Theodoros Pegonites, magistros and doux of Edessa, 1066-1067. Seal (Lead, 34 mm, 22.06 g, 12 h). +KЄ RO[H]/ΘЄI TⲰ CⲰ / ΔOVΛⲰ ΘЄ/OΔⲰPⲰ MA/ΓICTPⲰ in five lines. Rev. +KAI ΔO[V]/KI ЄΔЄCHC / TⲰ ΠHΓO/NITⲰ in four lines; below, star between decorations. DO Seals IV, 73.2. An interesting seal of an important Byzantine general. Cut at the top and with some scuffs and scratches, otherwise, good very fine.


Three seal types allow the reconstruction of the military career of Theodoros Pegonites. The first stage, in the middle of the 11th century, is marked by a seal mentioning him being a patrikios and strategos (BBÖ 290). Some years later his seal calls him patrikios anthypatos, vestes and katepano of Paradounabiton (in Bulgaria, Jordanov, Corpus I, 58.2). The last stage of his career is represented by our seal, attesting further promotion to the rank of magistros and an important military command on the other side of the empire. A relatively precise date is possible due to a remark by Matthew of Edessa of a conspiracy of a certain Pegonites against the doux of Antioch. After this betrayel, Pegonites was stripped of his command by the emperor, Constantine X Ducas (1059-1067).