★ Theophanes stratelates, in charge of the apotheke (campus) of the slaves (captives) in Lycaonia. ★

Theophanes stratelates, in charge of
the apotheke (campus) of the slaves (captives) in Lycaonia.
A beautiful, rare and of high historical importance
byzantine lead seal
(dated to 696 AD)

Obverse: Emperor Leontius II standing facial and crowned, holding akakia in his left and cruciger globus in his right, circular inscription clockwise, ΘΕΩΦΑ[ΝOVC]-CΤ(Ρ)ΑΤΙΛΑΤΟV (Of Theophanes stratelates), indiction year in the field, Ι-Θ (indiction 9th, equal to AD 696), no visible border.
Reverse: Inscription in 5 lines, ΑΠΟ/ΘΗΚΗCΤ/ΟΝCΚΛΑΒ/ΟΝΛΥΚΑΟΝΗΑC= ἀποθήκης τῶν σκλάβων Λυκαονίας (of the warehouse of the slaves [war captives] in Lycaonia), traces of wreath border.
Commentary: The present dated seal, not included in Nicolas Oikonomides, A collection of dated seals, DO, 1986, had as owner the stratelates Theophanes, who was in charge of campus/jail of the war captives in Lycaonia, which was a large region in the interior of Asia Minor, north of the Taurus Mountains. It was bounded on the east by Cappadocia, on the north by Galatia, on the west by Phrygia and Pisidia, while to the south it extended to the chain of Mount Taurus, where it bordered on the country popularly called in earlier times Cilicia and in the Byzantine period Isauria; but its boundaries varied greatly at different times.
Leontios or Leontius (Greek: Λεόντιος; ca. 660 –August 705/February 706) was Byzantine emperor from 695 to 698. Little is known of his early life, other than that he was born in Isauria in Asia Minor. He was given the title of patrikios, and made strategos of the Anatolic Theme under Emperor Constantine IV. He led forces against the Umayyads during the early years of Justinian II's reign, securing victory and forcing the Umayyad caliph, Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan, to sue for peace. In 692, Justinian declared war upon the Umayyads again, and sent Leontios to campaign against them. However, he was defeated decisively at the Battle of Sebastopolis, and imprisoned by Justinian for his failure. He was released in 695, and given the title of strategos of the Theme of Hellas in Southern Greece. After being released, he led a rebellion against Justinian, and seized power, becoming emperor in the same year. He ruled until 697, when he was overthrown by Apsimar, a droungarios who had taken part in a failed expedition that had been launched by Leontios to recover Carthage. After seizing Constantinople, Apsimar took the name Tiberius III, and had Leontios' nose and tongue cut off. He was sent to the Monastery of Dalmatou, where he remained until some time between August 705 and February 706. By this time Justinian had retaken the throne. Both Leontios and Tiberius were executed.
Bibliography: Grumel, La Chronologie, p. 248.

Condition: Very Fine

Weight: 22.4 gr
Diameter: 34 mm