Melias (general of Lykandos)
Encyclopedia
Melias or Mleh was an Armenian
prince who entered Byzantine
service and became a distinguished general, founding the theme of Lykandos
and participating in the campaigns of John Kourkouas
against the Arabs.
A member of the lower naxarar nobility, possibly from the Varazhnuni clan, he first appears in historical sources as a vassal of Ashot the Long-armed, an Armenian prince who entered imperial service in ca. 890. As part of Ashot's Armenian contingent, he fought on the Byzantine side at the disastrous battle of Bulgarophygon
against the Bulgarians
. Ashot himself perished in this battle, along with he larger part of the Byzantine force. Melias escaped and returned to his service at the Byzantine eastern frontier. There he fought the Arabs, particularly the emirate of Melitene, and established a semi-autonomous lordship in the hills west of this city. After participating in the failed aristocratic rebellion of Andronikos Doukas against Emperor Leo VI the Wise
(r. 886–912) in 905 however, Melias and many other Armenian nobles were forced to flee to Melitene to escape retribution. In 908 however, Leo pardoned the rebels, who returned to assume positions of authority in the eastern frontier. Melias was first appointed as tourmarches of the region of Trypia "in Euphrateia" and then as kleisourarches, i.e. commander of a kleisoura
, a fortified frontier command. This kleisoura was the district around the fort of Lykandos, which Melias rebuilt, and which was settled by Armenians. For the next decades, it would be one of the main Byzantine bases of attack against the Arabs.
Almost immediately, Melias set about expanding his province. Excelling in the small-scale border warfare, he seized and fortified the nearby mountain regions of Tzamandos and Symposion. The threat that this new province and Melias' activities posed on Melitene is recognized in Arab sources, and in 909 or 912, a major assault was launched against him, but was successfully repulsed. In 915, Melias and his men raided Arab territory as far as Germanikeia (modern Kahramanmaraş
). In recognition of this valour and loyalty, by 916 the kleisoura of Lykandos was raised to the status of a full theme, with Melias as its strategos
with the rank of patrikios and later magistros. In the next year, Melias and his troops took part in the campaign against Bulgaria that led to yet another disastrous defeat at Acheloos. In the campaigns of John Kourkouas
, which began in 926, Melias played a prominent role. In 927, Kourkouas and Melias attacked Melitene, and succeeded in storming the city, although the citadel held out. As a result, Melitene pledged vassalage to the Empire. In the event, Melitene soon renounced the treaty, and was placed again under siege by the Byzantines. According to an Arab account, Melias tried to infiltrate the city by disguising some of his troops as artisans, but the ploy was foiled. Nevertheless, the city soon after agreed to host a Byzantine garrison. In 930, Melias raided the territory near Samosata
, but was defeated by the Arab general Nedjm, and one of his sons was captured and taken to Baghdad
. Nothing further is recorded of his activities in the East. He died in 934.
His descendants however continued to play an important role in Lykandos and the Byzantine army: another Melias is recorded as serving with John Tzimiskes, both during the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas (963–969) and during Tzimiskes' own reign, until his death in 973. It has also been suggested that the memory of Melias has been preserved in the figure of the apelates Melementzes in the acritic epic
Digenes Akritas.
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
prince who entered Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
service and became a distinguished general, founding the theme of Lykandos
Lykandos
Lykandos or Lycandus was the name of a Byzantine fortress and military-civilian province , known as the Theme of Lykandos, in the 10th–11th centuries.-History:...
and participating in the campaigns of John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas , also transliterated as Kurkuas or Curcuas, was one of the most important generals of the Byzantine Empire. His successes in battle against the Muslim states in the East definitively reversed the course of the centuries-long Byzantine–Arab Wars and began Byzantium's 10th-century...
against the Arabs.
