the establishment of the new Khazarian capital Sarkel in the year 839 and see Petronas Kamateros , the builder of Sarkel, as the first Strategos of the subject (around 840/841). At first the new topic was called ta Klimata , "the regions / districts", but because of the importance of the capital Kherson, it was called colloquially and from 860 even in public documents as the "topic of Kherson".

On this subject the Byzantines came into contact with the Khazars and later with the Pechenegs and Rus . The subject was a center of Byzantine diplomacy in the steppe region rather than military strength, as the Byzantine garrison did not go beyond some local militias.

Kherson prospered in 9-11 Century as a center for the Black Sea trade, although it was destroyed by Vladimir I in 988/989 . The city quickly recovered: the fortifications were rebuilt and expanded to the port in the 11th century. After the death of Georgios Tzules in 1016, the topic was also extended to the eastern Crimea, which the title of Leo Ally as " Strategos of Cherson and Sougdaia " in 1059 suggests. This area was lost to the Cumans at the end of the 11th century . Nothing is known about Cherson in the 12th century that indicates a relatively quiet phase. Kherson remained in Byzantine hands until 1204 when it passed into the hands of the Empire of Trebizond (see Perateia ).

administration

The Kherson theme seems to have had a typical theme order. A tour march from Gothia is known from the 11th century. The cities on the subject enjoyed a high degree of independence, for example Kherson itself was ruled by local rulers ( Archontes ) under a Proteuon ("the first"). Kherson was also allowed to mint its own coins; for a long time this was the only Byzantine coin outside of Constantinople. The autonomy of the topic is also evident from the fact that the imperial government paid tribute ( pakta ) to the local rulers , and in the De Administrando Imperio work , the local strategos is advised to stop payments in the event of a revolt and move to another city on the topic. In the late 11th century, the area was ruled by a Katepano .

literature

  • Alexander Kazhdan: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . Oxford University Press, New York / Oxford 1991, ISBN 0-19-504652-8 , doi : 10.1093 / acref / 9780195046526.001.0001 .
  • John W. Nesbitt, Nicolas Oikonomides: Catalog of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art . tape 1 : Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea. . Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington 1991, ISBN 0-88402-194-7 ( books.google.de ).
  • Angeliki Papageorgiou: Theme of Cherson (Klimata) . In: Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Black Sea . Foundation of the Hellenic World, 2008 (English, blacksea.ehw.gr ).
  • A. Pertusi: Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus . Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Rome 1952.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b c d e Nesbitt, Oikonomides: Catalog of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art. Volume 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea. 1991, pp. 182-183.
  2. a b c d Kazhdan: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. 1991, pp. 418-419.
  3. Pertusi: Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus. 1952, pp. 182-183.
  4. a b c Papageorgiou: Theme of Cherson (Klimata). 2008 ( 1. The establishment of the theme of Cherson. )
  5. Kazhdan: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. 1991, p. 1133.
  6. ^ Papageorgiou: Theme of Cherson (Klimata). 2008 ( 3. The strategic role of the theme of Cherson (9th - 10th c.) )
  7. a b c Papageorgiou: Theme of Cherson (Klimata). 2008 ( 4. The theme of Cherson from the 11th to the 13th c. )
  8. a b c Papageorgiou: Theme of Cherson (Klimata). 2008 ( 2. The organization of the theme of Cherson. )