Tornikios, imperial protospatharios and strategos of Derxene (Drezene), first half 11th century. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 9.12 g, 12 h). KЄ ROIΘI [TⲰ C]Ⲱ Δ, - Θ / N/I-K/O/Λ, Nimbate facing bust of Saint Nicholas, raising his right hand in benediction and holding a book of Gospels in his left hand. Rev. +TOPN/IKIⲰC R’A’/CΠAΘ’ S CT/PATIΓ, ΔPЄ/ZЄNIC in five lines, decorations above and below. Wassiliou-Seibt, Sammlung Boersema, 5 (this seal). Good very fine.



Tornikios, whose name indicates Armeno-Iberian descent, was an important military commander on the eastern border. The theme of Derxene/Drezene is already attested in written sources for the years 948-952, but Tornikios is the first of its commanders whose name is preserved. If the choice of St. Nicholas is indicative, the owner of our seal most likely traced his family branch back to the Armenian T'ornik (son of Apogenem, brother of the prince of Taron), whose son Nikolaos moved to the Capital in the 10th century.