★ An unpublished seal of Michael Bourtzes ★

Michael Bourtzes, kouropalates and strategos of Anatolikon, second half of the 11th century. Seal (Lead, 20 mm, 7.70 g, 12 h). +KЄ R,Θ, / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪ / MIXAHΛ / K૪POΠA/ΛATI in five lines, decorations above and flanking the last line. Rev. S CTPA/THΓⲰ TⲰ / ANATOΛH/K૪ TⲰ R૪P/TZH in five lines, decorations above and flanking the last line. Apparently unpublished. Small scrape on the reverse and minor doubling, otherwise, good very fine.

From a Swiss collection, acquired before 2021.

Cheynet, in his article on the Armenian or Arab Bourtzes family, published two seal types of a Michael Bourtzes dating to the second third of the 11th century, and attributes them to the homonymous general mentioned by John Skylitzes during the reign of Michael VI (1056-1057). He was a partisan of Isaac I Comnenus (1057-1059), who promoted him to magistros and awarded him the command of Anatolikon. Our seal, however, seems to belong to a relative of the same name who was active several decades later. Even though he has the same military command, he bears the more elevated title of kouropalates. Our Michael is more likely identical to the Michael Bourtzes who signed a seal as proedros and doux (Cheynet, La famille Bourtzès: 365-366) and this new type would mark the next stage of his career. This Michael may also be identified with the Bourtzes who is mentioned by Anna Komnene as commander of Choma and Cappadocia. Finally, compare the intriguing and otherwise unpublished seal of a Michael 'the New' Bourtzes that appeared in Leu Web Auction 18 (2021), 4021.