Philaretos Brachamios, sebastos and domestikos of the eastern regiments, circa 1070-1080. Seal (Lead, 23 mm, 9.73 g, 12 h). Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield. Rev. [MAPTVS C]ЄRACT[Ⲱ T]Ⲱ ΦIΛAP[ЄTⲰ] NIKAC A[NATO]ΛHC ΠAPA[CXЄ] TⲰ ΔOM[ЄC]TIK ("Martyr, provide victory to Philaretos, the domestikos of the east") in seven lines. Zacos Sale III (Spink 132), 123. A rare type with a metric legend invoking St. Theodore. Marks and scratches and struck on a small flan, otherwise, good fine.



Philaretos Brachamios was a Byzantine general of Armenian descent who rose to fame in the wake of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, a disastrous defeat that led to the loss of most of eastern Asia Minor by the central Byzantine government. However, a series of local Byzantine military commanders continued to fight the Seljuks in the late 11th century, the most successful of whom was Philaretos, who controlled large parts of Cilicia, Armenia and Syria as a semi-autonomous warlord. His main strongholds were the important cities of Melitene and Antiochia, the latter of which was lost to the Seljuks in 1086, just twelve years before it was captured by the knights of the First Crusade in 1098. Philaretos is not mentioned much in historiographical sources, but a number of seals attest his cursus honorum. Our seal dates to the 70s of the 11th century: it mentions Philaretos as the supreme commander of the eastern regiments, but does not yet name one of his later, higher court dignities.