Sabas Asidenos
Encyclopedia
Sabas or Sabbas Asidenos ' onMouseout='HidePop("20281")' href="/topics/Floruit">fl.
1204–1216) was a powerful local magnate of the region of Sampson (ancient Priene
in Ionia
) in the early 13th century. Following the Fourth Crusade
, he established himself as an independent ruler before submitting to the Empire of Nicaea
.
The origin of Asidenos is unknown. In 1204, like other powerful magnates (e.g. Theodore Mangaphas
or Leo Sgouros
), he used the power vacuum created by the fall
of the Byzantine
imperial capital of Constantinople
to the Fourth Crusade
, to seize control of Sampson and the lower valley of the Maeander River
. In late 1205 or early 1206 however, he was forced to recognize the sovereignty of the major Anatolia
n Byzantine successor realm, the Empire of Nicaea
headed by Theodore I Laskaris
(r. 1204–1222). Asidenos submitted peacefully and maintained his local influence however, possibly acting as the region's governor.
His relations with the Nicaean ruler became close, and Asidenos apparently married into the Laskarid dynasty, for in 1214 he is addressed by Theodore I as sympetheros ("relative-in-law"), and he is recorded as holding the title of sebastokrator
, at the time usually restricted to the emperor's brothers. Asidenos is mentioned again in 1216, in a document from a monastery in Mt Latros. Nothing is known of him thereafter.
Floruit
Floruit , abbreviated fl. , is a Latin verb meaning "flourished", denoting the period of time during which something was active...
1204–1216) was a powerful local magnate of the region of Sampson (ancient Priene
Priene
Priene was an ancient Greek city of Ionia at the base of an escarpment of Mycale, about north of the then course of the Maeander River, from today's Aydin, from today's Söke and from ancient Miletus...
in Ionia
Ionia
Ionia is an ancient region of central coastal Anatolia in present-day Turkey, the region nearest İzmir, which was historically Smyrna. It consisted of the northernmost territories of the Ionian League of Greek settlements...
) in the early 13th century. Following 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...
, he established himself as an independent ruler before submitting to the Empire of Nicaea
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
.
The origin of Asidenos is unknown. In 1204, like other powerful magnates (e.g. Theodore Mangaphas
Theodore Mangaphas
Theodore Mangaphas or Mankaphas was a nobleman from Philadelphia who assumed the title of Byzantine Emperor twice, first during the reign of Isaac II, and secondly after the sacking of Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade...
or Leo Sgouros
Leo Sgouros
Leo Sgouros was a Greek independent lord in the northeastern Peloponnese in the early 13th century. The scion of the magnate Sgouros family, he succeeded his father as hereditary lord in the region of Nauplia...
), he used the power vacuum created by the fall
Siege of Constantinople (1204)
The Siege of Constantinople occurred in 1204; it destroyed parts of the capital of the Byzantine Empire as it was confiscated by Western European and Venetian Crusaders...
of the 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...
imperial capital of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
to 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...
, to seize control of Sampson and the lower valley of the Maeander River
Maeander River
The Büyük Menderes River ; , Ancient Greek: Μαίανδρος, Maíandros) is a river in southwestern Turkey. It rises in west central Turkey near Dinar before flowing west through the Büyük Menderes graben until reaching the Aegean Sea in the proximity of the ancient Ionian city Miletus...
. In late 1205 or early 1206 however, he was forced to recognize the sovereignty of the major Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
n Byzantine successor realm, the Empire of Nicaea
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea was the largest of the three Byzantine Greek successor states founded by the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire that fled after Constantinople was occupied by Western European and Venetian forces during the Fourth Crusade...
headed by Theodore I Laskaris
Theodore I Laskaris
Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris was emperor of Nicaea .-Family:Theodore Laskaris was born to the Laskaris, a noble but not particularly renowned Byzantine family of Constantinople. He was the son of Manuel Laskaris and wife Ioanna Karatzaina . He had four older brothers: Manuel Laskaris Theodoros...
(r. 1204–1222). Asidenos submitted peacefully and maintained his local influence however, possibly acting as the region's governor.
His relations with the Nicaean ruler became close, and Asidenos apparently married into the Laskarid dynasty, for in 1214 he is addressed by Theodore I as sympetheros ("relative-in-law"), and he is recorded as holding the title of sebastokrator
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
, at the time usually restricted to the emperor's brothers. Asidenos is mentioned again in 1216, in a document from a monastery in Mt Latros. Nothing is known of him thereafter.