Andronikos Palaiologos, protopansebastohypertatos, circa 1190-early 13th century. Seal (Lead, 50 mm, 57.20 g, 12 h). ΠAΛAIOΛO/ΓOC ANΔPO/NIKOC MЄ ΓPA/ΦЄI : KOMNHNO/Δ૪KⲰN in five lines, cross between decorations above. Rev. ЄΞ ANA/KTⲰN OCΦV/OC : O ΠPⲰTO/ΠANCЄRACTOC / 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.


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.