SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE (SIXTHTONINTH CENTURIES) ' , TheophylactusSimocatta, Historiae,II.16.9-20 ,' TheodoreSyncellus,DeobsidioneConstantinopolis Bythesixth-seventhcenturiesthepoliticalhorizonsoftheByzantineEmpirehad alteredandconstrictedintheeast,north, westandsouth.TheDanube, Nile and much oftheTigrisEuphratesriversystemshadbeenoccupiedandcrossedbytheArab caliphsandthenumerousSlavictribesasByzantiumwasabsorbedbythestruggleof politicalandmilitarysurvival.The Slavs,whooccupiedthenorthandcentralBalkans, hadreachedtheAdriaticandBlackSeas,andhadbeguntooverrunmuchthatis presentdaymodernGreece.TheArabs,inafewdecades,hadremovedByzantine powerinArmenia,ByzantineMesopotamia,Syria,Palestine,EgypteandnorthAfrica. TheArabconquestswererapid,non-destructive,andpreservedmuchofthe ethnic, social,economicandculturalstucturesthatByzantiumhadleftbehind. ItissignificantthatbytheninthcenturyArabictextsofAristotle,Galen,Hip-pocrates,and someofPlato had begunto enterthe culture ofthe Arabs.In theBalkans theconquestssettlementswerenotcarriedoutbyastrongcentralizedstate,butby numerousSlavictribalgroupswhichhadnohigherconceptofthestatebutonlythat ofthetribalchieftainswhoseloyaltiesshiftedbetweenoneoranotheroftheAsiatic peoplessuchasAvarsandBulgars.Thechangeswhichtheywroughtwereabruptand oftendestructive.ItisinterestingtonotethattheclassicalGreekheritage,intowhich 64SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. theMuslimArabsenteredasa resultoftheByzantineinheritanceoftheeasternlands, was tocometotheSlavs muchlaterandit was tocome notfromByzantiumbutfrom theWest. Inasmuchasmonotheism,alphabetandliterature,andanultimatepoliticaltheory weretocometomanyoftheSouthandEasternSlavsfromByzantineinfluenceand models,modernhistorianshavepaidagreatdealofattentiontotheByazntine missionariesCyrilandMethodiusandtotheconsequencesoftheirmissionsonthe politicalandcurturalfoundationsoftheSouthandEastSlavsastheresultofthefact thatintheninthandtenthcenturiesthesebegantoemergeassocietieswithawritten literatureandthenucleiofstatefoundations1.Butscholarshipastothenatureand historyofpre-literateSlavicsocietiesprocededmorelaboriouslyandtheyremain mysteriousbecauseofthelimitedsources.TherearoseafterWorldWarI aSlavistic scholarship,whichwasbasedonlinguisticsandarchaeology,thathasbeguntodraw thecontoursofthesepre-literatesocieties,amongCzech,Polish,RussianandGerman scholars2.Themostrecentadditionsandcontributionsforthisknowlegeasconcerns theSouthSlavsaretheeffortsofthelateBulgarianscholarZivkaVyzarovaandher schoolofarcheology3. ThehastyuncoveringofanearlySlaviccemeteryonthegroundsofthenew museumatOlympiaintheearly1960'swastheoccasionofmyearlyinterestinthe questionofthematerialremains,andthereforeinthematerialcultureofpre-literate SlavicsettlementsinGreece4.ThattheSlavshad,early(beforetheliquidmetathesis 1.V.BESEVLIEV,DieProtobulgarischePeriodederbulgarischenGeschichte,Amsterdam1981;F. DVORNIK,LeslegendesdeConstantinetdeMthodevuesdeByzance,Hattiesburg1981. 2.I.BORKOVSKY,Die Prager BurgzurZeitder Premyslidenfrsten,Prague1972;W.HENSEL,DieSlawen imfrhenMittelalter, Berlin1965;I. P.RUSSANOVA,SlavjanskijeDrevnosti,Moscow1976;FlorinCURTA,The MakingoftheSlavs.HistoryandArcheologyoftheLowerDanubeRegionc.500-700,Cambridge2001; Sp.VRYONIS,'',Thessaloniki1995,11-82. 3.ZivkaVZAROVA,Slavjani i Prablgari podani nekropoliteotVI-XInateritorijatana Bgarija,Sofia 1976;SrednovekovnotoselisteS.Carvan.Silistrenskiokrug,VI-XIv.,Sofia1986;Ljiljana.DONCEVA-PETKOVA,Blgarskibitovakeramikaprezrannotosrednovekovie(vtoratapolovinanaVI-krajanaXv.), Sofia1977.ForGreececonsult,Ph.MALINGOUDIS,',Thessaloniki1988; ID., StudienzudenslavischenOrtsnamenGriechenlands,Mainz-Wiesbaden1981;ID., ,Thessaloniki1997. 