Hostname: page-component-6bf8c574d5-956mj Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-20T05:36:14.342Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Byzantine policy towards Paristrion in the mid-eleventh century: another interpretation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 January 2016

Paul Stephenson
Paul Stephenson*
Affiliation:
Keble College, University of Oxford
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Archaeological and numismatic evidence for Byzantine activity in Paristrion, the lands beside the lower Danube, are surveyed and interpreted alongside the few pertinent written sources. It is suggested that the onset of Pecheneg invasions across the lower Danube, shortly after the death of Basil II (d. 1025), provoked his successors to implement a policy which allowed the Pechenegs, and other northern peoples, controlled access to markets and merchandise. This system allowed ‘barbarians’ to acquire the goods and trappings of distinction they desired, and was generally effective in promoting trading over raiding. An attempt to Reform the system, and recoup bullion — perhaps by the introduction of a phoundax — provoked a rebellion c. 1072.

Type
Articles
Information
Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies , Volume 23 , 1999 , pp. 43 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © The Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, University of Birmingham 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bibliography

Primary Sources (written)

Attaleiates, Michael. Michaelis Attaliotae Historia, ed. 1. Bekker, , CSHB. Bonn 1853.Google Scholar
Choniates, Nicetas. Nicetae Choniatae historiae, ed. van Dieten, J., CFHB XI/1. Berlin 1975.Google Scholar
English trans. Magoulias, H.J., O City of Byzantium, Annals of Nicetas Choniates. Detroit 1984.Google Scholar
Cinnamus, John, loannis Cinnami epitome rerum ab Ioanne et Manuela Comnenis gestarum, ed. Meinecke, A., CSHB. Bonn, 1836.Google Scholar
English trans. Brand, C.M., Deeds of John and Manuel Comnenus. New York 1976.Google Scholar
The Life of St. Cyril Phileotes. La vie de Sainte Cyrille le Philéote moine byzantin (†1110), ed. & trans. Sargologos, E., Subsidia Hagiographica 39. Brussels 1964.Google Scholar
DAI. Constantine Porphyrogenitus De Administrando Imperio, ed. Moravcsik, G., trans. Jenkins, R.J.H., CFHB I. Washington, D.C. 1967.Google Scholar
Darrouzès, J. (1984) ‘De traité de transferts. Édition critique et commentaire’. REB 42, 147–214.Google Scholar
Geometres, John. Joannes Geometra, PG 106, 806–1002.Google Scholar
Listes de préséance. Oikonomides, N., Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe-Xe siècles. Paris 1972.Google Scholar
Mauropous, John. Ioannis Euchaitorum metropolitae quae in cod. Vat. gr. 676 supersunt, ed. de Lagarde, P.. Göttingen 1882.Google Scholar
Prodromus, Manganeius. Unpublished. Translations are adapted from the draft versions in the forthcoming edition by Elizabeth and Michael Jeffreys. I am grateful to the Jeffreys for encouraging me to make use of their work in progress.Google Scholar
Scylitzes, John. Ioannis Scylitzes Synopsis Historiarum, ed. Thurn, J., CFHB V. Berlin & New York 1973.Google Scholar
Continuatus, Scylitzes. He Synecheia tes Chronographias tou loannou Skylitze, ed. Tsolakes, E.T., Hetaireia Makedonikon Spoudon 105. Thessaloniki 1968.Google Scholar
Zosimus, . Zosime histoire nouvelle, ed. & trans. Paschoud, F., 5 vols. Paris 1971-89.Google Scholar
Angelova, S. (1987) ‘Sur la caracteristique de céramique du haut Moyen Age provenant de Drăstăr (Silistra)’, in Ovcharov, D., ed., Dobrudža-études ethno-culturelles, 93–114. Sofia.Google Scholar
Angold, M. (1997) The Byzantine Empire, 1025-1204. A Political History, 2nd ed. London & New York.Google Scholar
Bănescu, N. (1946) Les duchés byzantins de Paristrion (Paradounavon) et de Bulgarie. Bucharest.Google Scholar
Barnea, I. (1960) ‘Ait tezaur de monede bizantine de la Dinogetia’ [A hoard of Byzantine coins from Dinogetia], Studii şi Cercetări de Numismatică (Bucaresti) 3, 245-54.Google Scholar
Barnea, I. (1983) ‘Sigilli bizantine inedite din Dobrogea, I’ [Unpublished Byzantine seals from the Dobrudja, I] Pontica 16, 263-72.Google Scholar
Barnea, I. (1987) ‘Sceaux byzantins de Dobroudja’, in Oikonomides, N., ed., Studies in Byzantine Sigillography. Washington D.C. 1, 77–88.Google Scholar
Bulgara, V. (1977) ‘Incepturile navigatiei commerciale antice la gurile Dunării’ [The antique origins of commercial navigation on the Lower Danube], Peuce 6, 87–101.Google Scholar
