Apnelgaripes Chasanes (Abul-Gharib Artsruni, son of Hasan), vestes and strategos, third quarter of the 11th century. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 15.77 g, 12 h). O / A/Γ/I/[O]C - Γ/Є/Ⲱ/P/ΓI/O, Saint George, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield.
Rev. +CON OIKT, / AΠЄΛΓAPHΠH / RECTHN S CTPA/TIΓⲰN ΦVΛATT / MAPTVC TON / XACANHN ('Martyr, protect your servant Apnelgaripes Chasanes, vestes and strategos') in six lines. Cf. Cheynet, Collection Tatis no. 3.48 (Apnelgaripes Chasanios, patrikios (?), stratelates (?) and strategos of Tarsos and ...). Cf. Cheynet, Les Marchapsaboi, p. 171, note 23 = Leu Web Auction 24 (2022), 3651 ('Apnelgaripes Chasanios, proedros and strategos of Tarsos and Sousounte'). An important new seal type of this interesting Armenian general on the Eastern frontier. Good very fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
Apnelgaripes can be identified with the Armenian nobleman Abul-Gharib Artsruni, son of Hasan. His family was closely associated with the family of Senacherim Johannes, prince of Vaspurakan. Although being of high Armenian descent, Apnelgaripes adhered to Byzantine orthodoxy and served the emperor, Michael VII, as governor of Cilicia. One of his daughters married David, son of Gagik II, the last king of Ani. Another of his daughters married Oshin of Lampron, from whom the Huthumids descended, rulers of the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia in the 13th-14th centuries.
