Thathoul Pakourianos, protonobelissimos and archon of the archontes, circa 1100. Seal (Lead, 28 mm, 19.25 g, 1 h). ...Є/O-...C Saint Theodore, nimbate, standing facing, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield. Rev. ...T૪ΛH AN,/[RH]ΛHCHMO S / [AP]XONTI TON / [A]PXONTON / TO ΠAKOV/PHANⲰ in seven lines. Zacos Sale II 129 (different boulleterion.) Cf. J.-C. Cheynet: Thathoul, archonte des archontes, in: REB 48 (1990), p. 233-242 and Zacos Sale II 128. An important seal of an Armenian governor known from the historic record. Minor roughness on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.


Cheynet identifies the owner of this seal with the Armenian T'at'ul, who was governor of the town of Germanikeia (Marash) under Alexios I Komnenos (1081-1118). Germanikeia held a key strategic location on the eastern border, controlling the route to Antioch. In fact, during the First Crusade, it was a resting place for the Normans commanded by Bohemond and Richard of Salerno, who recognized the authority of Thathoul as its governor. However, in 1104, another Crusader force, commanded by Bohemond and Joscelin of Courtenay, took possession of Germanikeia and deposed the Armenian governor, who retreated to Constantinople. The family name identifies Thathoul as a member of the illustrious family of the Pakourianoi, who were of Georgian origin. Another seal type of Thathoul exists that is slightly different (Zacos Sale II, 128, published in a dedicated article by Cheynet, and of which a second parallel sold in our Web Auction 20, 3178). This type is of a 'provincial' style, with very unconventional letter shapes, the legend stated in the nominative and it omits the family name.