4.Sp.VRYONIS, The SlavicPottery (Jars)fromOlympia,Greece,in Sp.VRYONIS (ed.),ByzantineStudies. EssaysontheSlavicWorld andtheEleventhCentury, NewRochelle1992,15-42.For a detailed,descriptive analysisoftheSlavicfindsatOlympia,T.VIDA-Th.VLLING,DasslawischeBrandgrberfeldvonOlympia, [ArchologieinEurasien9],Rahden2000.ForbroaderquestionsofculturalencounteroftheSlavs,Al. AVENARIUS,DiebyzantinischenKulturunddieSlawen,Munich2000. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE65 hadtakenplaceinSouthSlavic dialects),settledinGreecewasestablishedbyGerman SlavistMaxVasmerwhohadcarriedout,insitu,adetailedstudyofSlavictoponyms inGreece,intheearlierpartofthetwentiethcentury(thoughthebookwasnot publisheduntil1941).MyinterestinthesmallSlaviccemeteryofOlympiacoincided withtheninthcenturyEpitomatorStraboniswhoincommentingonStrabo's descriptionofElis (regionofOlympia)stated:Salmoneus,Oinomaos,Pelopsandthe PelopidailivedinPisa,whichisnowcalledVisa.Buttodaythereisnotanynameof thePisataiandKaukonesandPylioi.Forallthese(lands)areinhabitedbySkythians (afrequentarchaismforSlavs)5. Thequestionwhichwillconcernusherehastodowiththenatureofpre-literate Slavic societyas it is reflectedinspecificByzantinetextsandinwhatmannerdidSlavs acculturatewithintheByzantinemilieu.Ontheoccasionofthehundredthanniversary celebrationoftheAmericanSchoolofClassicalStudiesinAthens(1980)Idiscussed animportantaspectoftheacculturationofSouthSlavsas a resultoftheirpoliticaland militarycontactswithByzantineauthorityinthelatesixthcentury.Specificallythis limitedanalysisconcerneditselfwithaninvestigationoftheearliestByzantinetexts whichdealwiththeoriginalmilitarytechnologyatthedispositionoftheSouthSlavs andoftheirearlypoliticalmasters(theAsiaticAvars).Thebasictextsforthisanalysis werethoseofProcopius,TheophylactusSimocattaandtheso-calledStrategikonof Maurice,allofwhichgiveusimportantinformationofthemilitarytechnologyofthe earlySlavs6. TheseearliestdescriptionsofAvaro-Slavicmilitarycampaignsandtacticsmakeno mentionwhateverofanadvancedpoliorcetictechnology.Asidefromtheordinary spears,bowsandpoisonedarrowstheypossessedonlyladderswiththeaidofwhich theyhopedtotakefortifiedplacesortowns.Veryoftentheyresortedtofakedretreats andwithdrawalsfromfortifiedplacesas a resultofwhichthegarrisonswouldbedrawn outofthetownwalls,hopingthustoensnaretheenemyanddestroyhimintheopen fieldofbattle.Thewalls,henceforthdenudedofdefenders,wereapreytothe besiegingSlavswhowouldascendthesiege laddersunderthecoveroftheirnumerous archers.InshorttheSlavsatthisstagewerenotyetinpossessionofthetechnology ofsiegemachinery. InthisearlierstudythenextevidencethatwasbroughttobearweretheMiracula ofSt.DemetriosthepatronsaintofThessaloniki,thefirstpartofwhichwascomposed 5.M.VASMER,DieSlaveninGriechenlandBerlin1941, 17. 6.Sp.VRYONIS,TheEvolutionofSlavicSocietyandtheSlavicInvasionsinGreece.TheFirstMajor SlavicAttackonThessalonikiA.D.597,Hesperia50,1981, 378-390. 66SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. by Johnthe archibishopofthecity,whose tenureofthearchipiscopalthronespanned thelatesixthandearlierpartoftheseventhcentury.Hereinhedescribesthe dangerousSlavicsiegeofThessalonikithatcommencedonSundayofSeptember22, probablyin theyear597. His eyewitnessdescriptiondepictsa fullydevelopedandvery effectivetechnologyamongtheSlavicsoldieryandonewhichalmostsuccededin takingthegreatcity.Hewrites:Onthefollowingday,theypreparedsiegemachines, ironbatteringrams,catapultsforthrowingstonesofenormussize,andtheso-called tortoises,ontowhich,alongwiththecatapults,theyplaceddryskins...sothatthey mightnotbeharmedbyfireorboilingpitch.Fromthethirdday...theyhurledstones, orrathermountainsastheywereinsize,andthearchersshotfurther,imitatingthe