Philaretos Brachamios, kouropalates and stratopedarches of all the East, circa 1070-1080. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 19.45 g, 12 h). [O AΓIOC] - ΘЄ/OΔ/ω/O, Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left. Rev. +ΦIΛA/PЄTO K૪/ΠAΛT, S CTP/AT,ΠЄΔAPX/ ΠΑΗ ANAT / O RPA ('Philaretos Brachamios, kouropalates and stratopedarches of all the East') in six lines. Seibt, Philaretos Brachamios, p. 286-287. Theodoridis 37 (all with the addition 'of the East'). Minor weakness of strike, otherwise, very fine. An impressive seal of the famous Byzantine-Armenian general. Some minor marks and scratches and slightly double struck, otherwise, very fine.

From a European collection, acquired before 2021.

Philaretos Brachamios was a Byzantine general of Armenian descent who rose to fame in the wake of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, a disastrous defeat that led to the loss of most of eastern Asia Minor by the central Byzantine government. However, a series of local Byzantine military commanders continued to fight the Seljuks in the late 11th century, the most successful of whom was Philaretos, who controlled large parts of Cilicia, Armenia and Syria as a semi-autonomous warlord. His main strongholds were the important cities of Melitene and Antiochia, the latter of which was lost to the Seljuks in 1086, just twelve years before it was captured by the knights of the First Crusade in 1098. Philaretos is not mentioned much in historiographical sources, but a number of seals attest his cursus honorum. Our seal dates to the 70s of the 11th century: it mentions Philaretos as the supreme commander of the eastern regiments, but does not yet name one of his later, higher court dignities.