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.
κεοηθ,
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
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.
κεοηθ,
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) [τῷ σῷ δούλῳ]
Reverse
Inscription in five lines. Indeterminate border.
νικο
λπατρικ
ασπαθSστ
.ατιγλογ
...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.
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)
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.