black sea

In the autumn of 927, approximately five
months after the death of Bulgarian sovereign
Symeon (on May 27 th ) who by means of constant
wars had literally devastated the Aimos peninsula
and he had “cropped” by sword the inhabitants of
the Greek cities in the peninsula 29 , a peace treaty
was signed between Byzantium and the Bulgarians.
By means of that treaty, the cities in the west
coast of the Euxine and among them Anchialos
and Mesembria came under the Byzantine rule. 30
In the meantime, the Byzantine lands in the
previously mentioned Cherson Theme prospered
politically, economically and culturally during the
X th century. The ’Rus after being defeated in the
three unsuccessful sea campaigns against Byzantium
through the Euxine and the Bosporus (860,
907 and 941) signed commercial agreements with
Byzantium. The above-mentioned territories of the
Byzantium developed an intensive action in converting
the ’Rus. Empress Olga that along with several
others had in the meantime become Christian
officially visited Constantinople in 957. The Emperor
Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus offers a very vivid
account of the “Welcome of Olga of Russia”. 31
The Hungarians went through a similar course.
After three unsuccessful campaigns against
Constantinople (934, 959 and 961) came into a
treaty with the Empire and as they settled in the
northern coast of the Euxine, they were subjected
to the deep cultural influence from Byzantium. 32
During the X th century, the seashore centres of
the Euxine reached a prosperity that is reminiscent
of the prosperous colonies of the VII th and VI th century
BC. Thus, Cherson having been strengthened
by the founding of the namesake Theme developed
financial and cultural relationships with the people
of South Russia and the Caucasus region, while
Sougdaia, another city of the Chersonesus Taurica
grew into an important trade center. In the south
coast of the Euxine, Trapezus developed into a prosperous
customs port that was contributing significant
income to the Empire from the collection of
duties. The cities of Kerasus, Amisos, Sinope and
Amastris were very wealthy centers as that is deduced
from recovered seals demonstrating the great
economic activity in those cities. 33
In the early XIII th century, in 1202, two years
before the Crusader’s raid of Constantinople, the
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Empire of the Great Comnenoi Dynasty was
founded in the Trapezus region (in the old Chaldion
Theme). Since the “inauspicious day” of 13 th April
1204, Latinocracy started lasting for 57 years, the
above mentioned Komnenoi stabilized their rule,
so as to later lay claim the Emperor’s Throne in
Constantinople. When in 1261, Michael VIII
Palaiologos (1259-1282), the founder of the
Palaiologoi Dynasty managed to restore the Byzantine
Empire relying on the reconstructive action
of the Nicaea Emperors (Laskaris and Vatatzis),
Komnenoi were forced to abandon their claims on
the Throne of the one time powerful Byzantine
Empire. Since that time and particularly from 1325
and thereafter when West Asia Minor was taken
over by the Turks, the Trapezus Emperor was carrying
the title “Loyal King and Emperor of the
Entire East (Orient), the Iberians and Perateias”. 34
In time the Komnenoi Dynasty extended its
rule up to Sinope to the West and up to Lazica and
the river Phasis to the NE. At the same time,
thanks to its strategic position, the Trebizond Empire
developed extensive trade covering almost the
entire Euxine coast, while its merchants were transporting
products from the Indies. Its competitors
were not only the Selchuk Turks but the Genovese
as well. Komnenoi confronted the one with military
operations and the other with commercial
agreements with Venice.
Trapezus thanks to its notable state structure,
the competent training and sufficient (ample,
supple) armament of its army, the strong faith in
the Christian Orthodox Church, the hard work of
its citizens and its persistence in following the example
of the old and glorious Byzantine Empire
succeeded to endure until 1461 when it was taken
over by Mehmet II. Although the prosperous Hellenism
in the far end of Asia Minor, in the south
coast of the Euxine was subjugated, it never let go
from memory the national and cultural identity
and the brightest periods of his glorious history. 35
The Greeks of Trapezus, preserving and continuing
the action of their ancestors – the settlers
of the VII th and VI6 th centuries BC – came to know
times of glory and fall, went through hardship and
exhilaration, times of hopefulness and despair and
thus kept the values and traditions of the Hellenic
Race up to our times.
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