Obolos 13

Gabriel, Protonobellisimos and Dux of Melitene, 1050-1103. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 27 mm, 20.98 g, 12 h), c. 1086-1103. O NIKOΛAO / O ΓEΩP / O IΩ O ΠP' Three nimbate male figures standing facing: on the left, St Nicolas, wearing phelorion and omophorion, and holding book of Gospels; at the center, St. Georgee wearing military attire, holding spear and resting his hand on his shield set on the ground; on the right, St. John Prodromos right wearing himation and holding a long cross. Rev. ΓPAΦAC• / CΦPAΓIZω•/ A'ΝΩBEΛΛICI / MOY ΔOYKOC / ΓABPIHΛ ΠOΛE / ωC MEΛωΤ / YMO• in seven lines. Zacos II, 465 (same dies?). A lovely and unusual iconographic seal, with huge historical importance. Some scratches on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.

Gabriel of Melitene was a Greek orthodox Armenian who had risen the ranks of the Byzantine army, and was appointed by Philaretos Brachamios as Dux of Melitene. He was able to protect the autonomy of the city with the tolerance (and the help) of the Beylik of the Danishmends, and, in 1086, Melitene became independent of Byzantine control. Around 1100 his former allies, the Danishmends, attacked Melitene and Gabriel sent a letter with a seal like this one to Bohemond I of Antioch asking for help. Bohemond went to help his new ally, but he was ambushed by the Danishmend Malik Ghazi Gumushtekin in what is known as the Battle of Melitene, which resulted in his army being completely annihilated. Both Bohemond and Richard of Salerno were captured by the Turks. In 1103, during another Danishmend attack on Melitene, Gabriel sent another sealed letter to the Crusader forces; this time they didn't respond. Soon after the city's fall to the Danishmends Gabriel was executed.