The Anatolic Theme (Greek: Άνατολικόν [θέμα], Anatolikon [thema]), more properly the Theme of the Anatolics (θέμα Άνατολικῶν, thema Anatolikōn) was a Byzantine theme (a military-civilian province) in central Asia Minor (modern Turkey). From the break-up of the Opsikion in the mid-8th century on, it was the most important of all the themes of the Empire.
The exact date of the theme's establishment is unknown, although it is attested for the first time in 669.[1] Along with the other original themes however, it was established sometime after the the 640s as a military encampment area for the remnants of the old field armies of the East Roman army, devastated by the Muslim conquests. The Anatolic theme, which stretched over the ancient regions of Lycaonia, Pisidia, Isauria, as well as parts of Phrygia and Galatia,[2] was settled by the army of the East (Άνατολῆ, Anatolē in Greek), which gave it its name.[3][4] Its capital was most likely Amorium, at least until it was sacked by the Arabs in 838.[5][6]
Directly facing the forces of the Caliphate, the Anatolic was the most powerful theme: it fielded some 18,000 men in the 8th century and 15,000 in the 9th, when it contained 34 fortresses. Its governing stratēgos, holding the senior court ranks of patrikios, anthypatos or prōtospatharios, ranked first among the other stratēgoi and constituted one of the highest offices of the state, and one of the few from which eunuchs were specifically barred.[6][7][8] Its very power however also meant that it was a potential threat to the emperor: a first revolt is recorded in 681, and in 714 its commander, Leo the Isaurian, managed to establish himself as emperor (Leo III). Another stratēgos, Bardanes Tourkos, rebelled in 803.[6] Conversely, in 842 Constantine V found refuge and support in the Anatolic theme against the usurper Artabasdos.[9]
Early in the 9th century however, its eastern tourma was detached to form the separate frontier command (kleisoura) of Cappadocia, while under Theophilos (r. 829–842), its south-eastern corner was detached as another kleisoura under the name of Seleucea.[9][10] The last appearance of the Anatolic Theme in the historical sources is in 1077, when its stratēgos, Nikephoros Botaneiates, proclaimed himself emperor.[9] Soon after, the region was overrun by the Seljuk Turks.
References
Sources
- Bury, John B. (1911), The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century - With a Revised Text of the Kletorologion of Philotheos, Oxford University Publishing
- Gyftopoulou, Sofia. "Ανατολικών Θέμα" (in Greek). Encyclopedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor. http://www.ehw.gr/l.aspx?id=3587. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- Haldon, John F. (1997). Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521319171. http://books.google.com/books?id=pSHmT1G_5T0C.
- Haldon, John F. (1999). Warfare, state and society in the Byzantine world, 565-1204. Routledge. ISBN 1-85728-494-1. http://books.google.com/books?id=-R0G0Enf58AC.
- Kazhdan, Alexander, ed (1991). Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.
- Treadgold, Warren T. (1998). Byzantium and Its Army, 284-1081. Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0804731632. http://books.google.com/books?id=xfV0LkMNaLUC.
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