Cherson (theme)
Encyclopedia
The Theme of Cherson originally and formally called the Klimata (Greek: , ta Klimata, "the regions/districts"), was a Byzantine
theme (a military-civilian province) located in the southern Crimea
, headquartered at Cherson.
The theme was officially established in the early 830's and was an important centre of Black Sea
commerce. Despite the destruction of Cherson in the late 900's, the theme endured until it became a part of the Empire of Trebizond
after the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire
in 1204.
and later Byzantine imperial control until the early 8th century, but passed under Khazar control thereafter. Byzantine authority was re-established by Emperor Theophilos
(r. 829–842), who in the early 830's (832/833/834) sent a strategos
to assume control. The city of Cherson, however, continued to be administered by several local lords (archon
tes) under a proteuon ("the first").
The province played an important role in Byzantine relations with the Khazars and later with the Pechenegs and the Rus'
. Cherson prospered greatly during the 9th–11th centuries as a centre of Black Sea commerce, despite the city's destruction by Vladimir of Kiev in 988/989. It is notable that Cherson was one of the few provincial mints, having resumed minting of coins
under Emperor Michael III
(r. 842–867).
Cherson and its province remained under Byzantine control until the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade
in 1204, when they passed under the sovereignty of the breakaway Empire of Trebizond.
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) located in the southern Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
, headquartered at Cherson.
The theme was officially established in the early 830's and was an important centre of Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
commerce. Despite the destruction of Cherson in the late 900's, the theme endured until it became a part of the Empire of Trebizond
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, founded in April 1204, was one of three Byzantine successor states of the Byzantine Empire. However, the creation of the Empire of Trebizond was not directly related to the capture of Constantinople by the Fourth Crusade, rather it had broken away from the Byzantine Empire...
after the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
in 1204.
History
The region had been under RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and later Byzantine imperial control until the early 8th century, but passed under Khazar control thereafter. Byzantine authority was re-established by Emperor 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), who in the early 830's (832/833/834) sent a strategos
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...
to assume control. The city of Cherson, however, continued to be administered by several local lords (archon
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
tes) under a proteuon ("the first").
The province played an important role in Byzantine relations with the Khazars and later with the Pechenegs and the Rus'
Rus' (people)
The Rus' were a group of Varangians . According to the Primary Chronicle of Rus, compiled in about 1113 AD, the Rus had relocated from the Baltic region , first to Northeastern Europe, creating an early polity which finally came under the leadership of Rurik...
. Cherson prospered greatly during the 9th–11th centuries as a centre of Black Sea commerce, despite the city's destruction by Vladimir of Kiev in 988/989. It is notable that Cherson was one of the few provincial mints, having resumed minting of coins
Byzantine coinage
Byzantine currency, money used in the Eastern Roman Empire after the fall of the West, consisted of mainly two types of coins: the gold solidus and a variety of clearly valued bronze coins...
under Emperor Michael III
Michael III
Michael III , , Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian-Phrygian Dynasty...
(r. 842–867).
Cherson and its province remained under Byzantine control until the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade
Fourth Crusade
The Fourth Crusade was originally intended to conquer Muslim-controlled Jerusalem by means of an invasion through Egypt. Instead, in April 1204, the Crusaders of Western Europe invaded and conquered the Christian city of Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire...
in 1204, when they passed under the sovereignty of the breakaway Empire of Trebizond.