★ The Armenian officer Theodoros Chetames ★

Theodoros Chetames (Thoros, son of Hetoum), kouropalates and doux of Melitene, circa 1074. Seal (Lead, 27 mm, 18.82 g, 12 h). [O AΓIO,] - ΘЄ/OΔ/ⲰP/O, Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield. Rev. OMⲰNV/MON CON Δ૪/KA K૪POΠAΛ[A]/THN MAPT[VC] / XЄTAMHN [TO]/N MЄΛIT[ HNH,] / CKЄΠO[IC] ('Martyr, may you protect your namesake, Chetames, kouropalates and doux of Melitene') in seven lines. Sandrovskaja/Seibt 62. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus II, 1618. Zacos Sale II (Spink 132, 25 May 1999), 130. A very important seal of great historical interest. Repatinated and with some scrapes, otherwise, good very fine.

From a European collection, acquired before 2021.

The Armenian officer, Theodoros Chetames, is mentioned by Michael the Syrian as the first commander of Melitene. He was installed in 1074 by the 'generalissimus', Philaretos Brachamios, amidst the chaos of the aftermath of the Battle of Manzikert, during which he bore the Byzantine court dignity of kouropalates, as evidenced by our seal. Two decades later, in 1094/95, Theodoros was appointed commander of Edessa by the Seljuk sultan, Tutus, but proceeded to gain control of the city for himself (see the seal in Leu Web Auction 9 (2019), 1363 which mentions him being emir as well as kouropalates), fighting off a Turkish siege in the process. In 1098, a small army of Crusader knights arrived in Edessa, headed by Baldwin of Boulogne. They were greeted into the city as allies, and Theodoros adopted Baldwin as his son and heir. However, events turned against him, and he was killed in a revolt, perhaps at the instigation of Baldwin, who thus secured Edessa as his own realm.