10th-11th centuries Byzantine Empire territory
The Duchy of Antioch was a Byzantine territory ruled by a duke (dux) appointed by and under the authority of the emperor. It was founded in 969 after the reconquest of Antioch by imperial troops and existed until December 1084, when Suleiman ibn Qutalmish (r. 1077–1086) of the Sultanate of Rum conquered the ducal capital.
History
The Duchy of Antioch was created in October 969, soon after the reconquest of Antioch by imperial troops,[1][2] and its first duke (dux) was Eustathios Maleinos, appointed by Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969), who held office until the following year.[3] Under the duke's jurisdiction were all the subjects of Cilicia, and Syria to the south. Among them was the Theme of Tarsus, with a cavalry staff, as well as others that likely also had armies composed of horsemen.[4]
In 976, the year of the ascension of Basil II (r. 976–1025), Michael Burtzes, the conqueror of Antioch, was made duke. He held office for only a few months until he allied himself with Bardas Skleros who was in revolt against Basil's authority. In 989, Burtzes was again appointed as duke, a position he held until 995 when he was removed by continuous defeats in the face of the Arab onslaught,[5] especially at the Battle of the Orontes. The next duke was Damian Dalassenos, who held office until July 19, 998, when he was defeated and killed by Fatimid troops at the Battle of Apamea.[6][7]
Upon Damian's death, Nikephoros Ouranos, a general who made a career against the First Bulgarian Empire,[8] was appointed to the post of duke of Antioch. Alongside Basil, he carried out a series of military expeditions aimed at appeasing the province, while also assisting in the expansion of the imperial borders toward the Kingdom of the Iberians. As an imperial representative, he acquired full powers of command of the troops stationed on the eastern frontier and, according to a seal of his, was appointed as "lord of the East."[9][10]
After a succession of little-known dukes, the next prominent incumbent was Constantine Dalassenos, son of Damian Dalasseno, who held the post between 1024 and 1025.[11] In 1055, Katakalon Kekaumenos was appointed to the position,[12] and later Nikephoritzes (1061-1063), the future minister of Emperor Michael VII Dukas (r. 1071–1078).[13] In 1071, after the decisive Battle of Manzikert against the Seljuk Turks, John Tarchaneiotes was appointed as the new local governor.[14] For the next seven years, Antioch would experience a series of popular uprisings, only subdued by Isaac Komnenos.[15]
Parallel to the troubles in Antioch, Philaretos Brachamios revolted against the imperial authority and assumed the title of emperor upon the death of Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071), who had been defeated at Manzikert by the Seljukids. In 1078, Nikephoros III Botaneiates (r. 1078–1081), ceded the office of duke to Philaret in exchange for giving up the imperial claim.[16] He was the last duke of Antioch, holding the post until December 1084, when Suleiman ibn Qutalmish (r. 1077–1086), from the Sultanate of Rum, conquered the ducal capital.
