Malakenos anthypatos, patrikios, imperial protospatharios, and strategos of Longibardia (tenth century)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps standing on a ball; on either side, fleurons up to the first transverse bar. Along the circumference, between two concentric border of dots, inscription.
κεοηθειτσδουλ,
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Indeterminate border.
μαλακ
ινανθυπ,π
ατρικ,,Αˊσπ
αθ/Sστρατ,
λαγγια
ρδ,
Μαλακιν(ῷ) ἀνθυπ(άτῳ) πατρικ(ίῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατ(ηγῷ) Λαγγιβαρδ(ίας)
Obverse
Patriarchal cross on three steps standing on a ball; on either side, fleurons up to the first transverse bar. Along the circumference, between two concentric border of dots, inscription.
κεοηθειτσδουλ,
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλ(ῳ)
Reverse
Inscription in six lines. Indeterminate border.
μαλακ
ινανθυπ,π
ατρικ,,Αˊσπ
αθ/Sστρατ,
λαγγια
ρδ,
Μαλακιν(ῷ) ἀνθυπ(άτῳ) πατρικ(ίῳ) β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) στρατ(ηγῷ) Λαγγιβαρδ(ίας)
| Accession number | BZS.1955.1.1533 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 1, no. 3.1. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Μαλακινῷ ἀνθυπάτῳ πατρικίῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ στρατηγῷ Λαγγιβαρδίας
Lord, help your servant Malakinos anthypatos, 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
Malakenos is known to have governed Longobardia in 951-952; he died fighting the Arabs (Falkenhausen Dominazione, 82-83). This is likely the same Malakenos at the governor of Macedonia, attested on BZS.1958.106.1434, and/or BZS.1955.1.2493.
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. For the capital city of Bari, see Falkenhausen, “Bari bizantina: Profilo di un capolugo di provincia (secoli IX-XI),”.