Mesopotamia (theme)

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Byzantine Mesopotamia
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This article is about the province (theme) during the middle Byzantine era. For the preceding province in Roman antiquity until the time of Heraclius, see Mesopotamia (Roman province). For other uses, see Mesopotamia (disambiguation).
Theme of Mesopotamia
Μεσοποταμία, θέμα Μεσοποταμίας
Seljuks
. 		1070s
Today part ofTurkey

Mesopotamia (

theme (a military-civilian province) located in what is today eastern Turkey. It should not be confused with the region of Mesopotamia or with the older Roman and early Byzantine province of Mesopotamia. The Byzantine theme was located between the rivers Arsanias (modern Murat
) and Çimisgezek.

History

Seal of John Kastamonites, vestes and katepano of Mesopotamia

The theme was formed probably between 899 and 911, when Emperor

Kamacha (part of the theme of Koloneia) were then joined to it to form the new theme.[3][4]

Although Emperor

tourmarches with the Armenian name Mousilikes, is tentatively dated to c. 870.[5]

It is thus possible that Mesopotamia was constituted in the late 9th century out of an Armenian principality as a division (

tourma) of some neighbouring theme, with its prince receiving a Byzantine title and continuing to govern it, before it was expanded into a full theme. This may also explain the peculiar custom of its strategos drawing, until 911, his salary not from the imperial treasury but from the customs proceeds of the kommerkion of his province.[4]

Commanders of the theme continued to be appointed throughout the 10th century, co-existing with the new post of "

Seljuk Turks.[2]

References

  1. ^ McGeer, Nesbitt & Oikonomides 2001, p. 134.
  2. ^ a b c Kazhdan 1991, p. 1348.
  3. ^ Charanis 1963, p. 29.
  4. ^ a b c McGeer, Nesbitt & Oikonomides 2001, pp. 134–135.
  5. ^ McGeer, Nesbitt & Oikonomides 2001, pp. 140–142.
  6. ^ McGeer, Nesbitt & Oikonomides 2001, p. 135; Holmes 2005, pp. 322–330.

Sources

  • OCLC 17186882
    .
  • Holmes, Catherine (2005). Basil II and the Governance of Empire (976–1025). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    ISBN 978-0-19-927968-5
    .
  • ISBN 0-19-504652-8
    .
  • McGeer, Eric; Nesbitt, John;
    ISBN 0-88402-282-X
    .

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