Optimatoi
Encyclopedia
The Optimatoi were initially formed as an elite Byzantine
military unit. In the mid-8th century, however, they were downgraded to a supply and logistics
corps and assigned a province (thema) in north-western Asia Minor
, which was named after them. As an administrative unit, the Theme of the Optimatoi (Greek: , thema Optimatōn) survived until the Ottoman
conquest in the first decades of the 14th century.
(r. 574–582). According to the Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
, the Optimates were an elite regiment of Foederati
, most likely of Gothic
origin. They were a cavalry corps, somewhere between one and five thousand strong, and formed part of the central reserve army, their commander bearing the then unique title of taxiarchēs. The presence of descendants of these men, called Gothograeci (Greek: ) by the chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
, is attested in northern Bithynia as late as the early 8th century. At that time, the corps numbered 2,000 men, a figure that possibly corresponds to its original size as well.
In the mid-8th century, under the rule of Emperor Constantine V
(r. 741–775), and as part of his measures to reduce the power of the thematic generals following the revolt of Artabasdos
, the Count of the Opsician Theme, the corps was downgraded. Split off from the Opsician Theme, the region where its troops had settled, including the peninsula opposite Constantinople
, both shores of the Gulf of Nicomedia and stretching to the shores of the river Sangarius
, was then constituted as the separate thema of the Optimatoi (Greek: ) with Nicomedia
as its capital. The first mention of the Optimatoi as a separate thema in the sources occurs only in 774/775, but it is clear that its creation must have come in the years after the suppression of Artabasdos's revolt. The same period also saw the further dismemberment and weakening of the once powerful Opsician Theme with the creation of the Bucellarian Theme
.
Henceforth, unlike the other themata, the Optimatoi no longer provided armed troops, but formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided the baggage train
(touldon) of the imperial tagmata in Constantinople. The unique role of the Optimatoi set it apart from all other themata: given their non-combatant functions, the Optimatoi were not divided into intermediate-level commands (tourmai or droungoi
), a fact pointed out by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) as a sign of inferior status. Consequently, their commanding domestikos
held the lowest rank of all provincial stratēgoi
in the imperial hierarchy. As with the other themata, for the administration of his duties as governor of the province, the domestikos was assisted by a deputy (topotērētēs), a chief financial official (chartoularios
) and a secretariat headed by a prōtokankellarios.
The rural districts of the thema were raided by Seljuk Turks after the Battle of Manzikert
, but Nicomedia was retained, and the area secured again under Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118) with the help of the First Crusade
. The area was occupied by the Latins
after the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade
in 1204, but the thema was re-established by John III Vatatzes when he retook the region in 1240, and survived until the area was gradually conquered by the rising Ottoman beylik in the first half of the 14th century.
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...
military unit. In the mid-8th century, however, they were downgraded to a supply and logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
corps and assigned a province (thema) in north-western 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...
, which was named after them. As an administrative unit, the Theme of the Optimatoi (Greek: , thema Optimatōn) survived until the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
conquest in the first decades of the 14th century.
History
The Optimates were first set up in the late 6th century (circa 575), by Emperor Tiberius II ConstantineTiberius II Constantine
Tiberius II Constantine was Byzantine Emperor from 574 to 582.During his reign, Tiberius II Constantine gave away 7,200 pounds of gold each year for four years....
(r. 574–582). According to the Strategikon of Emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
, the Optimates were an elite regiment of Foederati
Foederati
Foederatus is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the end of the Western Roman Empire...
, most likely of Gothic
Goths
The Goths were an East Germanic tribe of Scandinavian origin whose two branches, the Visigoths and the Ostrogoths, played an important role in the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence of Medieval Europe....
origin. They were a cavalry corps, somewhere between one and five thousand strong, and formed part of the central reserve army, their commander bearing the then unique title of taxiarchēs. The presence of descendants of these men, called Gothograeci (Greek: ) by the chronicler Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, is attested in northern Bithynia as late as the early 8th century. At that time, the corps numbered 2,000 men, a figure that possibly corresponds to its original size as well.
In the mid-8th century, under the rule of Emperor Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
(r. 741–775), and as part of his measures to reduce the power of the thematic generals following the revolt of Artabasdos
Artabasdos
Artavasdos, Latinized as Artabasdos or Artabasdus , was Byzantine Emperor of Armenian descent from June 741 or 742 until November 743...
, the Count of the Opsician Theme, the corps was downgraded. Split off from the Opsician Theme, the region where its troops had settled, including the peninsula opposite Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, both shores of the Gulf of Nicomedia and stretching to the shores of the river Sangarius
Sangarius
The genus Sangarius is in the shield bug family Acanthosomatidae....
, was then constituted as the separate thema of the Optimatoi (Greek: ) with Nicomedia
Nicomedia
Nicomedia was an ancient city in what is now Turkey, founded in 712/11 BC as a Megarian colony and was originally known as Astacus . After being destroyed by Lysimachus, it was rebuilt by Nicomedes I of Bithynia in 264 BC under the name of Nicomedia, and has ever since been one of the most...
as its capital. The first mention of the Optimatoi as a separate thema in the sources occurs only in 774/775, but it is clear that its creation must have come in the years after the suppression of Artabasdos's revolt. The same period also saw the further dismemberment and weakening of the once powerful Opsician Theme with the creation of the Bucellarian Theme
Bucellarian Theme
The Bucellarian Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Bucellarians was a Byzantine theme in northern Asia Minor...
.
Henceforth, unlike the other themata, the Optimatoi no longer provided armed troops, but formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided the baggage train
Train (military)
In military contexts a train can refer to logistic elements of a force or organisation. In this context the term train usually does not mean a railway train.Historically and for land forces, this usually referred to troops that are endowed with horses...
(touldon) of the imperial tagmata in Constantinople. The unique role of the Optimatoi set it apart from all other themata: given their non-combatant functions, the Optimatoi were not divided into intermediate-level commands (tourmai or droungoi
Droungos
Droungos or drungus is a late Roman and Byzantine term for a battalion-sized military unit, and later for a local command guarding mountain districts. Its commander was a droungarios or drungarius.-History and functions:...
), a fact pointed out by Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) as a sign of inferior status. Consequently, their commanding domestikos
Domestikos
Domestikos , in English sometimes [the] Domestic, was a civil, ecclesiastic and military office in the late Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.-Military usage:...
held the lowest rank of all provincial stratēgoi
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...
in the imperial hierarchy. As with the other themata, for the administration of his duties as governor of the province, the domestikos was assisted by a deputy (topotērētēs), a chief financial official (chartoularios
Chartoularios
The chartoularios or chartularius , Anglicized as chartulary, was a late Roman and Byzantine administrative official, entrusted with administrative and fiscal duties, either as a subaltern official of a department or province or at the head of various independent bureaus.-History:The title derives...
) and a secretariat headed by a prōtokankellarios.
The rural districts of the thema were raided by Seljuk Turks after the 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...
, but Nicomedia was retained, and the area secured again under Emperor 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) with the help of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
. The area was occupied by the Latins
Latin Empire
The Latin Empire or Latin Empire of Constantinople is the name given by historians to the feudal Crusader state founded by the leaders of the Fourth Crusade on lands captured from the Byzantine Empire. It was established after the capture of Constantinople in 1204 and lasted until 1261...
after the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
in 1204, but the thema was re-established by John III Vatatzes when he retook the region in 1240, and survived until the area was gradually conquered by the rising Ottoman beylik in the first half of the 14th century.