Henry of Flanders (1206-16)
Obverse
The emperor enthroned on a sellion decorated with animal heads. He wears a crown and imperial garments and holds a cross-topped scepter in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, between a double border of dots.
ερρικοσδεσποτηϚ
Ἐρρῖκος dεσπότης
Reverse
The emperor on horseback to right, wearing armor and holding a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left. Circular inscription, between a double border of dots.
HENRICD RATIAIN PATORROIE
Henric(us) D(e)i gratia inp(er)ator Ro(man)ie
Obverse
The emperor enthroned on a sellion decorated with animal heads. He wears a crown and imperial garments and holds a cross-topped scepter in the right hand and a globus cruciger in the left. Circular inscription, between a double border of dots.
ερρικοσδεσποτηϚ
Ἐρρῖκος dεσπότης
Reverse
The emperor on horseback to right, wearing armor and holding a sword in the right hand and a shield in the left. Circular inscription, between a double border of dots.
HENRICD RATIAIN PATORROIE
Henric(us) D(e)i gratia inp(er)ator Ro(man)ie
| Accession number | BZS.1958.106.636 |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 47.0 mm; field: 38.0 mm |
| Previous Editions | DO Seals 6, no. 97.1. Zacos-Veglery, no. 112a. The editors publish similar specimens under nos. 112b-d. See now the Namur example illustrated and discussed in Pontani, "Precisazioni," 380 (figs. 11 and 12) and 382; see also Schlumberger, "Sceaux et bulles," 90-92, and Sig. Orient Latin, 167-68. |
Translation
Ἐρρῖκος dεσπότης. Henry, despotes.
Henricus Dei gratia inperator Romanie. Henry, by the Grace of God, emperor of the Roman realm.
Bibliography
- Byzantine Lead Seals, Vol. 1 (Open in Zotero)
- Precisazioni sul numisma laetiense e su un sigillo plumbeo inedito di Enrico di Hainaut (Open in Zotero)
- Sigillographie de l’Orient latin (Open in Zotero)
- Sceaux et bulles des empereurs latins de Constantinople (Open in Zotero)
- Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Vol. 6, Emperors, Patriarchs of Constantinople, Addenda (Open in Zotero)
Commentary
Schlumberger, “Sceaux et bulles,” pl. 2, no. 3, reproduced a splendid example of Henry’s gold seal. One of Henry’s lead seals was found in Bulgaria in 1966 during excavations at Tsarevets. The specimen, which is preserved at the Historical Museum, Veliko Trnovo, has been republished and can be conveniently viewed in Gjuzelev, “Drei Bleisiegel,” 38–39.
Henry was the brother of Emperor Baldwin, who was captured in the battle of Adrianople in April of 1205. Henry became emperor in August of 1206 and died in Thessalonike on 20 August, 1216.