Thracesian Theme
Encyclopedia
The Thracesian Theme more properly known as the Theme of the Thracesians , was a Byzantine
theme (a military-civilian province) in western Asia Minor
(modern Turkey), comprising the ancient regions of Ionia
, Lydia
and parts of Phrygia
and Caria
.
that was raised to a theme, but recent scholarship has shown it to have been one of the first four themes created. At any rate, the Thracesians are first securely attested in 711, although many scholars believe that the Thracesian army is to be identified with the Thracianus exercitus ("Thracian army") mentioned in a decree of 687. The name of the theme derives from the fact that the themes were formed in the 640s as military encampment areas for the remnants of the old field armies of the East Roman army
, following the Muslim conquests
: in the case of the Thracesians, the old field army of the magister militum
per Thracias
. This is further supported by the fact that units that are known to have been part of the latter in the 4th/5th centuries, the vexillatio
palatina
of the Equites Theodosiaci Iuniores and the auxilium palatinum
of the Victores, are attested again as the theme's tourmai of the Theodosiakoi and Viktores in the 10th century. This provides the Thracesian theme with the distinction of fielding some of the oldest units of the Byzantine army
.
The theme contained some 20 cities, with Ephesus
(also known as "Theologos" at the time) the largest among them. Its capital, however, was most likely Chonae. One of the largest and most important themes, at the heyday of the thematic system in the 8th–9th centuries, its governing strategos
commanded some 10,000 troops and had an annual salary of 40 pounds of gold. In 949, its senior-most officers were, in order of rank, the tourmarches of the Theodosiakoi, the tourmarches of the Viktores, the tourmarches of the seacoast (tēs paraliou), and a meriarches. The coast was also under the parallel authority of the strategos of the naval theme of Samos
, who drew crews and ships from there.
Most of the theme was briefly conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century, but most of its territory was recovered by John Doukas
with the help of the First Crusade
(1096–1099). John II Komnenos
(r. 1118–1143) re-established it, albeit in a reduced size, under a doux
with seat at Philadelphia
. The southern portion of the old theme became part of the new theme of Mylasa and Melanoudion
. The theme was one of the last Byzantine territories in Asia Minor to fall to the various Turkish beyliks
. By the early 14th century, however, it had been restricted to the area around Smyrna
, until that city also fell to the Beylik of Aydın in 1330.
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 western 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), comprising the ancient regions of 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...
, Lydia
Lydia
Lydia was an Iron Age kingdom of western Asia Minor located generally east of ancient Ionia in the modern Turkish provinces of Manisa and inland İzmir. Its population spoke an Anatolian language known as Lydian....
and 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 Caria
Caria
Caria was a region of western Anatolia extending along the coast from mid-Ionia south to Lycia and east to Phrygia. The Ionian and Dorian Greeks colonized the west of it and joined the Carian population in forming Greek-dominated states there...
.
History
As with the other themes, the exact date of foundation is unclear: earlier scholars believed that it was initially a tourma of the Anatolic ThemeAnatolic Theme
The Anatolic Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Anatolics was a Byzantine theme in central Asia Minor...
that was raised to a theme, but recent scholarship has shown it to have been one of the first four themes created. At any rate, the Thracesians are first securely attested in 711, although many scholars believe that the Thracesian army is to be identified with the Thracianus exercitus ("Thracian army") mentioned in a decree of 687. The name of the theme derives from the fact that the themes were formed in the 640s as military encampment areas for the remnants of the old field armies of the East Roman army
East 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...
, following 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...
: in the case of the Thracesians, the old field army of the magister militum
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
per Thracias
Diocese of Thrace
The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later...
. This is further supported by the fact that units that are known to have been part of the latter in the 4th/5th centuries, the vexillatio
Vexillatio
A vexillatio was a detachment of a Roman legion formed as a temporary task force created by the Roman Army of the Principate. It was named from the standards carried by legionary detachments, vexillum , which bore the emblem and name of the parent legion...
palatina
Palatini (Roman military)
The palatini were elite regiments of the Late Roman army mostly attached to the comitatus praesentales, or imperial escort armies...
of the Equites Theodosiaci Iuniores and the auxilium palatinum
Auxilia palatina
Auxilia palatina were infantry units of the Late Roman army, first raised by Constantine I as part of the new field army he created in about 325....
of the Victores, are attested again as the theme's tourmai of the Theodosiakoi and Viktores in the 10th century. This provides the Thracesian theme with the distinction of fielding some of the oldest units of the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
.
The theme contained some 20 cities, with Ephesus
Ephesus
Ephesus was an ancient Greek city, and later a major Roman city, on the west coast of Asia Minor, near present-day Selçuk, Izmir Province, Turkey. It was one of the twelve cities of the Ionian League during the Classical Greek era...
(also known as "Theologos" at the time) the largest among them. Its capital, however, was most likely Chonae. One of the largest and most important themes, at the heyday of the thematic system in the 8th–9th centuries, its governing 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...
commanded some 10,000 troops and had an annual salary of 40 pounds of gold. In 949, its senior-most officers were, in order of rank, the tourmarches of the Theodosiakoi, the tourmarches of the Viktores, the tourmarches of the seacoast (tēs paraliou), and a meriarches. The coast was also under the parallel authority of the strategos of the naval theme of Samos
Samos (theme)
The Theme of Samos was a Byzantine military-civilian province, located in the eastern Aegean Sea, established in the late 9th century. As one of the Byzantine Empire's three dedicated naval themes , it served chiefly to provide ships and troops for the Byzantine navy.-History:The dates of...
, who drew crews and ships from there.
Most of the theme was briefly conquered by the Seljuk Turks in the late 11th century, but most of its territory was recovered by John Doukas
John Doukas (megas doux)
John Doukas was a member of the Doukas family, a relative of the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and a senior military figure of his reign. As governor of Dyrrhachium he secured the imperial possessions in the western Balkans against the Serbs...
with the help of the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
(1096–1099). John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos was Byzantine Emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as Kaloïōannēs , he was the eldest son of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos and Irene Doukaina...
(r. 1118–1143) re-established it, albeit in a reduced size, under a doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
with seat at Philadelphia
Alasehir
Alaşehir, in Antiquity and the Middle Ages known as Philadelphia , i.e. " brotherly love" is a town and district of Manisa Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is situated in the valley of the Kuzuçay , at the foot of the Bozdağ...
. The southern portion of the old theme became part of the new theme of Mylasa and Melanoudion
Mylasa and Melanoudion
The Theme of Mylasa and Melanoudion was a Byzantine province in southwestern Asia Minor in the 12th and 13th centuries....
. The theme was one of the last Byzantine territories in Asia Minor to fall to the various Turkish beyliks
Anatolian Turkish Beyliks
thumb|350px|Anatolian Turkish Beyliks map.Anatolian beyliks, Turkish beyliks or Turkmen beyliks were small Turkish Muslim emirates or principalities governed by Beys, which were founded across Anatolia at the end of the 11th century in a first period, and more extensively during the decline of the...
. By the early 14th century, however, it had been restricted to the area around Smyrna
Smyrna
Smyrna was an ancient city located at a central and strategic point on the Aegean coast of Anatolia. Thanks to its advantageous port conditions, its ease of defence and its good inland connections, Smyrna rose to prominence. The ancient city is located at two sites within modern İzmir, Turkey...
, until that city also fell to the Beylik of Aydın in 1330.