Nikolaos, imperial spatharios and domestikos of Thrakesion, 9th century. Seal (Lead, 31 mm, 16.13 g, 12 h). Large cruciform monogram ΘЄOTOKЄ BOHΘЄI; in quadrants, TⲰ - CⲰ / Δ૪-ΛⲰ ("Mother of God, help your servant"). Rev. +NIKOΛA/Ⲱ B’CTPAT’ S / ΔOMЄCT, TⲰ/N ΘPAKIC, in four lines. Unpublished in the standard references. An interesting seal with a rare military command. Some deposits, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.


The office of domestikos is rarely encountered in connection to a theme. Cheynet publishes a seal of Theoktistos, domestikos of Thrakesion (Istanbul 3.123). As domestikos, he was the military official in charge of the logistical operations in support of the army stationed in the Thrakesion theme, under the command of a strategos.