Cheynet, J.-C. (1990) Pouvoir et contestations à Byzance (963-1210). Paris.Google Scholar
Conovici, N. & Lungu, N. (1980) ‘Un nou tezaur de monede bizantine descoperit la Păcuiul lui Soare’ [A new hoard of Byzantine coins found at the Island of the Sun], Studii şi Cercetări de ¡storie Veche şi Arheologie (Bucaresti) 31, 397–402.Google Scholar
Diaconu, P. (1970) Les Petchénègues au Bas- Danube, Bibliotheca Historica Romaniae 27. Bucharest.Google Scholar
Diaconu, P. (1978) Les Coumans au Bas-Danube au XU et XIU siècles, Bibliotheca Historica Romaniae 56. Bucharest.Google Scholar
Diaconu, P. (1991) ‘Sur l’organisation ecclésiastique dans le région du Bas-Danube (derniers tiers du Xe-XIIe siècle)’, Études byzantines et post byzantines 2, 73–89.Google Scholar
Diaconu, P. & Vîlceanu, D. (1972) Păcuiul lui Soare, cetatea bizantina, I. Bucharest.Google Scholar
Dimitrov, H. (1992) ‘The medieval town of Lovech’, Istoricheski Pregled 1992/iii, 82–91.Google Scholar
Dölger, F. (1925) Regesten der Kaiserurkunden des Oströmischen Reiches, II. Regesten von 1025-1204 . Munich & Berlin.Google Scholar
Frankopan, Peter Doimi de (1997) ‘the numismatic evidence for the Danube region, 971-1092’, BMGS 21, 30-9.Google Scholar
Georgiev, P. (1987) ‘L’organisation religieuse dans les terres bulgares du nord-est après l’an 971’ in Ovcharov, D., ed., Dobrudža-e’tudes ethno-culturelles, 146-58. Sofia.Google Scholar
Hayes, J. (1992) Excavations at Saraçhane in Istanbul, II: The Pottery. Princeton.Google Scholar
Hendy, M. (1989) The Economy, Fiscal Administration and Coinage of Byzantium. Northampton.Google Scholar
Iordanov, I. (1987) ‘Dobrudža (491-1092) — selon les données de la numismatique et de la sphragistique’, in Ovcharov, D., ed., Dobrudža-études ethno-culturelles, 182–207. Sofia.Google Scholar
Iordanov, I. (1988) ‘Neizdadeni vizantiiski olovni pechati ot Silistra (IIII)’ [Unpublished Byzantine lead seals from Silistra (Dristra)], Izvestiia na Narodniia Muzei Varna 24 (39), 88–103.Google Scholar
Iordanov, I. (1993a) Pechatite ot strategiiata v Preslav (971-1008) [Seals from the Strategate at Preslev, 971–1008]. Sofia.Google Scholar
Iordanov, I. (1993b) ‘Ankhialo — spored dannite na sfragistikata’ [Anchialus — the sigillographical evidence], Arkheologiia 1993/iii, 36–50.Google Scholar
Lemerle, P. (1979) The Agrarian History of Byzantium from the Origins to the Twelfth Century. Galway.Google Scholar
Magdalino, P. (1995) ‘The grain supply of Constantinople, ninth-twelfth centuries’, in Mango, C. & Dagron, G., eds., Constantinople and its Hinterland, 35–47. Aldershot.Google Scholar
Mănucu-Adameşteanu, G. (1991a) ‘Circulaţia monetară la Nufăru în secolele X-XIV’ [Monetary circulation in Nufarul in the 10th-14th centuries], Peuce 10, 497–554.Google Scholar
Mănucu-Adameşteanu, G. (1991b) ‘Tomis-Constantia-Constanţa’, Pontica 24, 299–327.Google Scholar
Metcalf, D.M. (1979) Coinage in South-Eastern Europe, 820-1396. London.Google Scholar
Morrison, C. (1976) ‘La dévaluation de la monnaie byzantine au XIe siècle: essai d’interprétation’, TM 6, 3–47.Google Scholar
Nesbitt, J. & Oikonomides, N. (1991) Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, I. Italy, North of the Balkans, North of the Black Sea . Washington, D.C. Google Scholar
Oberländer-Târnoveanu, E. (1983) ‘Un atelier monétaire byzantin inconnu de la deuxième moitié du XIe siècle dans le thème de Paristrion’, RESEE 21, 261-70.Google Scholar
Obolensky, D. (1994) Byzantium and the Slavs. New York.Google Scholar
Shepard, J. (1992a) ‘Byzantine diplomacy, AD 800-1204: means and ends’, in Shepard, J. & Franklin, S., eds., Byzantine Diplomacy, 41–71. Aldershot.Google Scholar
Shepard, J. (1992b) ‘A suspected source of Skylitzes’ Synopsis Historian: the great Catacalon Cecaumenus’, BMGS 16, 171-81.Google Scholar
Ştefan, G., Barnea, I., Comşa, M. & Comsa, E. (1967) Dinogetia, I. Bucharest.Google Scholar
Stephenson, P. (2000a) Byzantium’s Balkan Frontier. A Political study of the Northern Balkans, 900-1204. Cambridge.Google Scholar
Stephenson, P. (2000b) ‘Byzantine perceptions of otherness after the annexation of Bulgaria (1018)’, in Smythe, D., ed., Strangers to Themselves, forthcoming. Aldershot.Google Scholar
Trojanos, S. (1969) ‘Einige Bemerkungen über die finanziellen Grundlagen des Festungsbauen im byzantinischen Reich’, Vyzantina 1, 39–57.Google Scholar
Zacos, G. & Nesbitt, J. (1985) Byzantine Lead Seals, II. Berne.Google Scholar