Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 24 3-6 Dec 2022
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Theophanes, primikerios, imperial protospatharios and protovestiarios of the Christ-loving emperor, 934-941. Seal (Lead, 29 mm, 14.87 g, 12 h). +CTAVPOC CKЄΠH [Φ]ⲰC ΔOΞA TⲰ - ΘЄOΦANЄI ('The cross is the protection, the light and the glory to Theophanes') in a circular legend within two pearled circles and the name in the form of a cruciform monogram with stars in the quadrants. Rev. +ΠPIMI/K' R'A'CΠA/Θ' S 'ARECT, / T, ΦVΛOXP, / ΔЄCΠOT, in decorated border. Zacos II 1086. A very interesting seal of great historical importance and with a charming early poetic legend. Minor cracks along the channel and some deposits, otherwise, very fine.
From a European collection, acquired before 2021.
Theophanes was an important court official during the reign of Romanos Lekapenos (920-944), serving as the emperor's most trusted advisor. During the 920s, he proved himself a capable diplomat, negotiating a peace treaty with the Bulgarians, and he was a witness at the wedding of Tsar Peter with Maria Lekapene, the emperor's daughter. In 934, Theophanes pacified Magyar raiders who had invaded Thrace. Theophanes also showed himself to be a competent commander when he thwarted a Rus' fleet of a thousand ships on their way to the capital in 941, using the famous Greek fire. This was no mean feat, as Constantinopolis was practically defenseless at that time, the army and the navy having been deployed to fight the Arabs in the Mediterranean.
In reward, Theophanes was raised to the rank of parakoimomenos, which makes 941 the terminus ante quem for this seal, as this rank is not mentioned. The final episode of fame for Theophanes came in 944, when the Arabs negotiated with the Byzantines to lift the siege of Edessa in exchange for the surrender of the Mandylion, a cloth with an image of Jesus, one of the holiest of Christian relics. Theophanes was sent to meet an Arab embassy from Edessa and brought the relic back to the capital where he presented it to the emperor Romanos during a splendid celebration. That same year however, the emperor was deposed by his eldest sons. With the change in power, Theophanes lost much of his influence. In 947 he was part of a failed coup attempt, after which he was exiled, and hence disappeared from all historiographical sources.
From a European collection, acquired before 2021.
Theophanes was an important court official during the reign of Romanos Lekapenos (920-944), serving as the emperor's most trusted advisor. During the 920s, he proved himself a capable diplomat, negotiating a peace treaty with the Bulgarians, and he was a witness at the wedding of Tsar Peter with Maria Lekapene, the emperor's daughter. In 934, Theophanes pacified Magyar raiders who had invaded Thrace. Theophanes also showed himself to be a competent commander when he thwarted a Rus' fleet of a thousand ships on their way to the capital in 941, using the famous Greek fire. This was no mean feat, as Constantinopolis was practically defenseless at that time, the army and the navy having been deployed to fight the Arabs in the Mediterranean.
In reward, Theophanes was raised to the rank of parakoimomenos, which makes 941 the terminus ante quem for this seal, as this rank is not mentioned. The final episode of fame for Theophanes came in 944, when the Arabs negotiated with the Byzantines to lift the siege of Edessa in exchange for the surrender of the Mandylion, a cloth with an image of Jesus, one of the holiest of Christian relics. Theophanes was sent to meet an Arab embassy from Edessa and brought the relic back to the capital where he presented it to the emperor Romanos during a splendid celebration. That same year however, the emperor was deposed by his eldest sons. With the change in power, Theophanes lost much of his influence. In 947 he was part of a failed coup attempt, after which he was exiled, and hence disappeared from all historiographical sources.