A Strategos of "Turk" Origin Exiled to The Island of Protē (Kınalıada): Bardanes Tourkos

Year 2024, Issue: 2, 15 - 23, 15.11.2024

Cüneyt Güneş

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14177596

Abstract

As many states in antiquity, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire also practiced exile. While this punishment could be applied collectively to various peoples within the Roman borders, it was also applied to deposed emperors, empresses, family members, high-ranking officials, rebels and clergy. For these people, certain regions in Eastern Rome, especially the islands, were used as places of exile. One of the most important of these islands is undoubtedly Protē/Proti (Kınalıada), which is located in the Sea of Marmara today and was called Protē/Proti (Kınalıada) during the Eastern Roman period. The most important feature of this island is that it was the closest island to the capital Constantinople. Easily accessible from Constantinople by ship, Protē Island was an island of exile that was used effectively in the empire, especially between the IXth and XIth centuries. Those who were exiled to this island not only suffered the penalty of exile, but also encouraged the construction of monasteries by giving them various properties on the island. Therefore, those who were dismissed from their imperial duties preferred to retreat on this island.
One of these people was Bardanes Tourkos, one of the most important figures in the administrative and military history of the empire in the IXth century, who wanted to be exiled to Protē Island after his rebellion. In this paper, the life of Bardanes Tourkos in Protē and his administrative and military importance in the empire will be explained through the written sources of the period and the information provided by the imperial lead seals called "Molybdobulla". In addition, the place of Protē Island in the history of both the Islands and the Eastern Roman Empire from the first half of the IXth century to the XIth century will be emphasized.

Keywords

Byzantium, Prote Island, Bardanes Tourkos, Nikephoros I, Turk.

Protē (Kınalıada) Adası’na Sürgün Edilen “Türk” Asıllı Bir Strategos: Bardanes Tourkos

Abstract

As many states in antiquity, the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire also practiced exile. While this punishment could be applied collectively to various peoples within the Roman borders, it was also applied to deposed emperors, empresses, family members, high-ranking officials, rebels and clergy. For these people, certain regions in Eastern Rome, especially the islands, were used as places of exile. One of the most important of these islands is undoubtedly Protē/Proti (Kınalıada), which is located in the Sea of Marmara today and was called Protē/Proti (Kınalıada) during the Eastern Roman period. The most important feature of this island is that it was the closest island to the capital Constantinople. Easily accessible from Constantinople by ship, Protē Island was an island of exile that was used effectively in the empire, especially between the IXth and XIth centuries. Those who were exiled to this island not only suffered the penalty of exile, but also encouraged the construction of monasteries by giving them various properties on the island. Therefore, those who were dismissed from their imperial duties preferred to retreat on this island.
One of these people was Bardanes Tourkos, one of the most important figures in the administrative and military history of the empire in the IXth century, who wanted to be exiled to Protē Island after his rebellion. In this paper, the life of Bardanes Tourkos in Protē and his administrative and military importance in the empire will be explained through the written sources of the period and the information provided by the imperial lead seals called "Molybdobulla". In addition, the place of Protē Island in the history of both the Islands and the Eastern Roman Empire from the first half of the IXth century to the XIth century will be emphasized.

Keywords

Bizans, Protē Adası, Bardanes Tourkos, I. Nikephoros, Türk.

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