New Byzantine seals from Morava (Margum) and Braničevo
Abstract
The authors present new finds of Byzantine lead seals at Morava (Margum),
Braničevo and the broader area around them. The seals from Morava and
Braničevo were unearthed in the course of archaeological excavations, which
make these finds particularly important. Significant among them is the seal
from Morava, which belonged to Symeon (?), magister and logothete of the
dromos, from the end of the tenth century, which indicates the presence of
Byzantine officials in Morava and the establishment of Byzantine authority
along the north-western Danubian border following the fall of the Bulgarian
empire in 971. Three new seals from Braničevo complement the list of
Byzantine officials in connection with the events on the Danubian border in
the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The seals found in the broader area of
Brani~evo should also be added to this list. Of particular significance among
them is the seal of Georgios Palaiologos Doukas Komnenos, megas
heta...ireiarches, a well known historical figure involved in events in Hungary,
Serbia and on the Danubian border in the 1160s.
Keywords:
Seals / Byzantium / Morava / Margum / Braničevo / Administration / BorderSource:
Starinar, 2018, 68, 111-124Publisher:
- Arheološki institut, Beograd
Funding / projects:
- Urbanisation Processes and Development of Mediaeval Society (RS-177021)
- Tradition, Innovation and Identity in the Byzantine World (RS-177032)