Koloneia (Byzantine theme)

The theme of Koloneia ( Greek  θέμα Κολωνείας ) was a Byzantine theme in northern Cappadocia and southern Pontos (present-day Turkey ). It was founded in the 9th century and lasted until it was conquered by the Seljuks after the Battle of Manzikert .

history

Originally part of the Armeniakon , the theme was set up around the city of Koloneia (now Şebinkarahisar ) on the Lykos River. The topic was first documented in 863 and probably existed earlier as an independent unit: al-Masudi reports that the topic was initially a Kleisoura . In addition, the work Life of the 42 Martyrs of Amorion mentions that Emperor Theophilos (reigned 829-842) made a certain Spatharios Callistus the Doux of Koloneia in 842 , which makes this date the likely year the subject was founded.

Koloneia's secluded position saved it from the heaviest Arab attacks, apart from a major raid of Saif ad-Daula in 939/940. In 1057 the soldiers of the theme supported the rebellion of Isaac I Komnenus under the leadership of Katakalon Kekänkeos . In 1069 the subject was occupied by the insurgent Norman mercenary Robert Crispin . After the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, it quickly fell into the hands of the Seljuks.

location

In the work De Thematibus of Emperor Constantine VII. (Reigned 913-959) outlines that the area of the theme as between Koloneia and Neocaesarea the east, Arabraka, the mountain Phalakros (today Karaçam Dağı), Nicopolis and Tephrike . It also included 16 fortresses. Porphyrogennetus also mentions that his father Leo VI. (reigned 886-912), the Turma of Kamacha the subject Koloneia split off to (along with Keltzene ) the new theme Mesopotamia to mold.

literature

• Anthony Bryer, David Winfield: Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos. Volume 1. Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection, Washington DC 1985, ISBN 0-88402-122-X .
• Alexander Kazhdan (Ed.): The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium . 3 volumes. Oxford / New York 1991.
• Nicolas Oikonomides: Les Listes de Préséance Byzantines des IXe et Xe Siècles. Paris 1972.
• A. Pertusi: Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus. Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, Rome 1952.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d} Kazhdan: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. 1991, p. 1138.
2. ↑ ^{a b} Oikonomides: Les Listes de Préséance Byzantines des IXe et Xe Siècles. 1972, p. 349.
3. ↑ ^{a b c} Pertusi: Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus. 1952, pp. 141-142.
4. ^ ^{A b c} Bryer, Winfield: Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos. 1985, p. 147.
5. ^ Bryer, Winfield: Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos. 1985, pp. 147-148.
6. ↑ Kazhdan: The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. 1991, p. 1092.