This article is about the province (theme) during the middle Byzantine era. For the preceding province in Roman antiquity until the time of Heraclius, see Mesopotamia (Roman province). For other uses, see Mesopotamia (disambiguation).
Mesopotamia (Greek: Μεσοποταμία) was the name of a Byzantinetheme (a military-civilian province) located in what is today eastern Turkey. It should not be confused with the region of Mesopotamia or with the older Roman and early Byzantine province of Mesopotamia. The Byzantine theme was located between the rivers Arsanias (modern Murat) and Çimisgezek.
Seal of John Kastamonites, vestes and katepano of Mesopotamia
The theme was formed probably between 899 and 911, when Emperor Leo VI (r. 886–912) appointed the former proconsul of the Province of Pontus, named Lucius, as its governor.[1][2] Most of the province was formed out the Georgian principality of Taron, ruled by the chieftain Manuel Bagratiom. Manuel and his four sons were persuaded to cede their territory to the Byzantine Empire in exchange for titles and estates in other themes. The Armenian-populated districts of Keltzene (detached from the theme of Chaldia) and Kamacha (part of the theme of Koloneia) were then joined to it to form the new theme.[3][4]
Although Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) mentions that before its elevation to a theme, the region was an "unnamed kleisoura", there is evidence of much earlier administrative structures than that.[4] A seal of a "spatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia" has been dated to c. 810, perhaps indicating the existence of a first short-lived theme there, and a seal of a tourmarches with the Armenian name Mousilikes, is tentatively dated to c. 870.[5]
It is thus possible that Mesopotamia was constituted in the late 9th century out of an Armenian principality as a division (tourma) of some neighbouring theme, with its prince receiving a Byzantine title and continuing to govern it, before it was expanded into a full theme. This may also explain the peculiar custom of its strategos drawing, until 911, his salary not from the imperial treasury but from the customs proceeds of the kommerkion of his province.[4]
Commanders of the theme continued to be appointed throughout the 10th century, co-existing with the new post of "doux of Mesopotamia", established c. 975. Unlike the strategos, the doux was a regional commander, controlling the central sector of Byzantium's eastern frontier.[2][6] In the 11th century, most of the attested doukes of Mesopotamia were Armenians, including Gregory Magistros and his son. In the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, Emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) tried to re-establish Byzantine authority, but the province fell to the Seljuk Turks.[2]
McGeer, Eric; Nesbitt, John; Oikonomides, Nicolas, eds. (2001). Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 4: The East. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. ISBN0-88402-282-X.
January 01, 1970
mesopotamia, theme, this, article, about, province, theme, during, middle, byzantine, preceding, province, roman, antiquity, until, time, heraclius, mesopotamia, roman, province, other, uses, mesopotamia, disambiguation, mesopotamia, greek, Μεσοποταμία, name, . This article is about the province theme during the middle Byzantine era For the preceding province in Roman antiquity until the time of Heraclius see Mesopotamia Roman province For other uses see Mesopotamia disambiguation Mesopotamia Greek Mesopotamia was the name of a Byzantine theme a military civilian province located in what is today eastern Turkey It should not be confused with the region of Mesopotamia or with the older Roman and early Byzantine province of Mesopotamia The Byzantine theme was located between the rivers Arsanias modern Murat and Cimisgezek Theme of MesopotamiaMesopotamia 8ema MesopotamiasTheme of the Byzantine Empire899 900s 1070sMap of the Theme of Mesopotamia within the Byzantine Empire in 1000 AD Historical eraMiddle Ages Established899 911 Fall to the Seljuks 1070sToday part ofTurkeyHistory edit nbsp Seal of John Kastamonites vestes and katepano of Mesopotamia The theme was formed probably between 899 and 911 when Emperor Leo VI r 886 912 appointed the former proconsul of the Province of Pontus named Lucius as its governor 1 2 Most of the province was formed out the Georgian principality of Taron ruled by the chieftain Manuel Bagratiom Manuel and his four sons were persuaded to cede their territory to the Byzantine Empire in exchange for titles and estates in other themes The Armenian populated districts of Keltzene detached from the theme of Chaldia and Kamacha part of the theme of Koloneia were then joined to it to form the new theme 3 4 Although Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos r 913 959 mentions that before its elevation to a theme the region was an unnamed kleisoura there is evidence of much earlier administrative structures than that 4 A seal of a spatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia has been dated to c 810 perhaps indicating the existence of a first short lived theme there and a seal of a tourmarches with the Armenian name Mousilikes is tentatively dated to c 870 5 It is thus possible that Mesopotamia was constituted in the late 9th century out of an Armenian principality as a division tourma of some neighbouring theme with its prince receiving a Byzantine title and continuing to govern it before it was expanded into a full theme This may also explain the peculiar custom of its strategos drawing until 911 his salary not from the imperial treasury but from the customs proceeds of the kommerkion of his province 4 Commanders of the theme continued to be appointed throughout the 10th century co existing with the new post of doux of Mesopotamia established c 975 Unlike the strategos the doux was a regional commander controlling the central sector of Byzantium s eastern frontier 2 6 In the 11th century most of the attested doukes of Mesopotamia were Armenians including Gregory Magistros and his son In the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 Emperor Michael VII Doukas r 1071 1078 tried to re establish Byzantine authority but the province fell to the Seljuk Turks 2 References edit McGeer Nesbitt amp Oikonomides 2001 p 134 a b c Kazhdan 1991 p 1348 Charanis 1963 p 29 a b c McGeer Nesbitt amp Oikonomides 2001 pp 134 135 McGeer Nesbitt amp Oikonomides 2001 pp 140 142 McGeer Nesbitt amp Oikonomides 2001 p 135 Holmes 2005 pp 322 330 Sources editCharanis Peter 1963 The Armenians in the Byzantine Empire Lisbon Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian Armenian Library OCLC 17186882 Holmes Catherine 2005 Basil II and the Governance of Empire 976 1025 Oxford Oxford University Press ISBN 978 0 19 927968 5 Kazhdan Alexander ed 1991 The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford and New York Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 504652 8 McGeer Eric Nesbitt John Oikonomides Nicolas eds 2001 Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art Volume 4 The East Washington DC Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection ISBN 0 88402 282 X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mesopotamia theme amp oldid 1159012709, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
