Adrianos Komnenos, protosebastos and grand domestikos of all the West, after 1087. Seal (Lead, 29 mm, 21.09 g, 12 h). [O] A/[Γ]I/O/C – Γ/Є/ⲰP/ΓI/O/C Saint George standing facing, nimbate, holding spear in his right hand and resting his left on shield . Rev. +K[Є R,]Θ, / TⲰ CⲰ Δ૪ΛⲰ, / AΔPIANⲰ A'CЄ/RACTⲰ S MΓ ΔOMЄ/CTIKⲰ ΠACHC / ΔVCЄⲰC TⲰ / KOMNHNⲰ in seven lines. DO Seals I, 1.13. Laurent, Corpus II 940. A well-preserved and impressive seal of a major Byzantine general. Flan fault, otherwise, good very fine.



Adrianos was the brother of Alexios I Komnenos. After his brother became emperor, he was awarded the newly created dignity of protosebastos, which he shared with his brother-in-law and the Doge of Venice. Adrianos acted as his brother's general during campaigns against the Normans of Robert Guiscard. In 1087 he became supreme commander of the western armies, in which capacity he fought against the Pechenegs. At the end of his life, Adrianos retired to a monastery under the name of Johannes.