Hikanatoi
| Hikanatoi | |
|---|---|
| Active | 809/811–11th century (?) |
| Disbanded | unknown; last attested in 949 |
| Country | Byzantine Empire |
| Type | Guard heavy cavalry |
| Garrison/HQ | Constantinople, Bithynia, Thrace |
The Hikanatoi (
tagmata, the elite guard units based near the imperial capital of Constantinople
. Founded in the early 9th century, it survived until the late 11th century.
History
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The exact date of the unit's establishment is uncertain: the Vita Ignatii, a
sigillographic evidence as to its establishment is vague, and could support a late 8th-century establishment.[1] According to the Vita, Niketas, the grandson of Nikephoros and future patriarch Ignatius, was appointed as the regiment's first commander.[4]
The name of the unit derives from the Greek word ἱκανός, "able", and the Latin ending -atus.Battle of Acheloos in 917.[6] In the Cretan expedition of 949, 456 soldiers of the unit from Bithynia, as well as an unspecified number of members garrisoned in the European themes of Thrace and Macedonia took part.[6] The unit's continued existence in the 11th century can not be safely attested, as the few occurrences are either modern emendations or may refer to a family name "Hikanatos".[4][7] Like most of the tagmata, it probably ceased to exist sometime in the latter half of the 11th century.[8][9]
Structure
According to
His chief subordinate was the prōtomandatōr (head messenger), and three classes of standard-bearers: the bandophoroi, sēmeiophoroi and doukiniatores.[13]
As with the other tagmata, the exact size of the unit and its subdivisions is a matter of debate, since it is chiefly based on
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), include mention of 456 Hikanatoi,[12]
but it is unclear what part of the unit's strength they represent.
Known commanders
- Niketas Rhangabe (the future Patriarch Ignatios), c. 810–811[16][17]
- domestikos tōn scholōn, he served domestikos tōn hikanatōn under Nikephoros I and was captured at Pliska, later became a monk and saint[18]
- Orestes, prōtospatharios, attended the 869 Church council in Constantinople[19][20]
- Nikephoros Tzourakes, prōtospatharios, mid-9th/10th century, known only from his seal[19][21]
- John Kourkouas (grandfather of the namesake 10th-century general), rebelled against Basil I c. 885[19][22]
- Bardas, basilikos spatharios, 9th century, known only from his seal[23][24]
- Michael, basilikos prōtospatharios, 9th century, known only from his seal[23][25]
- Theoktistos or Theognostos, basilikos spatharios, 9th century, known only from his seals; based on a better exemplar he may have actually been domestikos of the Optimatoi rather than of the Hikanatoi[23][26]
- Pankratoukas, under Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912)[19]
- Olbianos Maroules, commanded the regiment at Acheloos in 917[19]
- Constantine Barymichael, defected from Romanos Lekapenos during their rivalry for the throne in 919[19]
- John, basilikos prōtospatharios, 9th/10th century, known only from his seal[23][27]
- Leo, basilikos prōtospatharios, late 9th/early 10th century, known only from his seal[28]
- Constantine, basilikos prōtospatharios, 10th century, known only from his seal[29]
- Leo Sarakenopoulos, before 971[30]
- Theodore, basilikos prōtospatharios, 10th century, known only from his seal[31]
References
- ^ a b Bury 1911, p. 63.
- ^ Kühn 1991, pp. 116–117.
- ^ Kühn 1991, p. 116.
- ^ a b c d e ODB, "Domestikos ton hikanaton" (A. Kazhdan), p. 647.
- ^ Kühn 1991, p. 117 (note 5).
- ^ a b Kühn 1991, p. 118.
- ^ Kühn 1991, p. 119.
- ^ Haldon 1999, p. 120.
- ^ Birkenmeier 2002, pp. 156, 159.
- ^ Kühn 1991, p. 117.
- ^ Kühn 1991, pp. 117–118.
- ^ a b Bury 1911, p. 64.
- ^ Bury 1911, pp. 56, 62, 64.
- ^ Treadgold 1995, pp. 67, 116.
- ^ Haldon 1999, pp. 102–103.
- ^ Kühn 1991, pp. 116, 119.
- ^ PmbZ, Ignatios (#2666/corr.).
- ^ PmbZ, Petros (#6046).
- ^ a b c d e f Kühn 1991, p. 120.
- ^ PmbZ, Orestes (#26191).
- ^ PmbZ, Nikephoros (#25601).
- ^ PmbZ, Ioannes Kurkuas (#22824).
- ^ a b c d Kühn 1991, p. 121.
- ^ PmbZ, Bardas (#796).
- ^ PmbZ, Michael (#5104).
- ^ PmbZ, Theoktistos (#8056).
- ^ PmbZ, Ioannes (#3156).
- ^ PmbZ, Leon (#24364).
- ^ PmbZ, Konstantinos (#23904).
- ^ PmbZ, Leon Sarakenopulos (#24520).
- ^ PmbZ, Theodoros (#27741).
Sources
- Birkenmeier, John W. (2002). The Development of the Komnenian Army: 1081–1180. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers. ISBN 90-04-11710-5.
- OCLC 1046639111.
- Haldon, John F. (1984). Byzantine Praetorians. An Administrative, Institutional and Social Survey of the Opsikion and Tagmata, c. 580-900. Bonn: Dr. Rudolf Habelt GmbH. ISBN 3-7749-2004-4.
- ISBN 1-85728-495-X.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Kühn, Hans-Joachim (1991). Die byzantinische Armee im 10. und 11. Jahrhundert: Studien zur Organisation der Tagmata (in German). Vienna: Fassbaender Verlag. ISBN 3-9005-38-23-9.
- Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Pratsch, Thomas; Zielke, Beate (2013). Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit Online. Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Nach Vorarbeiten F. Winkelmanns erstellt (in German). Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter.
- Treadgold, Warren T. (1995). Byzantium and Its Army, 284–1081. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. ISBN 0-8047-3163-2.
Further reading
- Treadgold, Warren T. (1980). "Notes on the Numbers and Organisation of the Ninth-Century Byzantine Army". Greek, Roman and Byzantine Studies. 21. Oxford, United Kingdom: 269–288.