Nomos 38

BYZANTINE SEALS, Imperial Families. Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris, despotes, circa 1203/4-1208. Seal (Lead, 40.5 mm, 31.97 g, 12 h), the seal of the future Emperor of Nicaea, Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris, 1204-1208. O/ A/OC/Γ ΘEO/ΔΩ/ΡΟ/C St. Theodore standing facing, nimbate, dressed in military attire, holding a spear with his right hand and resting his left on a shield beside him; the whole within a circular dotted border. Rev. + ΜΑΡΤYC / ΚΟΜΝΗΝΟΝ / ΘΕΟΔΩΡΟΝ / ΔΕCΠΟΤΗΝ• /ΑΝΑΚΤΟΦΥ૪C / CYZYΓON ANNH/C CΚΕΠΟΙC (St. Theodore please protect the Despotes Theodore Komnenos, husband of Anna [Angelina Komnene] born with the blood of the king) in eight metric lines, the whole within a circular dotted border. Wassiliou-Seibt Metrischen 1372a cor. (CYZYΓ૪ instead of CYZYΓON) = Zacos 2753. A highly interesting and historical seal, in exceptional condition. Some flatness and encrustations, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

Theodoros I Komnenos Laskaris, (the soon to be first ruler of the Empire of Nicaea), married the second daughter of Alexios III Komnenos, Anna Angelina Komnene, in 1199. He was elevated to the position of Despotes, after the death of his brother-in-law, Georgios Palaiologos in 1203, the husband of Alexios's older daughter, and was apparently heir to the throne. This seal is very well dated, between 1203 when Theodoros became the de facto successor to the Byzantine throne, and 1208 when he was crowned emperor of Nicaea Empire.

This seal was obviously used after Constantinople fell to the forces of the 4th crusade. This is strongly implied by the fact that the right of Theodore to the Byzantine throne through his marriage with the daughter of Alexios III, is so emphatically presented on this seal. An inscription like this would have no real reason to appear in a seal prior to 1204, as Theodoros was the sole heir to the throne.