Mesopotamia (theme)
Encyclopedia
Mesopotamia was the name of a Byzantine
theme (a military-civilian province) located in what is today eastern Turkey
. It should not be confused with the region of Mesopotamia
or with the older Roman and early Byzantine province of Mesopotamia
. The Byzantine theme was located between the rivers Arsanias (modern Murat
) and Çimisgezek.
(r. 886–912) appointed the former strategos
of the Charsianon
, named Orestes, as its governor. Most of the province was formed out the Armenian principality of Takis, ruled by the chieftain Manuel. Manuel and his four sons were persuaded to cede their territory to the Byzantine Empire in exchange for titles and estates in other themes. The Armenian-populated districts of Keltzene (detached from the theme of Chaldia
) and Kamacha (part of the Theme of Koloneia
) were then joined to it to form the new theme.
Although Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 949–958) mentions that before its elevation to a theme, the region was an "unnamed kleisoura
", there is evidence, however, of much earlier Byzantine presence. A seal of a "spatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia" has been dated to circa 810, perhaps indicating the existence of a first short-lived theme there, and a seal of a tourmarches with the Armenian name Mousilikes, is tentatively dated to circa 870.
It is thus possible that Mesopotamia was constituted in the late 9th century out of an Armenian principality as a division (tourma) of some neighbouring theme, with its prince receiving a Byzantine title and continuing to govern it, before it was expanded into a full theme. This may also explain the peculiar custom of its strategos drawing, until 911, his salary not from the imperial treasury but from the customs proceeds of the kommerkion of his province.
Commanders of the theme continued to be appointed throughout the 10th century, co-existing with the new post of "doux
of Mesopotamia", established circa 975. Unlike the strategos, the doux was a regional commander, controlling the central sector of Byzantium's eastern frontier. In the 11th century, most of the attested doukes of Mesopotamia were Armenians, including Gregory Magistros
and his son. In the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert
in 1071, Emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) tried to re-establish Byzantine authority, but the province fell to the Seljuk Turks.
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...
theme (a military-civilian province) located in what is today eastern 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...
. It should not be confused with the region of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
or with the older Roman and early Byzantine province of Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia (Roman province)
Mesopotamia was the name of two distinct Roman provinces, the one a short-lived creation of the Roman Emperor Trajan in 116–117 and the other established by Emperor Septimius Severus in ca. 198, which lasted until the Muslim conquests of the 7th century....
. The Byzantine theme was located between the rivers Arsanias (modern Murat
Murat River
The Murat River or Eastern Euphrates is the major source of the Euphrates. It was also called Arsanias in antiquity. The river originates near Mount Ararat north of Lake Van, in eastern Turkey, and flows westward for through mountainous area...
) and Çimisgezek.
History
The theme was formed probably between 899 and 911, when Emperor Leo VI the WiseLeo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
(r. 886–912) appointed the former strategos
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...
of the Charsianon
Charsianon
Charsianon was the name of a Byzantine fortress and the corresponding theme in the region of Cappadocia in central Anatolia .-History:...
, named Orestes, as its governor. Most of the province was formed out the Armenian principality of Takis, ruled by the chieftain Manuel. Manuel and his four sons were persuaded to cede their territory to the Byzantine Empire in exchange for titles and estates in other themes. The Armenian-populated districts of Keltzene (detached from the theme of Chaldia
Chaldia
Chaldia was a historical region located in the Black Sea coast of Asia Minor . Its name was derived from a people called the Chaldoi that inhabited the region in Antiquity. Chaldia was used throughout the Byzantine period and was established as a formal theme, known as the Theme of Chaldia , in...
) and Kamacha (part of the Theme of Koloneia
Koloneia (theme)
The Theme of Koloneia was a small military-civilian province of the Byzantine Empire located in northern Cappadocia and the southern Pontus, in modern Turkey...
) were then joined to it to form the new theme.
Although Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 949–958) mentions that before its elevation to a theme, the region was an "unnamed kleisoura
Kleisoura (Byzantine district)
In the Byzantine Empire, a kleisoura was a term traditionally applied to a fortified mountain pass and the military district protecting it. By the late 7th century, it came to be applied to more extensive frontier districts, distinct from the larger themata, chiefly along the Empire's eastern...
", there is evidence, however, of much earlier Byzantine presence. A seal of a "spatharios and strategos of Mesopotamia" has been dated to circa 810, perhaps indicating the existence of a first short-lived theme there, and a seal of a tourmarches with the Armenian name Mousilikes, is tentatively dated to circa 870.
It is thus possible that Mesopotamia was constituted in the late 9th century out of an Armenian principality as a division (tourma) of some neighbouring theme, with its prince receiving a Byzantine title and continuing to govern it, before it was expanded into a full theme. This may also explain the peculiar custom of its strategos drawing, until 911, his salary not from the imperial treasury but from the customs proceeds of the kommerkion of his province.
Commanders of the theme continued to be appointed throughout the 10th century, co-existing with the new post of "doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Mesopotamia", established circa 975. Unlike the strategos, the doux was a regional commander, controlling the central sector of Byzantium's eastern frontier. In the 11th century, most of the attested doukes of Mesopotamia were Armenians, including Gregory Magistros
Gregory Magistros
Gregory Magistros was an Armenian linguist, scholar and public functionary. A layman of the princely Pahlavuni family, he was the son of Vassak Pahlavuni. After Byzantium annexed the Kingdom of Ani, Gregory went on to serve as the Governor-general of the province of Edessa. The Byzantine Emperor...
and his son. In the aftermath of 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...
in 1071, Emperor Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) tried to re-establish Byzantine authority, but the province fell to the Seljuk Turks.