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Nicholas patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Longobardia (tenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to and slightly above the first arm). One crosslet of pellets in each upper quarter. Along the circumference, inscription. Border of dots.

κεοηθ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.

νικο
λπατρικ
ασπαθSστ
.ατιγλογ
...αρδ

Νικολ(άῳ) πατρικ(ίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατιγ(ῷ) Λογ[γιβ]αρδ(ίας)

Obverse

Patriarchal cross on three steps with fleurons (up to and slightly above the first arm). One crosslet of pellets in each upper quarter. Along the circumference, inscription. Border of dots.

κεοηθ,

Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.

νικο
λπατρικ
ασπαθSστ
.ατιγλογ
...αρδ

Νικολ(άῳ) πατρικ(ίῳ), β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατιγ(ῷ) Λογ[γιβ]αρδ(ίας)

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1609
Diameter 24.0 mm
Previous Editions

Laurent, Contributions, 308; DO Seals 1, no. 3.2.

Credit Line Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Bequest of Thomas Whittemore.

Translation

Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Νικολάῳ πατρικίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Λογγιβαρδίας.

Lord, help your servant Nicholas, patrikios, imperial protospatharios, and strategos of Longobardia.

Commentary

A strategos of Longobardia by the name of Nicholas is attested in 914-915 (Falkenhausen, Dominazione, 80, Nicholas I, Letters no. 14.

On the theme of Longobardia, see Falkenhausen, Dominazione with a list of the strategoi (pp. 78 ff.), the first of whom is attested in 891.

Bibliography

  • Catalogue of the Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea (Open in Zotero)