wintersnowfalls,withtheresultthatnooneonthewallwasabletoemergewithout dangerandthustoseesomethingoutside.Thetortoiseswere joindtothewalloutside andwithoutrestraintwere diggingupthefoundationswith leversandaxeheads.I think thatthesenumberedmorethanonethousand7. Eventuallythedefenders,bywellorganizedsallies,wereabletoremoveallthe manybatteringramsfromthewalls'foundationsandhenceforthhadtodealwiththe formidableballistraeorcatapults:Thereweretetragonalandrestedonbroaderbases, taperingtonarrowerextremities.Attachedtothemwerethickcylinderswellcladin ironattheends,andtherewerenailedtothemtimberslike beamsfroma large house. Thesetimbershadtheslings hungfromthebackside andfromthefrontstrongropes, bywhich,pullingdownandreleasing thesling, theypropelthestonesup high andwith aloudnoise.Andonbeingfiredtheysentupmanygreatstonessothatneitherearth norhumanconstructionscouldbeartheimpacts.Theyalsocoveredthosetetragonal ballistraewithboardsonthreesidesonly,sothatthoseinside,firingthemmightbe woundedwitharrowsbythoseonthewalls8. ThecombinationofcatapultsandbatteringramssoexpertlycraftedbytheSlavic armiescameclose topenetratingthewalls ofThessaloniki.Howwas it thattheAvaro-Slavsacquiredthepoliorcetictechnologywhichassistedthemintakingwalledcities in theBalkans,sinceoriginalytheirsiegedeviceshadprovidedthemonlywithladders? TheanswertothisquestionI foundintheaccountsofTheophylactusSimocattawho recordsthattheyhadbeenableeventuallytolevelthewallsofSingidunum,andhad capturedthewalledtownofBongosandwereabletotakesomefortywalled forteresseswithsiegemachines.Thesamehistorianinformsusthatabout587the 7. P.LEMERLE,Les plusanciens recueils des miracles de Saint Dmtrius, Paris1979,vols.III especially vol.I,148-149. 8.LEMERLE,MiraculaI,154. BYZANTIUM,ITS SLAVICELEMENTSAND THEIRCULTURE67 Avaro-Slavsset out to besiegethe walledtownofAppiareiain MoesiaInferior.They happenedtocapture,in the courseof the siege,the city'smilitaryengineer,asoldier bythe nameBousas.The latterappealedto the citizensto ransomhim lesthe be put todeathby the Slavs.The citizensrefusedand subjectedhim toinsults.The military engineer,inordertosavehis own lifeand havingbeeninsulted,revealedhis terrible secretto his captors:As a price for this stay (of execution)he wouldturnthe forteress overto the barbarians...IndeedBousastaughtthe Avarsto constractsiegemachines, fortheyhappenedtobe the mostignorantofsuchmachines,and hebuiltthesiege machinetohurlmissiles.Soonafter,thefortresswas levelled,and Bousascollected judgementfor the lattersinhumanity,havingtaughtthe barbarianssomethingfrightful, thetechnologyofbesieging.Thencethe enemycapturedeffortlesslya greatmany of theRomancities by makinguse ofthisoriginaldevice9. Inthiscommunicationof1980,laterpublished,I addressedthe matter,discussed in Theophylactus,and the skillwhichSlavicsoldierydemonstratedin the accountsof the MiraculaofSt.Demetrios,as animportantelementofthe culturaladaptationof the SouthSlavictribesintheirnew Byzantineenvironment. Byway ofcontinuingthe themeofSlavicacculturationin the Byzantineenviron-mentin the late sixthand seventhcenturyI turnoncemoreto the Miracula of St.De-metrios,atleasttothe firsttwo sectionscomposedrespectivelyby ArchbishopJohn andbyananonymuscontinuator,bothofwhomrecordedfascinatingdetailsin the military,politicalandeconomicencountersoflocalSlavicgroups,inthevicinityof Thessaloniki,withtheByzantineenvironment.ThedevelopedSlavicpoliorcetic technologywhichthe ArchibishopJohnwitnessedand so accuratelydescribedinPart Oneof the Miracula,becomesa constantthemeand it is evidentthatthe influence of Byzantinemilitarytechnologyhad had a profoundeffecton the SouthSlavsrendering themevenmoredangerousto the city of