Theodoros Pegonites, patrikios, vestarches and doux of Mesopotamia, third quarter 11th century. Seal (Lead, 26 mm, 17.22 g, 12 h). +KЄ R,[Θ,] / TⲰ CⲰ Δ… / ΘЄOΔ[ⲰPⲰ] / ΠPIKI, R[Є]/CTAP,
in five lies, decorations below.
Rev. [S] ΔUK[I / M]ЄCOΠO/[TA]MIAC / TⲰ ΠHΓO/NITH in five lies, decorations below. Apparently unpublished. An interesting new seal type for this accomplished Byzantine commander. Flan flaw
, otherwise, extremely fine.
From a European collection, formed before 2005.
The military trajectory of Theodoros Pegonites is discernible through his successive seals. Initially, in the mid-11th century, he is noted as a patrikios and strategos (BBÖ 290). Some years later, his seal designates him as patrikios anthypatos, vestes, and katepano of Paradounabiton in Bulgaria (Jordanov, Corpus I, 58.2). A subsequent promotion to vestes and vestarches is confirmed on a seal from the Tatis collection, where he also commands as doux of Edessa (Cheynet, Tatis 3.29). The culmination of his career is marked by elevation to the rank of magistros.
Matthew of Edessa records a conspiracy involving a certain Pegonites against the doux of Antioch in 1066-1067, likely the same individual mentioned in the seals. Following this betrayal, Pegonites was relieved of his command by Emperor Constantine X Ducas (1059-1067). Our seal indicates another significant post in the East: doux of Mesopotamia.
