The Byzantine Empire. Due to the early politics of the Order, the entire northern Balkans are part of the Transylvanian Tribunal, a fact of some displeasure to certain groups here. The current border between the two is constantly in dispute. Also, as the Byzantine Empire loses lands to Islamic civilizations, the Levant tribunal has tried to assert claims against them. This fact is leading to developing hostility.
There are eight established and recognized covenants in this Tribunal, including one in Constantinople itself. Like all Tribunals, there are individual magi scattered throughout the lands.
The Tribunal gained its name when, in the early days of the Order, a group of seven magi represented this geographical area in the early Grand Tribunals. Due to their strident demands for recognition of the importance of Greek thought and tradition in the history of the Order, and also due (in part) to their wish to have a Founder from their homeland, they gained the nickname 'the Seven from Thebes', based on a pun directed their way by Tytalus himself. The name stuck to the Tribunal as a whole, and while many here might wish to alter it, they have never succeeded.
The Tribunal has long taken a policy towards the rest of the Order that involves remaining 'separate but equal'. They maintain the primacy of the Greek language, its philosophy, and its importance to the Hermetic Tradition. They have long argued that their Tribunal is the most important of all. To these stalwart defenders of Tradition, this will always be the Hellenic Tribunal, and Greek will always be the language of the true Magus. It should surprise none, therefore, that Fenicil, a former Primus of House Guernicus who researched the ancient roots of magic, was born and trained in this Tribunal.
One faction of magi, the Hellenes, are the strongest advocate of this position, and have been the traditional power in the Tribunal. The fact that these magi choose the name Hellene, with its pagan connotations also shows their feelings in regards to the church, a fact that causes some divisions within this faction. A small group of magi are more Christian in orientation. Due to their love of all that is of the Empire, especially its Greekness, they can usually be counted upon to support the Hellenes.
Today this Tribunal has seen an influx of Western Magi. Many are Seekers who are continually journeying here seeking the Old Ones who posed as gods for the ancient Greeks. Several magi of House Jerbiton are also here, either learning of the eastern culture or studying ancient history. Even a few Bjornaer magi are here, enjoying the beauty of the valleys and privacy granted by the isolate mountains.
While many of these western magi come to learn (a purpose the tribunal strongly appreciates) their presence has nonetheless caused great turmoil, especially an ongoing debate regarding the language that Tribunals will be held in.
The shining city of Constantinople is the heart of the Tribunal. One of the most extravagant and extraordinary cities in the world, its importance in the region is impossible to overstate. Magi of this Tribunal travel regularly to Constantinople and one of the oldest of the Tribunal's covenants are even found within the walls of this Christian city.
The Theban Tribunal has always has an intricate and delicate relationship with the Transylvanian Tribunal: their interactions mirror the mix of cultural dependence and regular invasion that characterize the interactions of these two areas in the mundane world.
Much of the strength of House Tremere was (and is) found in the mountains of the Transylvania Tribunal: it came as no surprise that the Tribunal was one of the first to line up behind Tremere himself when he started his attempted takeover of the Order. What surprises most Hermetic Historians is that some evidence indicates that members of the Theban Tribunal were probably key in the successful plot to stop Tremere's actions. Since all relevant evidence has been ruthlessly suppressed, any further thoughts would be mere supposition.
However, what is clear is that this initial stress, followed by later events, has lead to an intricately interconnected relationship between the Transylvania and Thebes Tribunals: their relations are full of intrigue and occasionally outright conflict. While magical intervention is increasingly rare in these times, the Quaesitors still watch the mundane conflicts between Bulgaria and Byzantium for signs of involvement that would violate the Hermetic Code. Recent political manueverings have only made this situation worse.
Hard as it may be to believe, relations with the Levant Tribunal are even more strained. As Byzantium loses its grip on its Asian lands, this new Tribunal has pressed its claim, moving up from the Muslim lands to the South. This came to its political head in year 1155 of the Age of Aries (1016 AD) when the Thebes Tribunal, due to a Tremere/Jerbiton alliance, were unable to prevent the formation of the Al Arama Covenant in southern Anatolia. The covenant of Al Arama has grown in influence and power, and is now the chief covenant of the Levant Tribunal. As Al Arama has grown, so have tensions between the Levant and Thebes. Several Grand Tribunal decisions have been indecisive concerning the proper means of resolution, and have only delayed the inevitable explosion of tension between these two groups of powerful magi.
Recently groups within the Theban Tribunal have found commonc ause with several Coptic and other 'native' factions within the Levant Tribunal, against 'Crusader' magi from the West. Only time will show if this alliance bears fruit.
Relations with the Roman Tribunal reached a low point when the Norman, Robert Guiscard led his attack against the Byzantines in southern Italy. Magi from the Roman tribunal had sold him great weapons of magic ensuring him victory. It was only with the arrival of the Quaesitor Iernilus in 1061 to Rome and the subsequent Treaty of the Roman tribunal that all out war was prevented between the two tribunals. With the Norman invasions against the heart of Byzantium that followed, many magi from this Tribunal watched carefully for signs of Roman tribunal interference. There is still a great deal of hard feelings directed towards the magi of Italy for their role in reducing the empire. These feelings have not been reduced with the tensions between the incoming magi -- especially those from Italy coming in the wake of their merchants - and the old guard. It does not help that the Roman tribunal has taken the side of the Levant tribunal in every Grand Tribunal the issue has been raised.
The Christian lands to the East, Georgia and Armenia, are currently unclaimed by any Tribunal. One covenant in that area (Urania) currently claims membership in the Thebes Tribunal, but the others there have either been transient or to new and weak to make any political impact. For now this region is a tangle between the Novgorod, Levant and Thebes tribunals, claimed by none and used by all. Recent politics between Thebes and Novgorod threaten to require resolution by the Grad Tribunal.
The Theban Tribunal still keeps calendar on the Olympiad scheme, side-by-side with the Astrologically standard schema of the Order. Thus, every four years there is a gathering at Cyllene for a Tribunal session and great games.
Cyprus is currently claimed by the Theban Tribunal. In 1191 Richard the Lionhearted's naval wing of the Third Crusade expeled the 'tyrant' Isaac Komnenos from Cyprus. The island has been removed from Byzantine control and linked with the Crusader States of Syria. A covenant was created by Crusading Latin magi. They have petitioned for membership in the Levant Tribunal. This issue will be resolved at the grand Tribunal of 1195.
The issue of Cyprus is made even more complicated by the reticence of the elder magi to discuss what caused the destruction of the old covenant on the island.