★ Andronikos Palaiologos, protopansebastohypertatos ★

Andronikos Palaiologos, protopansebastohypertatos, circa 1190-early 13th century. Seal (Lead, 50 mm, 57.20 g, 12 h). ΠAΛAIOΛO/ΓOC ANΔPO/NIKOC MЄ ΓPA/ΦЄI : KO MNHN O/Δ૪KⲰN in five lines, cross between decorations above. Rev. ЄΞ ANA/KTⲰN OCΦV/OC : O ΠPⲰTO/ΠANCЄRA CT OC / ЄΞ VΠEPTA/TON : ('I am inscribed by the protopansebastohypertatos Andronikos Palaiologos, who comes from the loins of kings of the houses of both Komnenoi and Doukai', three twelve-syllabe verses each marked with colons) in six lines. Jordanov, Corpus III, 627A. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1748. Zacos/Veglery 2747. Zacos III (Geneva) 219. An impressive and exceptionally heavy late Byzantine seal with an elaborate metrical inscription. Some minor roughness and cracks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, acquired before 2021.

The euphemism 'from the loins' is borrowed from Scripture (Gen. 35:11; Hebrews 7:5). Although there are several persons bearing this name and title, the Andronikos Palaiologos of our seal can certainly be identified as the second-born son of Georgios Palaiologos, sebastos and megas hetaireiarches, and an unknown woman. The seal of his elder brother, Alexios, also survives, and has a nearly identical second verse (see Zacos/Veglery 2752). Although the brothers boast to be descendants of two imperial houses, in fact, their claim is rather exaggerated. They are referring to their great-grandmother on their father’s side, Zoe Doukaina, who was born in the Porphyra as daughter of emperor Constantine X. Andronikos is mentioned as a dignitary present at the Synod of September 1191 with the title that also occurs on the seal. Furthermore, he is called gambros (son-in-law) of the emperor, Isaac II, although it is doubtful that he actually married the emperor’s daughter, as he may also have married a niece or a cousin, as Wassiliou-Seibt observes. Lastly, this Andronikos can be identified as one of the generals sent by the Byzantines to break the Norman siege of Thessalonica in 1185.