Tatikios, protokouropalates and megas primikerios, 1094-1110. Seal (Lead, 22 mm, 8.77 g, 12 h). [O AΓI] - ΓЄ/[Ⲱ]P/[ΓI]/O, Saint George standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield. Rev. [+KЄ] R,Θ, / [T]ATIKIⲰ / AK૪POΠAΛA/[T]H S MЄΓAΛⲰ / [Π]PIMIKH/PIⲰ in six lines. Unpublished parallel in Dumbarton Oaks (BZS.1955.1.2663). Cf. Wassiliou-Seibt, Sammlung Boersema, no. 9 (protonobellisimos and megas primikerios). A seal of great importance to the history of Byzantium and the Crusades. Struck on a tight flan and with some striking weakness and roughness, otherwise, very fine.


Tatikios was a close friend and collaborator of the emperor Alexios I Komnenos. Both men grew up together, Tatikios being the son of a 'Saracen' taken captive by Alexios' father John Komnenos. The young officer pursued a brilliant military career, taking part in the Battle of Dyrrhachium against Robert Guiscard (1081), and he is attested being megas primikerios, chief of the imperial guard, in this year. Tatikios is particularly well-known for his role in the First Crusade. He was appointed by Alexios as guide and counselor to the Crusaders, accompanying them to Antioch and giving them advice during the siege. The year after the capture of the city, however, in 1099, he disappears from the sources and we have no record of his death. Anna Komnene speaks very highly of him, mentioning that he was 'a very brave man, unfazed by battle' and 'an intelligent speaker and decisive in action.' The Crusaders, on the other hand, came to mistrust him and he was evaluated very badly in western sources. William of Tyre notes that he was a 'wicked and faithless man, with a slit nose as a sign of his evil mind.'

This is third known seal that can be attributed to Tatikios. Our seal helps complete the reading of the parallel unpublished seal in Dumbarton Oaks. Like ours, it is struck on a tight flan, and slightly off center, resulting in loss of parts of the legend. Fortunately, both seals together allow a complete reading. A second type, attesting the higher court rank of protonobellisimos, resides in the collection Boersema and was recently published by Wassiliou-Seibt.