Nomos 30

CRUSADER SEALS, Latin Empire of Constantinople. Henry of Flanders, as regent of the empire, April 1205 - 20 August 1206. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 42 mm, 62.31 g, 12 h), Constantinople. EPPIKOC DΕCΠΟΤΗϚ The regent seated facing on a throne with lion supporters, wearing low crown and elaborate robes, holding cross-tipped scepter in his right hand and globus cruciger in his left. Rev. H.FR. IPAT (sic!) ROM CVSTOS IPII z CORONE (Henricus Frater Imperatoris Romaniae, Custos Imperii et Coronandus a Deo = Henry, brother of the emperor of Romania, protector of the empire and crowned by God) The regent, wearing full armor covered by a surcoat and a closed helmet, riding horse galloping to right, holding a sword in his upraised right hand, the reins in his left, and with his shield held over his chest. Schlumberger, Empereurs Latin, p. 11-12. Cf. Zacos I, - (but see 112 for one of Henry's later imperial seals). Extremely rare, possibly only the second known and of great historical importance. Some bangs and with a scuff on the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

From a European collection.

This extremely rare and historically important seal was made between April 1205 - when Henry's brother, the first ruler of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, Baldwin I, was captured by the Bulgarians in the Battle of Hadrianopolis - and the 20th August 1206, when Henry was crowned emperor after Baldwin's death in captivity. During the interim Henry was appointed protector - Custos - of the empire. The present seal completes the reading of the much inferior and only previously known example that was published by Schlumberger.