Anatolic Theme
Encyclopedia
The Anatolic Theme more properly known as the Theme of the Anatolics (Greek: , thema Anatolikōn) was a Byzantine
theme (a military-civilian province) in central Asia Minor
(modern Turkey
). From the break-up of the Opsikion
in the mid-8th century on, it was the most important of all the themes of the Empire.
, devastated by the Muslim conquests
. The Anatolic theme, which stretched over the ancient regions of Lycaonia
, Pisidia
, Isauria
, as well as parts of Phrygia
and Galatia
, was settled by the army of the East (Greek: , Anatolē), which gave it its name. Its capital was most likely Amorium
, at least until it was sacked by the Arabs
in 838.
Directly facing the forces of the Caliphate
, the Anatolic was the most powerful theme: it fielded some 18,000 men in the 8th century and 15,000 men in the 9th century, when it contained 34 fortresses. Its governing stratēgos
, holding the senior court ranks of patrikios, anthypatos
or prōtospatharios
, ranked first among the other stratēgoi and constituted one of the highest offices of the state, and one of the few from which eunuchs were specifically barred. Its very power, however, also meant that it was a potential threat to the emperor: a first revolt is recorded in 681, and in 714 its commander, Leo the Isaurian, managed to establish himself as emperor (Leo III). Another stratēgos, Bardanes Tourkos
, rebelled in 803. Conversely, in 742 Constantine V
found refuge and support in the Anatolic theme against the usurper Artabasdos
.
Early in the 9th century, however, its eastern tourma was detached to form the separate frontier command (kleisoura
) of Cappadocia
, while under Theophilos
(r. 829–842), its south-eastern corner was detached as another kleisoura under the name of Seleucia
. The last appearance of the Anatolic Theme in the historical sources is in 1077, when its stratēgos, Nikephoros Botaneiates, proclaimed himself emperor. Soon after, the region was overrun by the Seljuk Turks.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
theme (a military-civilian province) in central Asia Minor
Asia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
(modern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
). From the break-up of the Opsikion
Opsikion
The Opsician Theme or simply Opsikion was a Byzantine theme located in northwestern Asia Minor . Created from the imperial retinue army, the Opsikion was the largest and most prestigious of the early themes, being located closest to Constantinople...
in the mid-8th century on, it was the most important of all the themes of the Empire.
History
The exact date of the theme's establishment is unknown, although it is attested for the first time in 669. Along with the other original themes, however, it was established sometime after the 640s as a military encampment area for the remnants of the old field armies of the East Roman armyEast Roman army
The East Roman army refers to the army of the Eastern section of the Roman Empire, from the empire's definitive split in 395 AD to the army's reorganization by themes after the permanent loss of Syria, Palestine and Egypt to the Arabs in the 7th century...
, devastated by the Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab conquests, began with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He established a new unified polity in the Arabian Peninsula which under the subsequent Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates saw a century of rapid expansion of Muslim power.They...
. The Anatolic theme, which stretched over the ancient regions of Lycaonia
Lycaonia
In ancient geography, Lycaonia was a large region in the interior of Asia Minor, north of Mount Taurus. It was bounded on the east by Cappadocia, on the north by Galatia, on the west by Phrygia and Pisidia, while to the south it extended to the chain of Mount Taurus, where it bordered on the...
, Pisidia
Pisidia
Pisidia was a region of ancient Asia Minor located north of Lycia, and bordering Caria, Lydia, Phrygia and Pamphylia. It corresponds roughly to the modern-day province of Antalya in Turkey...
, Isauria
Isauria
Isauria , in ancient geography, is a rugged isolated district in the interior of South Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surroundings in the Konya province of Turkey, or the core of the Taurus Mountains. In...
