Skip to Content

Theodore Doukas Palaiologos (twelfth/thirteenth century)

 
 

Obverse

Τhe standing figures of two archangels, Michael and Gabriel. Above and between the two figures: Μ Γ : Μιχαήλ and Γαβριήλ. Each figure holds a labarum and together they hold a globus cruciger between them. Enclosed within a linear border, a circular inscription beginning at twelve o'clock:

σκεποιτεδ........αρχαγγελν

Σκέποιτε δύας ἀΰλων ἀρχαγγέλων

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.


Θεοδρον
δουκνμε
πλιολογον
συμπενθερον
τετκρατν
τοσυσον
ν

Θεόδωρον Δούκαν με Παλαιολόγον συμπένθερόν τε τοῦ κρατοῦντος Αὐσόνων

Obverse

Τhe standing figures of two archangels, Michael and Gabriel. Above and between the two figures: Μ Γ : Μιχαήλ and Γαβριήλ. Each figure holds a labarum and together they hold a globus cruciger between them. Enclosed within a linear border, a circular inscription beginning at twelve o'clock:

σκεποιτεδ........αρχαγγελν

Σκέποιτε δύας ἀΰλων ἀρχαγγέλων

Reverse

Inscription of seven lines. Border of dots.


Θεοδρον
δουκνμε
πλιολογον
συμπενθερον
τετκρατν
τοσυσον
ν

Θεόδωρον Δούκαν με Παλαιολόγον συμπένθερόν τε τοῦ κρατοῦντος Αὐσόνων

Accession number BZS.1958.106.3307
Diameter 37.0 mm; field: 33.0 mm
Previous Editions

Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden II, no. 2207.

Translation

Σκέποιτε δύας ἀΰλων ἀρχαγγέλων Θεόδωρον Δούκαν με Παλαιολόγον συμπένθερόν τε τοῦ κρατοῦντος Αὐσόνων.

May you, pair of incorporeal archangels, protect me, Theodore Doukas Palaiologos, fellow father-in-law of the ruler of the Ausonians (i.e. Romans).

Commentary

The unusual term συμπένθερος can refer to someone whose child has married the child of the emperor, but in this case Theodore Doukas Palaiologos is using sympentheros to refer to himself as uncle and surrogate father-in-law. His brother, George Doukas Palaiologos, had given his son Alexios Doukas Komnenos Palaiologos (nephew of our seal owner) in marriage to Irene, daughter of the emperor Alexios III in 1199. Upon the death of George Doukas Palaiologos, his brother Theodore received the right to refer to himself as father-in-law, thus linking himself to the emperor as "fellow father-in-law." The iconography on the obverse reinforces this relationship.