Stephanos Kontostephanos, despotes, 1126-1149. Seal (Lead, 30 mm, 25.67 g, 12 h). KONTO/CTЄΦAN૪ / KAI CTЄΦAN/૪ ΔЄCΠOT૪ in four lines, decorations above and below. Rev. KAI KVPO/C ЄPΓⲰN KAI / CΦPAΓIC R૪/ΛЄVMATⲰ/N ('Seal of the judgments, acts and decisions of Stephanos Kontostephanos, despotes') in five lines, decorations above and flanking the last line. Oikonomides, Dated Seals 114. Wassiliou-Seibt, Corpus 1126. Zacos/Veglery 2723. An impressive late Byzantine seal of great historical interest. Good very fine.


As Wassiliou-Seibt notes, the word 'despotes' likely refers to the title of panhypersebastos. This honor was bestowed on Stephanos Kontostephanos by emperor John II Comnenus (1118-1143) after Stephanos married the second daughter of Anna Komnene in 1126. In 1148, he was given the command of the Byzantine fleet during a campaign to reconquer the island of Kerkyra (Corfu) from the Sicilian king, Roger II. Stephanos Kontostephanos was mortally wounded in the ensuing conflict and died in 1149.