Armeniac Theme
Encyclopedia
The Armeniac Theme more properly the Theme of the Armeniacs (Greek: , thema Armeniakōn) was a Byzantine
theme (a military-civilian province) located in northeastern Asia Minor
(modern Turkey
).
(r. 610–641), may suggest the existence of the theme at such an early date, the first unambiguous reference to it in literary sources occurs during the revolt of its general, Saborios
, in 667/668. It is mentioned on a seal of 717/718. Together with the other themes, it was created from the remnants of one of the field armies following the disastrous defeats suffered during the first wave of the Muslim conquests
, a process probably complete by the late 640s. Thus, the army of the magister militum
per Armeniae
was withdrawn and settled in the areas of Pontus
, Paphlagonia
and Cappadocia
, giving its name to the region.
The theme's capital was at Amaseia, and it was governed by a stratēgos
, who ranked, together with the stratēgoi of the Anatolic
and Thracesian
themes in the first tier of stratēgoi, drawing an annual salary of 40 gold pounds. In the 9th century, it fielded some 9,000 men, and encompassed 17 fortresses. Its size and strategic importance on the Byzantine Empire's north-eastern frontier with the Muslims made its governor a powerful figure, and the theme's forces participated in several revolts in the 8th century. Consequently, in the 9th century it was broken up: the smaller provinces of Charsianon
and Cappadocia
were formed, first as kleisourai
and later as full themes, along the border in the south and east, while in circa 819, the coastal themes of Paphlagonia and Chaldia
were split off, followed later by the area of Koloneia
(first under a doux, by 863 under a full strategos), leaving a rump Armeniac theme encompassing the western Pontus.
The theme remained in Byzantine hands until the late 11th century. In 1073, however, following the disastrous Battle of Manzikert
, Frankish
mercenaries under Roussel de Bailleul
seized control of it and governed the region for several months, until Byzantine authority was restored by general Alexios Komnenos
. Shortly after, the region was overrun by the Seljuk Turks, with only a few coastal forts holding out. The Komnenian
emperors managed to recover the coastal regions for the Empire, but the Armeniac theme was not restored.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
theme (a military-civilian province) located in northeastern Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
(modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
).
History
The Armeniac Theme was one of the four original themes, established sometime in the mid-7th century. Although the mention of a "George, tourmarchēs of the Armeniacs" in 629, during the Persian campaigns of Emperor HeracliusHeraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
(r. 610–641), may suggest the existence of the theme at such an early date, the first unambiguous reference to it in literary sources occurs during the revolt of its general, Saborios
Saborios
Saborios or Saborius was a Byzantine general who rose in revolt against Emperor Constans II in 667–668. He sought and obtained the aid of the Caliph Muawiyah I Saborios or Saborius was a Byzantine general who rose in revolt against Emperor Constans II (r. 641–668) in 667–668. He sought and...
, in 667/668. It is mentioned on a seal of 717/718. Together with the other themes, it was created from the remnants of one of the field armies following the disastrous defeats suffered during the first wave of the Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab conquests, began with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He established a new unified polity in the Arabian Peninsula which under the subsequent Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates saw a century of rapid expansion of Muslim power.They...
, a process probably complete by the late 640s. Thus, the army of the magister militum
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
per Armeniae
Roman Armenia
From the end of the 1st century BC onwards, Armenia was, in part or whole, subject to the Roman Empire and its successor, the East Roman or Byzantine Empire...
was withdrawn and settled in the areas of Pontus
Pontus
Pontus or Pontos is a historical Greek designation for a region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, located in modern-day northeastern Turkey. The name was applied to the coastal region in antiquity by the Greeks who colonized the area, and derived from the Greek name of the Black Sea: Πόντος...
, Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia
Paphlagonia was an ancient area on the Black Sea coast of north central Anatolia, situated between Bithynia to the west and Pontus to the east, and separated from Phrygia by a prolongation to the east of the Bithynian Olympus...
and Cappadocia
Cappadocia
Cappadocia is a historical region in Central Anatolia, largely in Nevşehir Province.In the time of Herodotus, the Cappadocians were reported as occupying the whole region from Mount Taurus to the vicinity of the Euxine...
, giving its name to the region.
The theme's capital was at Amaseia, and it was governed by a stratēgos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
, who ranked, together with the stratēgoi of the Anatolic
Anatolic Theme
The Anatolic Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Anatolics was a Byzantine theme in central Asia Minor...
and Thracesian
Thracesian Theme
The Thracesian Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Thracesians , was a Byzantine theme in western Asia Minor , comprising the ancient regions of Ionia, Lydia and parts of Phrygia and Caria....
themes in the first tier of stratēgoi, drawing an annual salary of 40 gold pounds. In the 9th century, it fielded some 9,000 men, and encompassed 17 fortresses. Its size and strategic importance on the Byzantine Empire's north-eastern frontier with the Muslims made its governor a powerful figure, and the theme's forces participated in several revolts in the 8th century. Consequently, in the 9th century it was broken up: the smaller provinces of Charsianon
Charsianon
Charsianon was the name of a Byzantine fortress and the corresponding theme in the region of Cappadocia in central Anatolia .-History:...
and Cappadocia
Cappadocia (theme)
The Theme of Cappadocia was a Byzantine theme encompassing the southern portion of the namesake region from the early 9th to the late 11th centuries.-Location:...
were formed, first as kleisourai
Kleisoura (Byzantine district)
In the Byzantine Empire, a kleisoura was a term traditionally applied to a fortified mountain pass and the military district protecting it. By the late 7th century, it came to be applied to more extensive frontier districts, distinct from the larger themata, chiefly along the Empire's eastern...
and later as full themes, along the border in the south and east, while in circa 819, the coastal themes of Paphlagonia and Chaldia
Chaldia
Chaldia was a historical region located in the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor . Its name was derived from a people called the Chaldoi that inhabited the region in Antiquity. Chaldia was used throughout the Byzantine period and was established as a formal theme, known as the Theme of Chaldia , in...
were split off, followed later by the area of Koloneia
Koloneia
Koloneia |Colonia]]) can refer to:* Koloneia on the Lykos in Pontus, a Byzantine military centre and metropolitan bishopric* Koloneia , a Byzantine province centered in and named after the above...
(first under a doux, by 863 under a full strategos), leaving a rump Armeniac theme encompassing the western Pontus.
The theme remained in Byzantine hands until the late 11th century. In 1073, however, following the disastrous Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
, Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
mercenaries under Roussel de Bailleul
Roussel de Bailleul
Roussel de Bailleul , also known as Phrangopoulos , was a Norman adventurer who travelled to Byzantium and there received employ as a soldier and leader of men from the Emperor Romanus IV Roussel de Bailleul (also Ursellus de Ballione in Latin or Roscelin or Roskelin de Baieul, called Urselius by...
seized control of it and governed the region for several months, until Byzantine authority was restored by general Alexios Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
. Shortly after, the region was overrun by the Seljuk Turks, with only a few coastal forts holding out. The Komnenian
Komnenos
Komnenós or Comnenus was the name of a ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire , who halted the political decline of the Empire from c.1081 to c.1185.-Origins:...
emperors managed to recover the coastal regions for the Empire, but the Armeniac theme was not restored.