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Gregory imperial spatharios and doux of Calabria (eighth/ninth centuries)

 
 

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Wreath border.

γρη
γοριβ
σπαθ/κ/δ
ουκικαλ
αβρ/ 

Γρηγορίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ δουκὶ Καλαβρίας

Obverse

Cruciform invocative monogram (type V); in the quarters: ΤΣ|ΔΛ. Border of dots.

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ

Reverse

Inscription in five lines. Wreath border.

γρη
γοριβ
σπαθ/κ/δ
ουκικαλ
αβρ/ 

Γρηγορίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ δουκὶ Καλαβρίας

Accession number BZS.1958.106.4161
Diameter 30.0 mm
Previous Editions

DO Seals 1, no. 4.3.

Translation

Θεοτόκε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Γρηγορίῳ βασιλικῷ σπαθαρίῳ καὶ δουκὶ Καλαβρίας.

Theotokos, help your servant Gregory imperial spatharios and doux of Calabria.

Commentary

Calabria became a duchy around the middle of the seventh century (cf Falkenhausen, Dominazione, 7) and continued to be so through the first half of the ninth century, subordinate to the strategos of Sicily, who was in control of the eastern portion of the island; both the doux and strategos appear in the Uspenskij Taktikon (842-843).

After the fall of Taormina in 902, the strategos of Sicily moved to Calabria but kept his traditional name, although in the narrative sources he is called strategos of Calabria. This title appears in official sources by the mid-tenth century (Listes, 356; Falkenhausen, Dominazione, 30), though doukes of Calabria were still appointed in the late ninth–early tenth century, as can be seen from BZS.1955.1.1389 and BZS.1958.106.3191.

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)