Principality of Theodoro

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The Crimea in the middle of the 15th century
  • Theodoro
  • Genoese colonies
  • Khanate of Crimea
    • Coat of arms of the principality of Gothia

    The principality Theodoro ( Greek Θεοδόρο) or Gothia ( Greek Γοτθία) was a small, Christian feudal state in the south-western part of Crimea , between today's Balaklava and Alushta , which existed from the 13th century to the 15th century. The capital Doros ( Mangup ) was also called Theodoro at the time of the existence of the principality. The principality was a successor state to the Byzantine Empire . It was one of the last remaining territories of the Byzantine Empire until it was conquered by the Ottomans in 1475.

    population

    The population of the principality consisted of the various ethnic groups that had settled in Crimea during ancient times and in the Middle Ages . From this mixture of peoples of Greeks , Crimean Goths , Alans and Karaites , a new ethnic group was formed that spoke Greek and the majority belonged to the Orthodox Church .

    history

    The principality was formed in the 13th century from that part of the former Byzantine theme Kherson (also theme ta Klimata) in the Crimea that had not become a colony of Genoa . It was closely allied with the Trapezunt Empire . The Armenian - Byzantine ruling dynasty of the Gabras (also Turkish Chowra), was related to the Comnenes and the Palaiologists through marriage . They carried the title of "Prince of Theodoro and Gothia". Relations between the Principality and the Golden Horde were mostly peaceful. War often broke out with the Genoese , especially after the construction of the Theodoric trading port of Awlita. The port of the principality (in today's urban area of Sevastopol ) was one of the largest trading centers on the Silk Road and competed for the Genoese port of Caffa and the entire economy of the Genoese colonies in the Crimea.

    After the conquest of Constantinople in 1453 by the Ottomans, the capture of the Despotate Morea in 1460 and the Empire of Trebizond in 1461, Theodoro was the last state in the Byzantine world to maintain its political independence.

    After the Moldovan Prince Stephan the Great had defeated Sultan Mehmed II Fatih at Vaslui in 1475 , he married Maria Gabras, the daughter of the Prince of Theodoro. This connection gave him the opportunity to lay claim to the throne in Constantinople (assuming he would recapture the city from the Turks ). Stephan strove to create a coalition between the Principality of Moldova , Theodoro and Caffa against the Ottoman Empire . Mary's uncle Isaak Gabras was a pro-Ottoman ruler. Stephan the Great won Alexander Gabras - Mary's brother, who lived in exile in Moldova - for his plans, gave him 300 men and a ship and sent him to Theodoro. Alexander was successful and replaced Isaac on the throne.

    Also Muscovy tried to strengthen by marrying a princess of Gothia its relations with the Principality of Theodoro. In 1475 negotiations took place between the sovereign Prince Ivan III. and Prince Isaac of Theodoro, since Ivan was interested in a marriage between his son and Isaac's daughter. The Turkish invasion prevented this connection.

    In May 1475 the Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire Gedik Ahmed Pasha conquered the city of Caffa. At the end of the year, after a five-month siege, Mangup also fell. Alexander was enslaved and died in prison in Constantinople , although Stephan made attempts to free him. Most of the Crimea was added to the Crimean Khanate , an Ottoman vassal state. The area of ​​the former principality Theodoro and the southern part of the Crimean peninsula was administered by the Hohe Pforte .

    Aftermath

    In the late 14th century a branch of the Gabras family emigrated to Moscow and founded the Simonov Monastery there . In the Chowrin family, as they were called there, the office of treasurer of the Grand Duchy of Moscow was hereditary. In the 16th century they changed their name to Golowin (see Fyodor Alexejewitsch Golowin ).

    Prince of Theodoro

    • Demetrios (after 1362 – before 1368)
    • ?
    • Basilios
    • Stephan, son of Basilios, (? –1402)
    • Alexios I, son of Stephan, (1402–1434)
    • Alexios II, son of Alexios I, (1434–1444)
    • Johannes (Olubey), son of Alexios I, (1444–1460)
    • ?
    • Isaac, son of Alexios I, (1471–1474)
    • Alexander, son of Alexios II, (June – December 1475)

    literature

    • Васильев, А. В., Автушенко, М. Н .: Загадка княжества Феодоро , Севастополь 2006.
    • Фадеева, Т. М., Шапошников А. К .: Княжество Феодоро и его князья , Симферополь 2005.
    • Кесмеджи, П.А., Кесмеджи Г.П .: Княжество Феодоро , Симферополь 1999.

    Web links