Michael patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of the Thrakesioi (eighth century)
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (Type VIII); in the quarters: τ-σ|δ-λ. Wreath border.
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. No visible border.
μιχηλ
πτρικ/β
/.π/Sστρ
.τνθρ
κησιν
Μιχαὴλ πατρικ(ίῳ), βα[σ(ιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)[σ]πα(θαρίῳ) (καὶ) στρα[τ(ηγῷ)] τῶν Θρ[ᾳ]κησίων.
Obverse
Cruciform invocative monogram (Type VIII); in the quarters: τ-σ|δ-λ. Wreath border.
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines preceded and followed by decoration. No visible border.
μιχηλ
πτρικ/β
/.π/Sστρ
.τνθρ
κησιν
Μιχαὴλ πατρικ(ίῳ), βα[σ(ιλικῷ)] (πρωτο)[σ]πα(θαρίῳ) (καὶ) στρα[τ(ηγῷ)] τῶν Θρ[ᾳ]κησίων.
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.2430 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 28.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 2.47. Zacos-Veglery, no. 2190. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μιχαὴλ πατρικίῳ, βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ τῶν Θρᾳκησίων.
Lord, help your servant Michael patrikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of the Thrakesioi.
Bibliography
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and at the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 3: West, Northwest, and Central Asia Minor and the Orient (Open in Zotero)
- Constantini Porphyrogeniti De cerimoniis aulae byzantinae (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900 (Open in Zotero)
- Theophanis Chronographia (Open in Zotero)
- L’histoire et la géographie de la région de Smyrne entre les deux occupations turques (1081-1317), particulièrement au XIIIe siècle (Open in Zotero)
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (Open in Zotero)
- “Thrakien” und “Thrakesion” (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung (Open in Zotero)
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Despite the difference in quality, this seal and BZS.1947.2.181 likely belonged to the same person. It is difficult not to think of the famous Michael Lachanodrakon, who was appointed strategos of the Thrakesion in 766/767 (Theophanes I, 440; maybe earlier, according to the Life of St. Stephen the Younger); he persecuted the iconophile monks, still held this position in 778 (Theophanes I, 451), later became magistros (and will thus have been patrikios, as the owner of the present seal), and was killed by the Bulgars in 791 (Thephanes I, 468).