Artavasdos (the future usurper), patrikios and strategos, 8th century. Seal (Lead, 25 mm, 16.82 g, 12 h). Large cruciform monogram ΘЄOTOKЄ BOHΘЄI; in quadrants, TⲰ / Δ૪/ΛⲰ / C૪ ('Mother of God, help your servant'). Rev. +APTA/VCΔⲰ Π/ATPIKIⲰ / S CTPAT/IΓⲰ+ ('Artavasdos, patrikios and strategos') in five lines. Zacos/Veglery 1743 var. (legend variant). Some surface roughness, otherwise, very fine.



This seal belongs to the Armenian general, Artavasdos, who rose to great prominence under Leo III after the two men had conspired to remove Theodosius III from power in 717. Although the alliance was sealed by marriage - Artavasdos wedded Leo's daughter, Anna - the general's ambitions were not tempered, and when Leo III passed away and Constantine V succeeded him, Artavasdos soon sought to overthrow his brother-in-law. The general managed to capture Constantinople and secure his coronation while Constantine was away on campaign in 741, but the latter's troops did not abandon him and he remained entrenched in Asia Minor. Artavasdos eventually led a campaign against Constantine in 743, but was himself defeated. Together with his sons he was captured and brought to the capital, where, according to custom, they were blinded and forced into a monastery.