Peter imperial protospatharios, domestikos of the Optimatoi and katepano of the Iberians (tenth century)
Obverse
Cross potent on three steps. Within concentric circles of dots a circular inscription beginning at seven o'clock.
ΚΕΟΗΘ,ΤΣΔΟΥΛ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, rows of four pellets above and below. Border of dots.
+ΠΕΤΡ
ΣΠΘΔ
ΤΩΝΟΠΤΙΜ,
ΚΤΕΠΝ
ΟΙΕΡΟΝ
Πέτρῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δ(ομεστίκῳ) τῶν Ὀπτιμ(άτων) (καὶ) κατεπάνο Ἰβέρον
Obverse
Cross potent on three steps. Within concentric circles of dots a circular inscription beginning at seven o'clock.
ΚΕΟΗΘ,ΤΣΔΟΥΛ
Κ(ύρι)ε βοήθ(ει) τῷ σῷ δούλῳ
Reverse
Inscription of five lines, rows of four pellets above and below. Border of dots.
+ΠΕΤΡ
ΣΠΘΔ
ΤΩΝΟΠΤΙΜ,
ΚΤΕΠΝ
ΟΙΕΡΟΝ
Πέτρῳ β(ασιλικῷ) (πρωτο)σπαθ(αρίῳ) (καὶ) δ(ομεστίκῳ) τῶν Ὀπτιμ(άτων) (καὶ) κατεπάνο Ἰβέρον
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.5410 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 24.0 mm; field: 21.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 3, no. 71.11. |
Translation
Κύριε βοήθει τῷ σῷ δούλῳ Πέτρῳ βασιλικῷ πρωτοσπαθαρίῳ καὶ δομεστίκῳ τῶν Ὀπτιμάτων καὶ κατεπάνο Ἰβέρον.
Lord, help your servant Peter, imperial protospatharios and domestikos of the Optimatoi and katepano of the Georgians.
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
- Documents de sigillographie byzantine: La collection C. Orghidan
- Byzantinische Rang- und Ämterstruktur im 8. und 9. Jahrhundert: Faktoren und Tendenzen ihrer Entwicklung
- Byzantine Praetorians: An Administrative, Institutional, and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900
- Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata
- Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles
Commentary
This unusual combination of domestikos of the Optimatoi and katepano of Georgian soldiers probably the result of exceptional circumstances. Given the date of the seal, it is possible that as domestikos of the Optimatoi, Peter also received command of a separate company of Georgian mercenaries on campaign, as both Armenian and Georgian auxiliaries (σύμμαχοι) are known to have taken part in Phokas' expeditions (cf. Skylitzes, 268). The more likely explanation, however, is that Peter was given command of a number of the Georgian troops sent by King David in 979 to aid Basil II against the rebel Bardas Skleros. Since the imperial forces were withdrawn to the areas near the capital after Skleros' initial victories, which included the capture of Nicaea (Skylitzes, 323), it would appear that a contingent of Georgians, other than the main army that fought the decisive battle in the Charsianon (Iviron I, 23), was dispatched to help Constantinople and stationed in the Optimaton under the command of the domestikos. Perhaps, too, a Georgian chieftain was also appointed domestikos of the Optimatoi. Cf. BZS.1951.31.5.1003.