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Constantine Angelos, despotes and sebastokrator (1185-1204)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of seven lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


γρν
σ̣ργισ̣μ̣κ
ντ̣ι̣νδε̣σ̣πο
τ.υ̣τδελν
υ̣.τουκρ̣τι..
..τουκρ
..ουσ

γραφῶν σφράγισμα Κωνσταντίνου δεσπότου [α]ὐταδέλφου νῦ[ν] τοῦ κρατί[στου] τοῦ κρ[άτ]ους

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

Σε..
κ̣ρτορν̣
τορν̣
τοσεκτη̣σ.
.ισεκ..
..νσδεπ̣..
..νγγελ
υμ

σεβα[στο]κρατοροῦντος ἐκ τῆς [ἀ]ξίας ἐκ [τοῦ γέ]νους δ᾽ἐπ[ίκλη]ν Ἀγγελ[ων]ύμ[ου]

Obverse

Inscription of seven lines, a cross above. Border of dots.


γρν
σ̣ργισ̣μ̣κ
ντ̣ι̣νδε̣σ̣πο
τ.υ̣τδελν
υ̣.τουκρ̣τι..
..τουκρ
..ουσ

γραφῶν σφράγισμα Κωνσταντίνου δεσπότου [α]ὐταδέλφου νῦ[ν] τοῦ κρατί[στου] τοῦ κρ[άτ]ους

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.

Σε..
κ̣ρτορν̣
τορν̣
τοσεκτη̣σ.
.ισεκ..
..νσδεπ̣..
..νγγελ
υμ

σεβα[στο]κρατοροῦντος ἐκ τῆς [ἀ]ξίας ἐκ [τοῦ γέ]νους δ᾽ἐπ[ίκλη]ν Ἀγγελ[ων]ύμ[ου]

Accession number BZS.1951.31.5.1736
Diameter 32.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 572 (listing previous editions by Laurent and Theocharis along with further references).

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

Translation

γραφῶν σφράγισμα Κωνσταντίνου δεσπότου αὐταδέλφου νῦν τοῦ κρατίστου τοῦ κράτους σεβαστοκρατοροῦντος ἐκ τῆς ἀξίας ἐκ τοῦ γένους δ᾽ἐπίκλην Ἀγγελωνύμου.

The seal of the letters of Constantine despotes, brother of the currently reigning emperor, sebastokrator by title and by descent a member of the family by the name of Angelos.

Commentary

The artfully wrought inscription consists of four twelve-syllable verses.

The owner of this seal has been identified as Constantine Komnenos Angelos, brother of the emperors Isaac II Angelos (1185-1195, 1203-1204) and Alexios III Angelos (March-July 1203). He held military command in the years before 1182 but was blinded on the orders of Andronikos I Komnenos (1183-1185). Upon the accession of Isaac II, he was elevated to the dignity of sebastokrator and spent his remaining years occupied with works of piety or charity: see V. Laurent, "Le sébastocrator Constantin Ange et le péplum de Musée de Saint-Marc à Venise," REB 18 (1960), 208-213.

Bibliography

  • Corpus der byzantinischen Siegel mit metrischen Legenden, Vol. 1, Siegellegenden von Alpha bis inclusive My (Open in Zotero)