Thrace (theme)
Encyclopedia
The Theme of Thrace was a province (thema or theme
) of the Byzantine Empire
located in the south-eastern Balkans
, comprising varying parts of the eponymous geographic region
during its history.
and hypostrategos of Thrace, in 680/681. However, it is unclear whether this implies the existence of Thrace as a separate command, with Theodore holding a dual post, or whether Thrace was administratively united to the Opsikion. In fact, separate strategoi of Thrace are not clearly attested in literary sources until 742, while seals of strategoi are also extant only from the 8th century on. Initially, Adrianople was probably the theme's capital.
Under Empress Irene of Athens, in the late 8th century, the theme was divided, with the western part being constituted as the separate theme of Macedonia. From then on, the theme's capital was at Arcadiopolis, with subordinate tourmarchai at Bizye and Sozopolis. Another, called tourmarches tes Thrakes ("of Thrace") is also attested, possibly the strategos deputy at Arcadiopolis. The 9th and 10th-century Arab geographers Ibn Khordadbeh
and Ibn al-Faqih
mention the theme as extending "from the long wall [the Anastasian Wall
]" to the theme of Macedonia, and north up to the country of the Bulgars
, counting 10 fortified places and 5,000 troops. Indeed, the boundaries of the theme fluctuated along with the northern frontier of Byzantium during the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars. Initially, the theme must have comprised most of the ancient Diocese of Thrace
, except for the country along the Danube
overrun by the Bulgars, but after the conquests of Krum (r. 803–814), Omurtag (r. 814–831), and Symeon
(r. 893–927) the border moved by stages south of the Balkan mountains
to roughly the line of the present Bulgarian frontier with Greece
and Turkey
. Thus, at the turn of the 10th century, the theme comprised essentially the eastern half of modern Eastern Thrace, although it extended north along the coast to include Anchialos.
From the 11th century, Thrace and Macedonia appear to have been usually combined, as attested by numerous strategoi and judges (kritai) holding jurisdiction over both themes. The name fell out of use as an administrative term in the Palaiologan period, but it is still encountered in some historians of the time as an antiquarian term.
Theme (Byzantine administrative unit)
The themes or themata were the main administrative divisions of the middle Byzantine Empire. They were established in the mid-seventh century in the aftermath of the Muslim conquests of Byzantine territory and replaced the earlier provincial system established by emperors Diocletian and...
) of the Byzantine Empire
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...
located in the south-eastern Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, comprising varying parts of the eponymous geographic region
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
during its history.
History
Traditionally, it has been held that the theme (at the time primarily a military command) was constituted in circa 680, as a response to the Bulgar threat. This is based on the mention of a certain patrikios Theodore, Count of the OpsikionOpsikion
The Opsician Theme or simply Opsikion was a Byzantine theme located in northwestern Asia Minor . Created from the imperial retinue army, the Opsikion was the largest and most prestigious of the early themes, being located closest to Constantinople...
and hypostrategos of Thrace, in 680/681. However, it is unclear whether this implies the existence of Thrace as a separate command, with Theodore holding a dual post, or whether Thrace was administratively united to the Opsikion. In fact, separate strategoi of Thrace are not clearly attested in literary sources until 742, while seals of strategoi are also extant only from the 8th century on. Initially, Adrianople was probably the theme's capital.
Under Empress Irene of Athens, in the late 8th century, the theme was divided, with the western part being constituted as the separate theme of Macedonia. From then on, the theme's capital was at Arcadiopolis, with subordinate tourmarchai at Bizye and Sozopolis. Another, called tourmarches tes Thrakes ("of Thrace") is also attested, possibly the strategos deputy at Arcadiopolis. The 9th and 10th-century Arab geographers Ibn Khordadbeh
Ibn Khordadbeh
Abu'l Qasim Ubaid'Allah ibn Khordadbeh , author of the earliest surviving Arabic book of administrative geography, was a Persian geographer and bureaucrat of the 9th century...
and Ibn al-Faqih
Ibn al-Faqih
Ibn al-Faqih al-Hamadani was a 10th century Persian historian and geographer, famous for his Mukhtasar Kitab al-Buldan .-References:...
mention the theme as extending "from the long wall [the Anastasian Wall
Anastasian Wall
The Anastasian Wall or the Long Walls of Thrace is an ancient, stone and turf fortification located west of Istanbul, Turkey built by the Byzantines during the late 5th century...
]" to the theme of Macedonia, and north up to the country of the Bulgars
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
, counting 10 fortified places and 5,000 troops. Indeed, the boundaries of the theme fluctuated along with the northern frontier of Byzantium during the Byzantine–Bulgarian Wars. Initially, the theme must have comprised most of the ancient Diocese of Thrace
Diocese of Thrace
The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later...
, except for the country along the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
overrun by the Bulgars, but after the conquests of Krum (r. 803–814), Omurtag (r. 814–831), and Symeon
Simeon I of Bulgaria
Simeon I the Great ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927, during the First Bulgarian Empire. Simeon's successful campaigns against the Byzantines, Magyars and Serbs led Bulgaria to its greatest territorial expansion ever, making it the most powerful state in contemporary Eastern Europe...
(r. 893–927) the border moved by stages south of the Balkan mountains
Balkan Mountains
The Balkan mountain range is a mountain range in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. The Balkan range runs 560 km from the Vrashka Chuka Peak on the border between Bulgaria and eastern Serbia eastward through central Bulgaria to Cape Emine on the Black Sea...
to roughly the line of the present Bulgarian frontier with Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and 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...
. Thus, at the turn of the 10th century, the theme comprised essentially the eastern half of modern Eastern Thrace, although it extended north along the coast to include Anchialos.
From the 11th century, Thrace and Macedonia appear to have been usually combined, as attested by numerous strategoi and judges (kritai) holding jurisdiction over both themes. The name fell out of use as an administrative term in the Palaiologan period, but it is still encountered in some historians of the time as an antiquarian term.