Jere's Ars Magica Saga: Trebizond

Trebizond

Introduction

Certainly the most important of the Anatolian cities on the Black Sea in terms of population, wealth, commerce and industry is Trebizond. It is situated in the vicinity of the fertile grain-producing regions of Paipert and Chaldia and serves as a storage center and market for the region's grain. As significant as it is in the grain trade, Trebizond is more important as a commercial center in which converged trade routes coming by sea from Cherson and by land from the Caucasus, Central Asia, Syria, Constantinople and from throughout Anatolia. Trebizond flourished because of its fine harbor and location at the head of the best routes from the sea to the interior and Iran. There are several market fairs each year, the most important of which is the panegyris of St. Eugenius, the patron saint of Trebizond. Merchants and travelers from all parts of the Middle East are to be seen buying and selling goods in Trebizond and visiting the shrine of St. Eugenius for cures: Arabs, Armenians, Greeks, Russians, Colchians, Jews, Georgians (Constantine Porphyrogenitus, in De Adm. Imp. mentions that commerce flows from Trebizond to the Georgian town of Adranoutzi. This later is depicted as a very prosperous and extensive emporium with commerce coming to it from Trebizond, Georgia, Abasgia, Armenia and Syria.), and Circassians. The Trebizondines are engaged in a vast international commerce between east and west. The Kachaks, a Caucasian people, come to the city to purchase Greek brocades and other textiles. The tenth-century Arab Istakhri related that most of the Greek textiles and brocades of his day were imported into the Islamic world through Trebizond. Apart from the grain that Trebizond sends to the capital, very important are the perfumes and other exotic items that enter the empire through the emporium of Trebizond. The trade of the region furnishes a further source of revenue to the state by virtue of the customs duties that the commerciario levies.

Theophanes mentions Trebizond after the beginning of the seventh century, though earlier references go back to the time of the Romans. The city is considered a metropolitanate.

Trebizond is the main city of the Eastern Black Sea area. Like Giresun, it was founded by Miletian colonists in the 8th century BC and was known as Trapezus, probably because it was located on a 'table' of land above the harbor. Over the centuries, Trebizond became subject to numerous conquerors: the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Pontic Kings, the Romans, the Byzantine rulers, the Seljuk Turks. This was due mainly to its strategic location at the terminus of the great overland route from China, India, Persia and Mesopotamia and was also the gateway to Constantinople and the markets of Europe. In spite of the successive rulers, the culture of the rural Pontic community remained relatively unchanged over thousands of years.

The main route to Trebizond from the Central Anatolian Plateau extended from Bayburt to Gumushane and over the Zigana Pass. Marco Polo traveled by camel along this path on his way home to Venice in 1295 after an absence of twenty four years. Although it gained prominence as a branch of the Silk Road, its function as a trading route dates back to the 17th century BC. Hittite artifacts suggest that they traded with the Kaska tribes who occupied the narrow coastal belt of the Black Sea during the Bronze Age. By the end of the 1st century BC, the Assyrians had taken Argyropolis (city of silver) from the Romans and used this route to transport the precious metal back to Mesopotamia.

The old road from Trebizond to Gumushane is now less traveled. Beyond Macka, it becomes a tortuously winding road that is rewarding for its magnificent scenery of alpine pastures and pine forests. At the Zigana Pass, it is tempting to linger where the cool breezes whistle through the trees and eagles make their nests. Clouds swirl among treetops and in the distance, ridge after ridge of towering, arid mountains stand like sentinels guarding their secret passes. It is truly amazing to think of the thousands of people who made this perilous journey throughout the ages.

Brief History

In 258 A. D. the Goths invaded and looted the city during the time of Emperor Valerianus. (253-260A.D.) Although the city was reconstructed, it never gained its old beauty. It became an important religious center during the expansion of Christianity and as a result, many churches and monasteries were built one after another. The attacks of the Muslim Arab armies against the region from 705 A.D. onwards affected the city to a great extent. As of 1098, the Christian governers of Trebizond tried very hard to protect their independence against Byzantium, but they were not successful. Emperor Justinianus I had new fortresses built in order to defend the city and also had water brought to the city. Stefanos, the Byzantine historian, in his books wrote about the constructional works realized during the period of Justinianus.

Sometime between 1071 and 1075, Trebizond was temporarily captured by the Turks. Afterwards, Theodore Gabrás, a local leader ruled Trebizond, nominally subject to the Komnenoi. A distinguished and unconquered soldier, as even Anna Comnena admits, he regarded Trebizond "as a prize which had fallen to his own lot," and himself as a practically independent prince. Fearing his influence at the capital, Alexis I confirmed him in his government, but kept his son Gregory as a hostage for his good conduct on the excuse of marrying him to a princess of the blood. Meanwhile, Theodore held Trebizond against a Georgian attack. One of his successors in its government, Gregory Taronites, although connectedwith the Imprial family, took up arms against the Imperial forces and did not scruple to invoke the aid of the sultan of Cappadocia. He was defeated and imprisoned, only once more to be put in charge of Trebizond. His restless ambition led him to engage in a conflict between two Moslem chiefs, the Emir of Kamakh and the prince of Melitene; he was again taken prisoner, and his heavy ransom cost the province dearly. Another Gabrás, Constantine by name, long held Trebizond, which he governed like a tyrant, so that the Emperor John II, in 1139, set out on an expedition against his unruly governor. While the expedition had to be scraped, the local governors did turn down their behavior. The Gabres family is still influential. Manuel I employs a Constantine Gabres as his envoy to the Sultan of Iconium, and a Michael Gabres holds high military. The current governor in Trebizond is named Nikephoros Palaiologos.

When the Latins invaded Istanbul Alexius Komnenos, the son of Andronikos Komnenos I fled away and came to Trebizond. Here he declared himself the emperor. Therefore, once again the state of Pontus was established in Trebizond. (1204-1461)

Significant developments were seen while under Komnenos's rule. However, he lost a great part of his land when he lost the battle against David Palaiologos, the Emperor of Iznik. Emperor Andronikos I who replaced Komnenos tried hard to regain independence from the Seljuks who were ruling the country. He sent his ships to Sinope for looting purposes and won a sea battle against the Seljuks. In return, Alaaddin Keykubad I surrounded the city from both the land and the sea, but could not conquer it.

Return to the Theban Tribunal Sourcebook

Last modified: Mon Dec 14, 1998