Thessaloniki.There is no pointin continuing adescriptiveanalysisofthisaspectofSlavicadaptationtotheByzantinescience of poliorcetics.RatherI wishtoturnto the realmofmaritimenavigationand the Slavic adaptationto the Aegean Sea. One is well aware thatthe NarentineSlavs readily adaptedto local piracysometime aftertheyoverranpartofDalmatia.The sameadaptationamongcertainof the South SlavicgroupsinthevicinityofThessalonikiseemstohavetakenplace.These new settlersencounteredthe Aegeanfor the firsttime and thusreactedto the challange, as hadthe ancientGreekssometwo and one-halfthousandyearsearlier.Procopius has 9.THEOPHYLACTUSSIMOCATTA,Historiae,ed.C.DEBOOR,Stuttgart1972,II,16.9-17. 68SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. nothingtosayoftheSlavsandthewaterssave,theyreverebothriversandnymphs andsomeotherdaemonsandtheysacrificetoallofthem10. TheStrategikonofMauricehasalittlemoretosayabouttheirrelationtothe waters:Theyareexperiencedbeyondallmeninthecrossingofriversandbravely endurethewaters.Oftensomeofthem,whileintheirownland,aresurprisedby troubleand,divingintothedepthofthewater,holdcanesintheirmouthmadelong especiallyforthisandhollowedthroughout,reachinguptothesurfaceofthewater, lyingontheirbacksinthedeep,theybreaththroughthemanditis sufficientformany hours,so thatnosuspicionofthemarises. Butevenif it shouldtranspirethatthecanes areseenfromoutsideitissupposedbytheinexperiencedthattheyareonewiththe water.Whereforthosewhoareexperiencedinthis,recognizingthecutandposition ofthecane,eitherstabtheirmouthwiththemortakingthemaway,bringthemup fromthewaterastheyarenolongerabletoremaininit11. Inthiscase TheophylactusconfirmsthegreatriverinefamiliarityoftheSouthSlavs insomedetail.SpecificallytheAvarkhanoftheAvaro-SlavsreliedheavilyonSlavic boatbuilderstosupplyhisarmieswiththeriverboatsinordertocrosstheDanube andtoattackthetownsoftheempire.Whenhedecidedtoproceedtotheattackof Singidunumtheinhabitansofthecityorganizedraidssoastoburntheboatsbeing shapedbytheSlavsfortheattack.ThuswhenhewishedtocrosstheriverSavehe oncemoreorderedtheSlavstofurnishtheriverboatsforthecampaign.Mousocius, aSlavicchieftain,disposedofsome150suchriverboatscalledmonoxyles(boats carvedoutofthesingletrunkofatree).Butitseemsthatmostoftheseriverboats, themonoxyles,wereofmodestdimensionsandnotsuitableforsailingintheopen sea,thoughitis notclearwhetherthetermmonoxyleis usedtodesignatesomething alittlemoreambitious.Shipsdesignedformaritimepurposeshadtohavea deepkeel sothattheywouldnotbeeasilyoverturnedbytheroughseas.Generally,Byzantine authorsdonotusethetermmonoxyletodenotemaritimevessels.Onemustassume thattheoriginalSouthSlavicmonoxyleswereunabletosailtheopenandrough watersoftheAegeanSea. ItistotheMiraculaofSt.Demetriosthatonemustturn,oncemore,inorderto catcha glimpseofthisearlyencounterofcertainSouthSlavic groupswiththeAegean Seaandwithitsenvironment.InparticulartherelevantdocumentscomefromPart TwooftheMiraculawrittenbyananonymousauthorsometimesafterthemiddleof theseventhcentury.Thefirstmiracleofwhichhespeaksis saidtohavetranspiredin 10.PROCOPIUS,Debello gothico,ed.J.HAURY-G.WIRTH,Leipzig1962,III,14.22-30. 11.StrategikonofMaurice,ed.MICHAESC,ArtaMilitara,Bucharest1970,278,280. BYZANTIUM,ITS SLAVICELEMENTS ANDTHEIRCULTURE69 theoldendaysofArchibishopJohn,thereforeconsiderablybeforetheauthor'stime, whereasthesecondsectionweshallconsidertranspiredbetween676and678,more thanthree-quartersofacenturyaftertheSlavicattackonThessalonikiin597.Both theeventsandtherelevantterminitechniciarerelevantforthepurposesofthis discussion,andwemustkeepinmindthattheanonymousauthorofthisSecondPart oftheMiraculahasintroducedsomemisleadinganachronismsintheaccountofthe eventhedatestothetimeofArchibishopJohn. Letusturnto