Philaretos Brachamios, magistros and doux, 1060-1070. Seal (Lead, 28 mm, 20.75 g, 12 h). Θ / Δ/H/M/I-T/P,/O, – Θ / Θ/Є-O/Δ/Ⲱ/P/O, Saints Demetrios (on left) and Theodoros (on right), standing facing, both nimbate, holding spear in their right hands, and resting left hands on a shield. Rev. +KЄ R,HΘ, / ΦIΛAPHTⲰ / MAΓICTPⲰ / KAI Δ૪K, TⲰ / RPAXAMI/Ⲱ in six lines, decorations above and flanking the last line. Cheynet, Istanbul 2.205. Société p. 393-395. Seibt, Philaretos Brachamios, p. 283-285. A rare seal of the famous Armenian general at the beginning of his career. Rough surfaces, otherwise, good fine.


Philaretos Brachamios was a Byzantine general of Armenian descent who rose to fame in the wake of the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, a disastrous defeat that led to the loss of most of eastern Asia Minor by the central Byzantine government. However, a series of local Byzantine military commanders continued to fight the Seljuks in the late 11th century, the most successful of whom was Philaretos, who controlled large parts of Cilicia, Armenia and Syria as a semi-autonomous warlord. His main strongholds were the important cities of Melitene and Antiochia, the latter of which was lost to the Seljuks in 1086, just twelve years before it was captured by the knights of the First Crusade in 1098. Philaretos is not mentioned much in historiographical sources, but a number of seals attest his cursus honorum. Our seal, attesting the relatively modest rank of magistros, dates to the 60s of the 11th century, and belongs the earlier stages of his career.