A member of the lower naxarar nobility, possibly from the Varazhnuni clan, he first appears in historical sources as a vassal of Ashot the Long-armed, an Armenian prince who entered imperial service in ca. 890. As part of Ashot's Armenian contingent, he fought on the Byzantine side at the disastrous battle of Bulgarophygon
Battle of Bulgarophygon
The Battle of Boulgarophygon or Battle of Bulgarophygon was fought in the summer of 896 near the town of Bulgarophygon, modern Babaeski in Turkey, between the Byzantine Empire and the First Bulgarian Empire...
against the Bulgarians
First Bulgarian Empire
The First Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state founded in the north-eastern Balkans in c. 680 by the Bulgars, uniting with seven South Slavic tribes...
. Ashot himself perished in this battle, along with he larger part of the Byzantine force. Melias escaped and returned to his service at the Byzantine eastern frontier. There he fought the Arabs, particularly the emirate of Melitene, and established a semi-autonomous lordship in the hills west of this city. After participating in the failed aristocratic rebellion of Andronikos Doukas against Emperor Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
(r. 886–912) in 905 however, Melias and many other Armenian nobles were forced to flee to Melitene to escape retribution. In 908 however, Leo pardoned the rebels, who returned to assume positions of authority in the eastern frontier. Melias was first appointed as tourmarches of the region of Trypia "in Euphrateia" and then as kleisourarches, i.e. commander of a 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...
, a fortified frontier command. This kleisoura was the district around the fort of Lykandos, which Melias rebuilt, and which was settled by Armenians. For the next decades, it would be one of the main Byzantine bases of attack against the Arabs.
Almost immediately, Melias set about expanding his province. Excelling in the small-scale border warfare, he seized and fortified the nearby mountain regions of Tzamandos and Symposion. The threat that this new province and Melias' activities posed on Melitene is recognized in Arab sources, and in 909 or 912, a major assault was launched against him, but was successfully repulsed. In 915, Melias and his men raided Arab territory as far as Germanikeia (modern Kahramanmaraş
Kahramanmaras
-Industry:Kahramanmaraş's industry is mainly based on textile and ice cream. Kahramanmaraş is one of the biggest textile industry cities of Turkey. Companies like Kipaş, İskur, Arsan and Bozkurt are one of the richest companies in the city...
). In recognition of this valour and loyalty, by 916 the kleisoura of Lykandos was raised to the status of a full theme, with Melias as its 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...
with the rank of patrikios and later magistros. In the next year, Melias and his troops took part in the campaign against Bulgaria that led to yet another disastrous defeat at Acheloos. In the campaigns of John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas
John Kourkouas , also transliterated as Kurkuas or Curcuas, was one of the most important generals of the Byzantine Empire. His successes in battle against the Muslim states in the East definitively reversed the course of the centuries-long Byzantine–Arab Wars and began Byzantium's 10th-century...
, which began in 926, Melias played a prominent role. In 927, Kourkouas and Melias attacked Melitene, and succeeded in storming the city, although the citadel held out. As a result, Melitene pledged vassalage to the Empire. In the event, Melitene soon renounced the treaty, and was placed again under siege by the Byzantines. According to an Arab account, Melias tried to infiltrate the city by disguising some of his troops as artisans, but the ploy was foiled. Nevertheless, the city soon after agreed to host a Byzantine garrison. In 930, Melias raided the territory near Samosata
Samosata
Samosata was an ancient city on the right bank of the Euphrates whose ruins existed at the modern city of Samsat, Adıyaman Province, Turkey until the site was flooded by the newly-constructed Atatürk Dam....
, but was defeated by the Arab general Nedjm, and one of his sons was captured and taken to Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
. Nothing further is recorded of his activities in the East. He died in 934.
His descendants however continued to play an important role in Lykandos and the Byzantine army: another Melias is recorded as serving with John Tzimiskes, both during the reign of Nikephoros II Phokas (963–969) and during Tzimiskes' own reign, until his death in 973. It has also been suggested that the memory of Melias has been preserved in the figure of the apelates Melementzes in the acritic epic
Acritic songs
The Acritic songs are the heroic or epic poetry that emerged in the Byzantine Empire probably in the 9th century. The songs celebrated the exploits of the Akrites, the frontier guards defending the eastern borders of the Byzantine Empire. The historical background was the almost...
Digenes Akritas.