Mylasa and Melanoudion
Encyclopedia
The Theme of Mylasa and Melanoudion was a Byzantine
province (thema) in southwestern Asia Minor
(modern Turkey
) in the 12th and 13th centuries.
It is first attested in 1127/1128, and was probably created sometime after 1110, either by Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118) or by his son and successor John II Komnenos
(r. 1118–1143), out of territory regained from the Seljuk Turks during the 1090s. Originally named simply the Theme of Mylasa, it was renamed after its seat moved from Mylasa (modern Milas
) to the town of Melanoudion – as yet not conclusively identified, it lay south of Miletus
– sometime in ca. 1150–1175.
The theme comprised most of the region of Caria
, from the Maeander River
in the north to the valley of the river Morsynos (mod. Vandalas Çayi) in the east. The coast however belonged to the Cibyrrhaeot Theme
and, after the latter's disbandment sometime during the reign of Manuel I Komnenos
(r. 1143–1180), it was joined with the nearby islands of the Dodecanese
, chiefly Kos
. Some of the doukes
of Mylasa and Melanoudion however seem to have exercised authority over the coast and the offshore islands as well.
The region remained in Byzantine control until conquered by the Turks during the early reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos
(r. 1282–1328). It is notable for the number of Byzantine fortifications which survive there, as well as for the thriving monastic community at Mount Latros.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
province (thema) in southwestern 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...
) in the 12th and 13th centuries.
It is first attested in 1127/1128, and was probably created sometime after 1110, either by Alexios I 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,...
(r. 1081–1118) or by his son and successor John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
(r. 1118–1143), out of territory regained from the Seljuk Turks during the 1090s. Originally named simply the Theme of Mylasa, it was renamed after its seat moved from Mylasa (modern Milas
Milas
Milas is an ancient city and the seat of the district of the same name in Muğla Province in southwestern Turkey. The city commands a region with an active economy, and the region is very rich in history and its remains, the whole territory of Milas district containing a remarkable twenty-seven...
) to the town of Melanoudion – as yet not conclusively identified, it lay south of Miletus
Miletus
Miletus was an ancient Greek city on the western coast of Anatolia , near the mouth of the Maeander River in ancient Caria...
– sometime in ca. 1150–1175.
The theme comprised most of the region of Caria
Caria
Caria was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined the Carian population in forming Greek-dominated states there...
, from the Maeander River
Maeander River
The Büyük Menderes River ; , Ancient Greek: Μαίανδρος, Maíandros) is a river in southwestern Turkey. It rises in west central Turkey near Dinar before flowing west through the Büyük Menderes graben until reaching the Aegean Sea in the proximity of the ancient Ionian city Miletus...
in the north to the valley of the river Morsynos (mod. Vandalas Çayi) in the east. The coast however belonged to the Cibyrrhaeot Theme
Cibyrrhaeot Theme
The Cibyrrhaeot Theme, more properly the Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots , was a Byzantine theme encompassing the southern coast of Asia Minor from the early 8th to the late 12th centuries...
and, after the latter's disbandment sometime during the reign of Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
(r. 1143–1180), it was joined with the nearby islands of the Dodecanese
Dodecanese
The Dodecanese are a group of 12 larger plus 150 smaller Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, of which 26 are inhabited. Τhis island group generally defines the eastern limit of the Sea of Crete. They belong to the Southern Sporades island group...
, chiefly Kos
Kos
Kos or Cos is a Greek island in the south Sporades group of the Dodecanese, next to the Gulf of Gökova/Cos. It measures by , and is from the coast of Bodrum, Turkey and the ancient region of Caria. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within the Kos peripheral unit, which is...
. Some of the doukes
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Mylasa and Melanoudion however seem to have exercised authority over the coast and the offshore islands as well.
The region remained in Byzantine control until conquered by the Turks during the early reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
(r. 1282–1328). It is notable for the number of Byzantine fortifications which survive there, as well as for the thriving monastic community at Mount Latros.