European and Asian Themes

Mavi Boncuk The number of themes varied at different periods. The Emperor Constantine Porphyrogenitus writing about the middle of the 10th century, counts 16 in the Asiatic portion of the empire, and 12 in the European.

7 great themes are particularly prominent in Asia Minor, Optimaton, Opsikion, the Thrakesian, the Anatolic, the Bukellarian, the Kibyrraiot, and the Armeniac. In each of these a large military force was permanently maintained, under the command of a general of the province and in Opsikion, the Thrakesian, and the Kibyrraiot, a naval force was likewise stationed under its own officers.

The European provinces were divided into 8 continental and 5 insular or transmarine themes, until the loss of the exarchate of Ravenna reduced the number to twelve. Venice and Naples, though they acknowledged the suzerainty of the Eastern Empire, acted generally as independent cities. Sardinia was lost about the time of Leo's accession, and the circumstances attending its conquest by the Saracens are unknown.


The twelve European themes were--

1. Thrace.
2. Macedonia.
3. Strymon.
4. Thessalonica.
5. Hellas.
6. Peloponnesus.
7. Cephallenia.
8. Nicopolis.
9. Dyrrachium.
10. Sicily.
11. Longibardia (Calabria.)
12. Cherson.

The islands of the Archipelago, which formed the 16th Asiatic theme, were the usual station of the European naval squadron, under the command of a Drungarias. They are often called Dodekannesos, and their admiral was an officer of consideration at the end of the eighth century.--Theophanes,383 . The list of the themes given by Constantine Porphyrogenitus is a traditional, not an official document. Cyprus and Sicily had been conquered by the Arabs long before he wrote.


The Asiatic themes were--

1. Anatolikon, including parts of Phrygia, Lycaonia, Isauria, Pamphylia, and Pisidia.
2. The Armeniac, including Pontus and Cappadocia.
3. The Thrakesian, part of Phrygia, Lydia, and Ionia.
4. Opsikion, Mysia, and part of Bithynia and Phrygia.
5. Optimaton, the part of Bithynia towards the Bosphorus.
6. Bukellarion, Galatia.
7. Paphlagonia.
8. Chaldia, the country about Trebizond.
9. Mesopotamia, the trifling possessions of the empire on the Mesopotamian frontier.
10. Koloneia, the country between Pontus and Armenia Minor, through which the Lycus flows, near Neocsarea.
11. Sebasteia, the second Armenia.--Scrip. post Theoph. 112.
12. Lycandos, a theme formed by Leo VI. (the Wise) on the borders of Armenia.
13. The Kibyrraiot, Caria, Lycia, and the coast of Cilicia.
14. Cyprus.
15. Samos.
16. The Aegean. Cappadocia is mentioned as a theme.--Scrip. post. Theoph. 112; and Charsiania, Genesius, 46. They had formed part of the Armeniac theme.