John Kantakouzenos, caesar and brother-in-law of the emperor (1185-1186)
Obverse
St. Theodore standing, holding a spear in his right hand and balancing his shield against the ground with his left. Vertical inscriptions on either side: ο||γι|ο|σθ|ε|ο|Δ|ρο|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Θεόδωρος. Border of dots.
Obverse
St. Theodore standing, holding a spear in his right hand and balancing his shield against the ground with his left. Vertical inscriptions on either side: ο||γι|ο|σθ|ε|ο|Δ|ρο|σ : ὁ ἅγιος Θεόδωρος. Border of dots.
Reverse
Inscription of eight lines. Border of dots.
γαμον
κρατντοσ
εσποτηνι
ακαν
τακζηνον
καισαραμαρ
τυσσκε
ποισ
γαμβρὸν κρατοῦντος δεσπότην Ἰωάννην Καντακουζηνὸν καίσαρα, μάρτυς, σκέποις
Accession number | BZS.1955.1.4364 |
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Diameter | 35.0 mm; field: 33.0 mm |
Previous Editions | Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 123; Zacos-Veglery, no. 2739; cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no. 223. |
Translation
Γαμβρὸν κρατοῦντος δεσπότην Ἰωάννην Καντακουζηνὸν καίσαρα, μάρτυς, σκέποις.
Martyr, may you watch over the lord John Kantakouzenos, caesar and brother-in-law of the emperor.
Commentary
The owner married the sister of the emperor Isaac II Angelos in 1185 or 1186 and was raised to the rank of caesar, but a severe defeat at the hands of the Bulgarians in 1186 led to his demotion. It was within this short period that this seal will have been struck.
See PBW: Ioannes 20113.