Nikephoros Alyates, kanikleios, circa mid 13th century. Seal (Lead, 35 mm, 20.67 g, 12 h). MP / ΘV - IC / XC The Mother of God “Hodegetria”, nimbate, standing, wearing chiton and maphorion, pointing with her right hand towards Infant Christ seated on her left arm. Rev. T૪ KANIK/ΛЄI૪ TAC ΓPA/ΦA[C] AΛVAT૪ / H ΠAPΘЄNOC ΦV/ΛATЄ T૪ NI/KHΦOP૪ ('Virgin, protect the writings of the kanikleios Nikephoros Alyates') in five lines. Laurent, Corpus II, 228. Seibt/Zarnitz 3.1.3. A large seal of great historical interest. Breaks along th channel, otherwise, very fine.
Kanikleios was one of the highest offices in the Byzantine imperial chancery. The title refers to the imperial inkstand, which was shaped like a little dog (Lat. canicula) and of which the kanikleios was the keeper. The close proximity of the kanikleios to the emperor made him a very influential figure at the imperial court. Historical sources place our Nikephoros Alyates in the entourage of several 13th century emperors of Nicaea: he became a member of the chancery of Johannes III Batatzes before serving as epi tou kanikleiou under Theodoros II Laskaris. However, he fell out of favor to the point that the emperor had his tongue cut off, a brutal but common Byzantine corporal punishment. In 1259, Alyates regained imperial favor under Michael VIII Palaiologos, who reinstated him to his former position and sent him as an envoy to Manfred, King of Sicily (1258-1266) and son of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick II, where he was detained for two years. This is the last time we hear of Alyates, as he subsequently disappears from all historic record