David Arianites

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David Areianites or Arianites (

Byzantine
commander of the early 11th century.

Origin

The origin of the surname is uncertain and different theories have been proposed ranging from various anthroponomastic and toponymic derivations of the

Illyrian tribe, the Arinistae/Armistae.[1] The name "Ar[e]ianites" is hence variously considered to have been of Albanian[2] or Iranian[3] origin. David is sometimes considered to be the first member of the Arianiti clan, which was active in late medieval Albania, but the connection can not be verified due to lack of sources.[1]

Life

David Arianites first appears in 999/1000, holding the rank of

domestikos ton scholon of the West) in succession to Nikephoros Ouranos, who was moved to the governorship of Antioch.[4] He probably remained in the same post until ca. 1014, when Theophylact Botaneiates is attested as holding it.[4]

In 1016, Arianites was tasked with capturing the

Strumitza, during which expedition he captured the fortress of Thermitza as well.[4] In 1017, Basil II invaded Bulgaria with a large army. His objective was the town of Kastoria which controlled the road between Thessaly and the coast of modern Albania. He sent parts of his army under Arianites and Constantine Diogenes to loot Pelagonia. Basil II himself managed to capture several minor Bulgarian castles but all attempts to seize Kastoria remained futile.[4][5]

Following the death of Tsar

References

  1. ^ .
  2. . Ja, schon früher war einer arbanitischen Familie offenbar der Aufstieg in die Reichsaristokratie gelungen, wenn mit Recht aus dem Namen der Familie der Arianitai auf albanischen Ursprung geschlossen wurde. Der Patrikios David Arianites sah sich ...
  3. ^ Polemis, Demetrios I. (1968). The Doukai: A Contribution to Byzantine Prosopography. London, United Kingdom: The Athlone Press. p. 103.
  4. ^ a b c d e Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Zielke, Beate; Pratsch, Thomas, eds. (2013). "David Areianites (#21348)". Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Nach Vorarbeiten F. Winkelmanns erstellt (in German). De Gruyter.
  5. ^ Златарски, История на българската държава, Том I, Част II, с. 725-728
  6. .
Preceded by Governor (doux) of
Thessalonica

999/1000 – ca. 1014 (?)
Succeeded by
New title
strategos autokrator and katepano of Bulgaria

1018–1022/25
Succeeded by