Basil Triklinios, hypatos and strategos of Anabarza (eleventh century)

The remnants of an earlier strike appear along the lower edge of the reverse, where the following large letters can be distinguished: μ...[στρατη]λάτης [τῆς] Ἀνα(τολῆς) ὁ Βρ[υέννιος?]. It would appear that an eleventh-century stratelates of the East, based in Antioch, possibly named Bryennios, sent a sealed letter to his subordinate the strategos of Anabarza, who afterwards reused the attached seal for his own correspondence.

We note that a Bryennios Vatatzes is attested as stratelates of the West in the eleventh century: N. Mouchmov, “Un nouveau boullotirion byzantin,” 190. On the early history of the Bryennios family of the eleventh century, see Seibt, Bleisiegel, no. 102.

Cheynet has published two seals of a Basil Trichinopodes protospatharios, hypatos, and strategos of Anabarza (Collection Zacos, nos. 4a and b). The reading of the family name on these seals is certain, and Cheynet has suggested that our two seals belong to the same man. We are reluctant to accept this identification, however, as the lettering of the family name on our seals cannot be reconciled with the lettering of the name on Cheynet’s specimens. We therefore retain our restored reading Triklinios.

Anabarza, a heavily fortified town northeast of Tarsos and Adana, was taken by Nikephoros Phokas in early 962 and occupied by the Byzantines after 964. It became the seat of a strategos and remained under Byzantine control until the late eleventh century. For a list of the strategoi of Anabarza, see Cheynet, Collection Zacos, 16.