Cherson (theme)

Χερσῶν, θέμα Χερσῶνος (τὰ Κλίματα) Theme of Cherson (Klimata) Theme of the Byzantine Empire 830s–1204 Map of the administrative structure of the Byzantine Empire in 1025. Cherson is located in the southern Crimea. Capital Cherson Historical era Middle Ages  - Established 832/833/834  - Destruction of Cherson 988/989  - Controlled by the Empire of Trebizond 1204

The Theme of Cherson (Greek: θέμα Χερσῶνος, thema Chersōnos), originally and formally called the Klimata (Greek: τὰ Κλίματα, ta Klimata, "the regions/districts"),^[1][2] was a Byzantine theme (a military-civilian province) located in the southern Crimea, headquartered at Cherson.^[2][3]

The theme was officially established in the early 830's and was an important centre of Black Sea commerce. Despite the destruction of Cherson in the late 900's, the theme endured until it became a part of the Empire of Trebizond after the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire in 1204.

History

The region had been under Roman and later Byzantine imperial control until the early 8th century, but passed under Khazar control thereafter. Byzantine authority was re-established by Emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842), who in the early 830's (832/833/834) sent a strategos to assume control.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The city of Cherson, however, continued to be administered by several local lords (archontes) under a proteuon ("the first").^[2][3]

The province played an important role in Byzantine relations with the Khazars and later with the Pechenegs and the Rus'. Cherson prospered greatly during the 9th–11th centuries as a centre of Black Sea commerce, despite the city's destruction by Vladimir of Kiev in 988/989. It is notable that Cherson was one of the few provincial mints, having resumed minting of coins under Emperor Michael III (r. 842–867).^[2][3]

Cherson and its province remained under Byzantine control until the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, when they passed under the sovereignty of the breakaway Empire of Trebizond.^[3]

References

1. ^ Kazhdan 1991, p. 1133.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} Nesbitt & Oikonomides 1991, pp. 182–183.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Kazhdan 1991, pp. 418–419.
4. ^ Pertusi 1952, pp. 182–183.
5. ^ Hendy 2008, p. 426: "The theme of Cherson was created in or very shortly after 833."
6. ^ Christophilopoulou & Cullen 1993, p. 357: "The creation of the new theme of Cherson (ca. 834) on the north shore of the Black Sea should be seen as part of the same drive to improve the Empire's defences."

Sources

• Christophilopoulou, Aikaterinē; Cullen, Timothy (1993). Byzantine History: Volume 2. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Adolf M. Hakkert. http://books.google.com/books?ei=ATcKTvzeEK2s0AHU96mWAQ. 
• Hendy, Michael F. (2008) [1985]. Studies in the Byzantine Monetary Economy c. 300-1450. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-52108-852-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=zLvhIphg8zwC. 
• Kazhdan, Alexander Petrovich, ed (1991). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. New York, New York and Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6. http://books.google.com/books?id=Q3u5RAAACAAJ. 
• Nesbitt, John W.; Oikonomides, Nicolas, eds (1991). Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 1: Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea. Washington, District of Columbia: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. ISBN 0-88402-194-7. http://books.google.com/books?id=cUJmAAAAMAAJ. 
• Pertusi, A. (1952) (in Italian). Constantino Porfirogenito: De Thematibus. Rome, Italy: Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.