Nomos AG
obolos 27 21 Mar 2023
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BYZANTINE SEALS, Imperial Court. John Vatatzes, protokynegos, 1341. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 25 mm, 20.53 g, 12 h), Metric seal, Imperial palace of Constantinople. H OΔ/ΔH/ΓH-TPI/A The Virgin Hodegetria, nimbate and wearing a chiton and a metaphorion, seated facing on an ornamented throne with a back, presenting with both her hands a medallion bearing the bust of the young Jesus Christ. Rev. ΠPΩTO/KYNHΓOC BA/TATZHC IΩA/NNHC COI BIBΛE/ X(PICTO)Y TOYCΔΕ ΚY/POI ΛΟΓOYC "Book of Jesus Christ (Virgin Mary) please validate these writings of the protokynegos John Vatatzes" In seven metric lines. Laurent, Metrique, 316. Oikonomides, Dated, 148. Wassiliou-Seibt, Metrischen, 1862. Schlumberger, Mélanges, 24. An extremely rare and historical late byzantine seal, issued shortly before the Byzantine civil war. Nearly very fine.
From a European collection.
John Vatatzes, although sharing the same name as the famous Saint-Emperor of Nikaia, he was apparently of no noble origin. Nevertheless his name probably assisted him to ascent the byzantine burocracy and according to this seal, he held the honorific title of protokynegos (in charge of the imperial hunt) in the court of Andronikos III Palaeologos. After 1341, during the Byzantine civil war following the death of Andronikos, he took initially the side of John Kantakouzinos, he deflected to Anna of Savoy next year when he was appointed Megas Chartoularios and goverrnor of Thessalonika. In 1343 he redeflected to John Kantakouzenos who offered him the title of Megas stratopedarches. A couple years later, in 1345, while he was considering to re-affiliate with the regency he was killed by Turk mercenaries affiliated with John Kantakouzinos. Typical Libra..
From a European collection.
John Vatatzes, although sharing the same name as the famous Saint-Emperor of Nikaia, he was apparently of no noble origin. Nevertheless his name probably assisted him to ascent the byzantine burocracy and according to this seal, he held the honorific title of protokynegos (in charge of the imperial hunt) in the court of Andronikos III Palaeologos. After 1341, during the Byzantine civil war following the death of Andronikos, he took initially the side of John Kantakouzinos, he deflected to Anna of Savoy next year when he was appointed Megas Chartoularios and goverrnor of Thessalonika. In 1343 he redeflected to John Kantakouzenos who offered him the title of Megas stratopedarches. A couple years later, in 1345, while he was considering to re-affiliate with the regency he was killed by Turk mercenaries affiliated with John Kantakouzinos. Typical Libra..