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Michael Taronites, brother-in-law of the emperor (eleventh century, second half)

 
 

Obverse

Inscription of five lines. Thick linear border.

γρα
φασσφρα
γιμι
χαηλτα
.νιτ

γραφὰς σφραγίζω Μιχαὴλ Τα[ρ]ωνίτ(ου)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. A border of pellets between concentric linear borders.

γαμ
ρμε
γιστδεσ
.οτα
λεΞι.

γαμβροῦ μεγίστου δεσ[π]ότου Ἀλεξί[ου]

Obverse

Inscription of five lines. Thick linear border.

γρα
φασσφρα
γιμι
χαηλτα
.νιτ

γραφὰς σφραγίζω Μιχαὴλ Τα[ρ]ωνίτ(ου)

Reverse

Inscription of five lines. A border of pellets between concentric linear borders.

γαμ
ρμε
γιστδεσ
.οτα
λεΞι.

γαμβροῦ μεγίστου δεσ[π]ότου Ἀλεξί[ου]

Accession number BZS.1958.106.5634
Diameter 19.0 mm
Previous Editions

Zacos-Veglery, no. 2710; Oikonomides, Dated Seals, no. 101. Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Siegel mit metrischen Legenden I, no.453. See also Stratos Nikolaros, “Die Taronitai. Eine prosopographisch-sigillographische Studie,” Millennium 14 (2017), 227-291, no. 14.

Translation

γραφὰς σφραγίζω Μιχαὴλ Ταρωνίτου γαμβροῦ μεγίστου δεσπότου Ἀλεξίου.

I seal the letters of Michael Taronites, brother-in-law of the supreme sovereign Alexios.

Commentary

This seal must date between the accession of Alexios I Komnenos in 1081 and Michael Taronites' arrest and exile for conspiracy in 1094. He is known to have married the emperor's eldest sister Maria about the year 1061. See PBW : Michael 136.

Bibliography