Zeus Numismatics
Auction 13 31 Oct 2020
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Byzantine lead seal of Michael Saronites,
proedros and doux (of Edessa)
(ca 1062–1066 AD)
Obverse: Archangel Michael standing, facing, nimbate, with open wings, wearing military dress, holding labarum in right hand, and a cruciger globus in the left, sigla ΜΙ-ΧΑ(ΗΛ) = Μιχαὴλ (Michael), all within dotted border.
Reverse: Inscription in 6 lines following a cross, +ΚΕRΘ,/ΤΩCΩΔΟΥ,/ΜΙΧΑΗΛ/ΠΡΟΕΔΡΩS/ΔΟΥΚΙΤΩCΑ/ΡΩΝΙΤΗ = Κύριε, βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ προέδρῳ καὶ δουκὶ τῷ Σαρωνίτῃ (Lord help your servant Michael proedros and doux the Saronites), all within a dotted border.
Michael Saronitεs was Duke of the Duchy of Edessa between 1062 and 1066. The Duchy of Edessa was an administrative division of the Byzantine Empire in Mesopotamia centered on Edessa or present-day Urfa in Turkey. The Duchy was created after 1031 and the recapture of Edessa by George Maniakis and was commanded first by a general and then by an officer with the title of duke while some carried his title katepano. The Duchy included the former issues of Limni and Aetos, Strategis Hasanara and other smaller areas, it refers to a mixed population of both nationality and religion. From 1085 it was constantly attacked and looted by the Turks, in 1067 the duke Leon Arvantinos lost in battle by the Turks, was captured and released with ransom. In 1070-71 the duke Vassilios Alousianos faced a multi-day siege by Alp Arslan while the Duchy formally recognized Byzantine rule. In 1077 in a civil conflict Vassilios Apokapis besieged and occupied Edessa, killed the previous duke and took over a new duke. After his death in 1083 the city was often replaced by dukes while the imperial power was not always recognized, at the same time the Turkish emirs looted the countryside and besieged Edessa. In February 1087 the city was handed over to Emir Meliksah, but Byzantine governors of the city continued to be appointed, and by the emir his own governors. Until 1098, when the Crusaders arrived in the territories of the Duchy, cities of the Duchy or former Byzantine officials from time to time rebelled against the Turkish emir and recognized the Byzantine emperor. In 1098 the duke Theodoros Hetamis, a Byzantine official, was assassinated, his death and the same year is considered to have ended the Byzantine rule in the area. In February 1087 the city was handed over to Emir Meliksah, but Byzantine governors of the city continued to be appointed, and by the emir his own governors. Until 1098, when the Crusaders arrived in the territories of the Duchy, cities of the Duchy or former Byzantine officials from time to time rebelled against the Turkish emir and recognized the Byzantine emperor. In 1098 the duke Theodoros Hetamis, a Byzantine official, was assassinated, his death and the same year is considered to have ended the Byzantine rule in the area.
Bibliography: George A. Leveniotis, The political collapse of Byzantium in the east, Thessalonike 2007.
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 10.90 gr
Diameter: 22 mm
proedros and doux (of Edessa)
(ca 1062–1066 AD)
Obverse: Archangel Michael standing, facing, nimbate, with open wings, wearing military dress, holding labarum in right hand, and a cruciger globus in the left, sigla ΜΙ-ΧΑ(ΗΛ) = Μιχαὴλ (Michael), all within dotted border.
Reverse: Inscription in 6 lines following a cross, +ΚΕRΘ,/ΤΩCΩΔΟΥ,/ΜΙΧΑΗΛ/ΠΡΟΕΔΡΩS/ΔΟΥΚΙΤΩCΑ/ΡΩΝΙΤΗ = Κύριε, βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ προέδρῳ καὶ δουκὶ τῷ Σαρωνίτῃ (Lord help your servant Michael proedros and doux the Saronites), all within a dotted border.
Michael Saronitεs was Duke of the Duchy of Edessa between 1062 and 1066. The Duchy of Edessa was an administrative division of the Byzantine Empire in Mesopotamia centered on Edessa or present-day Urfa in Turkey. The Duchy was created after 1031 and the recapture of Edessa by George Maniakis and was commanded first by a general and then by an officer with the title of duke while some carried his title katepano. The Duchy included the former issues of Limni and Aetos, Strategis Hasanara and other smaller areas, it refers to a mixed population of both nationality and religion. From 1085 it was constantly attacked and looted by the Turks, in 1067 the duke Leon Arvantinos lost in battle by the Turks, was captured and released with ransom. In 1070-71 the duke Vassilios Alousianos faced a multi-day siege by Alp Arslan while the Duchy formally recognized Byzantine rule. In 1077 in a civil conflict Vassilios Apokapis besieged and occupied Edessa, killed the previous duke and took over a new duke. After his death in 1083 the city was often replaced by dukes while the imperial power was not always recognized, at the same time the Turkish emirs looted the countryside and besieged Edessa. In February 1087 the city was handed over to Emir Meliksah, but Byzantine governors of the city continued to be appointed, and by the emir his own governors. Until 1098, when the Crusaders arrived in the territories of the Duchy, cities of the Duchy or former Byzantine officials from time to time rebelled against the Turkish emir and recognized the Byzantine emperor. In 1098 the duke Theodoros Hetamis, a Byzantine official, was assassinated, his death and the same year is considered to have ended the Byzantine rule in the area. In February 1087 the city was handed over to Emir Meliksah, but Byzantine governors of the city continued to be appointed, and by the emir his own governors. Until 1098, when the Crusaders arrived in the territories of the Duchy, cities of the Duchy or former Byzantine officials from time to time rebelled against the Turkish emir and recognized the Byzantine emperor. In 1098 the duke Theodoros Hetamis, a Byzantine official, was assassinated, his death and the same year is considered to have ended the Byzantine rule in the area.
Bibliography: George A. Leveniotis, The political collapse of Byzantium in the east, Thessalonike 2007.
Condition: Very Fine
Weight: 10.90 gr
Diameter: 22 mm