BYZANTINE HOARD FOUND IN MACEDONIA
By Richard Giedroyc
NumisMaster.com
http://www.numismaster.c om/ta/numis/Article.jsp?ad=article&ArticleId=6 790
June 16 2009
When you mention Macedonia to a coin collector, the collector likely
thinks first of ancient Macedon, then perhaps the modern nation born
from the fracturing of Yugoslavia as an afterthought.
The region now known as Macedonia has been occupied by man just about
since civilization began. As a result, coins of virtually every age
are found at certain archaeological dig sites in this geographic area.
It is the Tsarevi Kili or Carevi Kuli site near Strumica in eastern
Macedonia which is of particular interest at the moment. According
to several sources, a hoard of about 4,300 medieval coins of the
Byzantine Empire dating from the 13th century has been found recently
at this site.
This isn’t the first time coins have been found at Tsarevi Kili. In
the past, coins have been found dating from ancient to modern times,
including issues attributed to Philip II of Macedon prior to his son
Alexander III’s ("the Great") accession to the throne of the Greek
city-state. Coins have also been discovered at this site dating from
the first century B.C., the second half of the third century through
the sixth century, the 10th and 11th centuries, the 12th through the
15th century, and from both world wars fought during the 20th century.
The current find is unusually large and dates primarily from the
reign of Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Comnenus (who ruled from April 8,
1143 to Sept. 24, 1180). The Byzantine Empire was the successor to
the Roman Empire in the east and at the time was known as the Eastern
Roman Empire.
The current find was discovered in two ceramic bowls in a place that
overlooks Strumica. Site archaeologist Zoran Rujak referred to the
find as the "most important medieval finding so far," according to
an April 27 Macedonian International News Agency news release.
Rujak was quoted by the MINA as saying, "According to previous
knowledge, it is about three types of coins forged under Manuel I
Comnenus and subsequent emperors."
The reign of Manuel I Comnenus was a high point in Byzantine
history. Unfortunately, the end of his reign marked the rapid demise
of the empire as well. It was during this reign that Western culture
heavily influenced what was otherwise an Eastern nation. This was
also the time of the Second Crusade. The crusaders were interested
in capturing Jerusalem and the Holy Land, but the crusaders also had
their eye on Constantinople, the capitol of the Byzantine Empire.
Manuel was forced to devote much of his time to the threat coming from
the crusaders. Due to this necessary diversion, Byzantine holdings in
Greece, particularly the cities of Corinth and Thebes, were able to
be successfully attacked by Roger II of Sicily. The failure of the
Second Crusade allowed Manuel to attack Italy. At first Manuel was
successful, but a counterattack drove his forces from what had been
a key portion of the former Western Roman Empire.
Manuel did have success elsewhere. He overthrew Armenian Prince Thoros,
forcing the crusader states of Antioch and Jerusalem to recognize him
as their lord. At the time, he was also successfully interfering in
Hungarian and Serbian politics.
Manuel’s interference in Hungary and Serbia drew the wealthy Italian
city-state of Venice into the conflict. In the mean time, the sultan
of Iconium changed his allegiance from Manuel to Manuel’s enemy German
Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. This change of allegiance set events
in motion that led to Manuel’s disastrous defeat at the hands of the
Turks at the Battle of Myriocephalon in 1176. Manuel never recovered
politically from this defeat. He died four years later.
Gold, electrum, billon, and copper coins were struck at Constantinople,
Thessalonica, and at least at one uncertain Greek mint during this
reign. The emperor typically appears on one side, with either the
nimbate facing figure of Jesus Christ or the Virgin Mary on the
other. Details of the recent find were not available in time for
this article.
Manuel was succeeded by his 12-year old son Alexius Comnenus. Following
political intrigues, Alexius II was executed by a cousin who usurped
the throne only three years later. There are no coins known that can
be attributed to the short reign of Alexius II.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
