Michael Bourtzes, vestarches and katepano, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 20 mm, 10.26 g, 12 h). +KЄ / ROHΘЄI / TⲰ CⲰ ΔU / MIXAHΛ in four lines; above and below, decorations. Rev. •RЄC•/TAPXH S / KATЄΠAN / TⲰ ROVP/•TZH• in five lines. Unpublished in the standard references. Good very fine.


Cheynet, in his article on the Armenian or Arab Bourtzes family, published two seal types of a Michael Bourtzes dating to the second third of the 11th century. The oldest type styles him anthypatos and stratelates. The other type mentions him being magistros, vestes, vestarches and strategos of Anatolikon. Cheynet attributes these seals to the homonymous general mentioned by John Skylitzes during the reign of Michael VI (1056-1057). He was a partisan of Isaac I Comnenus (1057-1059), who promoted him to magistros and awarded him the command of Anatolikon. Our seal, bearing the same dignity of vestarches, but with a different military command, may belong to this individual as well. However, the name Michael was very well-liked in the Bourtzes family, and it is also possible that it belongs to yet another family member.