, as well as parts of Phrygia
Phrygia
In antiquity, Phrygia was a kingdom in the west central part of Anatolia, in what is now modern-day Turkey. The Phrygians initially lived in the southern Balkans; according to Herodotus, under the name of Bryges , changing it to Phruges after their final migration to Anatolia, via the...
and Galatia
Galatia
Ancient Galatia was an area in the highlands of central Anatolia in modern Turkey. Galatia was named for the immigrant Gauls from Thrace , who settled here and became its ruling caste in the 3rd century BC, following the Gallic invasion of the Balkans in 279 BC. It has been called the "Gallia" of...
, was settled by the army of the East (Greek: , Anatolē), which gave it its name. Its capital was most likely Amorium
Amorium
Amorium was a city in Phrygia, Asia Minor which was founded in the Hellenistic period, flourished under the Byzantine Empire, and declined after the Arab sack of 838. Its ruins are located near the village of Hisarköy, Turkey....
, at least until it was sacked by the Arabs
Sack of Amorium
The Sack of Amorium by the Abbasid Caliphate in mid-August 838 was one of the major events in the long history of the Byzantine–Arab Wars. The Abbasid campaign was led personally by the Caliph al-Mu'tasim , in retaliation to a virtually unopposed expedition launched by the Byzantine emperor...
in 838.
Directly facing the forces of the Caliphate
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
, the Anatolic was the most powerful theme: it fielded some 18,000 men in the 8th century and 15,000 men in the 9th century, when it contained 34 fortresses. Its governing stratēgos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
, holding the senior court ranks of patrikios, anthypatos
Anthypatos
Anthypatos is the translation in Greek of the Latin proconsul. In the Greek-speaking East, it was used to denote this office in Roman and early Byzantine times, surviving as an administrative office until the 9th century...
or prōtospatharios
Protospatharios
Prōtospatharios was one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period , awarded to senior generals and provincial governors, as well as to foreign princes.-History:...
, ranked first among the other stratēgoi and constituted one of the highest offices of the state, and one of the few from which eunuchs were specifically barred. Its very power, however, also meant that it was a potential threat to the emperor: a first revolt is recorded in 681, and in 714 its commander, Leo the Isaurian, managed to establish himself as emperor (Leo III). Another stratēgos, Bardanes Tourkos
Bardanes Tourkos
Bardanes, nicknamed Tourkos, "the Turk" , was a Byzantine general of Armenian origin who launched an unsuccessful rebellion against Emperor Nikephoros I in 803. Although a major supporter of Byzantine empress Irene of Athens , soon after her overthrow he was appointed by Nikephoros as...
, rebelled in 803. Conversely, in 742 Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
found refuge and support in the Anatolic theme against the usurper Artabasdos
Artabasdos
Artavasdos, Latinized as Artabasdos or Artabasdus , was Byzantine Emperor of Armenian descent from June 741 or 742 until November 743...
.
Early in the 9th century, however, its eastern tourma was detached to form the separate frontier command (kleisoura
Kleisoura (Byzantine district)
In the Byzantine Empire, a kleisoura was a term traditionally applied to a fortified mountain pass and the military district protecting it. By the late 7th century, it came to be applied to more extensive frontier districts, distinct from the larger themata, chiefly along the Empire's eastern...
) of Cappadocia
Cappadocia (theme)
The Theme of Cappadocia was a Byzantine theme encompassing the southern portion of the namesake region from the early 9th to the late 11th centuries.-Location:...
, while under Theophilos
Theophilos (emperor)
Theophilos was the Byzantine emperor from 829 until his death in 842. He was the second emperor of the Phrygian dynasty, and the last emperor supporting iconoclasm...
(r. 829–842), its south-eastern corner was detached as another kleisoura under the name of Seleucia
Seleucia (theme)
The Theme of Seleucia was a Byzantine theme in the southern coast of Asia Minor , headquartered at Seleucia .-History:...
. The last appearance of the Anatolic Theme in the historical sources is in 1077, when its stratēgos, Nikephoros Botaneiates, proclaimed himself emperor. Soon after, the region was overrun by the Seljuk Turks.