★ Adrianos, the brother of Alexios I Komnenos ★

Adrianos Komnenos, grand domestikos of all the West, after 1087. Seal (Lead, 28 mm, 25.55 g, 12 h). [O] A/ΓI/O[C] – Γ/Є/ⲰP/ΓI/O/C Saint George standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield . Rev. [+KЄ R,Θ,] / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪Λ, / [A]ΔPIANⲰ ACЄ/RACTⲰ S MΓ ΔOMЄ/[C]TIKⲰ ΠACHC / [ΔVCЄ]ⲰC TⲰ / [KOMNHN]Ⲱ in seven lines. DO Seals I, 1.13. Laurent, Corpus II 940. A rare seal of an important Byzantine general from the imperial family. Somewhat double struck and with some marks and scratches, otherwise, good fine.

From a European collection, acquired before 2021.

Adrianos was the brother of Alexios I Komnenos. After his brother became emperor, he was awarded the newly created dignity of protosebastos, which he shared with his brother-in-law and the Doge of Venice. He acted as his brother's general during campaigns against the Normans of Robert Guiscard. In 1087 he became supreme commander of the western armies, in which capacity he fought against the Pechenegs. At the end of his life, Adrianos retired to a monastery under the name of Johannes.