the firstmiracleheattributestothe patronsaintofThessaloniki.Here theauthordescribesaveryextensiveattackthattookplaceabout614A.D.12,when theruleroftheSlavsChatzonbrougthmassivelandforcesandalso'naval'forcesto thesiege.Thesectionthatdescribesthesiegeissubtitled: ,, Thetextproceedstoinformtheaudienceontheshipbuildingactivitiesofthenew SouthSlavicsettlersattheedgeoftheAegeanSeaandatthemouthsoftherivers whichemptyintoit:Thereoccurred,asitissaidatthetimethatJohn,ofHoly memory,heldtheepiscopalthronethattherearosethenationoftheSklavinoianda vastmultitudeofDrougovitai,Sagoudatai,Velegezitai,Vaiounitai,Verzitaiandother nationswasassembled,thatisallthosewhodiscoveredhowtomakecarvedboatsout ofsingletrees.HavingoutfittedthemselvesfortheseaandhavingsackedallThessaly andtheislandssurroundingitandHellas,andinadditiontotheCycladicIslandsall AchaeaandEpirus,mostofIllyricumandapartofAsia,andhavingrenderd uninhabitedverymanytownsandeparchies,theyalldecidedtoarraythemselves againstouraforementionedandChristlovingcityandtosackitlikealltherest.And havingthuscometoanagreementonthistheybuiltverynumerousboatseachcarved outofasingletree( )13. InshorttheanonymousauthordescribeshowthenumeroussmallSlavicentities nowsettledwithineasyreachoftheAegeanfirstdevisedthecraftofhewingand carvinga boatoutofa single treetrunk.Havingthuspreparedthemselvesforthesea, theyprocededtoplunderthecoastsofmuchofcentralandsouthernGreece,the Greekislands,andpartsofwesternAsiaMinorintheirshipscarvedfromonetree each,thewellknownmonoxyle.Theanonymouswouldhaveusbelievethatthe SouthSlavsspreadoutoveralltheAegeanSeainthesesmallmonoxyles.Many scholarshavefollowedthistextina ratherunguardedfashion,andweshallreturntoit. 12.LEMERLE,MiraculaII,92-93onalltheabove. 13.LEMERLE,MiraculaI,175. 70SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. Chatzonhadco-ordinatedanattackwhichsoughttoisolatethecitybothonthe landandonthesea,andit is tothelatterthatwe shall momentarilyturnourattention. TheSlavicsailorstooktimetopreparetheirboatsfortheall-outattackonthewalled cityandsowithdrewtoalittleportonthebayofThessaloniki.Heretheyputtheir boatsinshapeforthesynchronisedattackonthecity'swallsbothbylandandsea.In thispreparationfortheseaattack:TheSlavicsailorscarriedoutplansofplacing planksandanimalskinsatoptheirboatssoastoprotecttheoarsmenfromthestones (thrown)fromthewallstheyweregoingtoapproach,ortofreethemfromthe weaponsthatwouldbefiringatthem14. SimultaneouslytheysentoutboatstosurveytheseawallsofThessalonikiinan efforttofindtheirweakestareas.Onthefourthdayofthesiegetheirleadergavethe signalfortheall-outattackwhichonthelandsidewasmarkedbytheviolentattack ofthevariousandnumeroussiegemachines.OntheseatheSlavicboatssetoutto attackthecityattwopoints:(a)Atthetowertothewestoftheecclesiasticalport wheretherewasasidegate,and(b)attheunwalledsectionoftheshorewherethe defendershadpreparedacamouflagedditchwithamachinewithspikes.Thefleetof smallSlavicshipsproceded,withtheirattached,protectiveroofs,totheattack. Unfortunatelyforthemtheattackingshipswerenotabletomaintaintheirlinesand orderandsoonfellintoa stateofchaoticdisorder:Soitcameaboutthattheyfellon oneanotherandsomeoftheboatswereoverturnedandthustheSlavsintheseboats werethrownoutintothesea.Some,swimmingabout,soughttosavethemselvesin someoftheotherboatsandgrabbingholdofit(sic) heoverturnedthatboatandalso threwintotheseatheSlavswhowereinit.Thecaptainsoftheremaining(Slavic) boatscutoff,withtheirswords,thehandsofthosestretchingouttothestillfloating boats,othercaptainscutofftheheads,andstillother(captains)piercedsuch(sailors) withtheirspears.Andsoitwaseachonewhosoughtafterhisownsalvationbecame theenemyoftheothers15. Those sailorswho made it totheunwalledshorefellintothe camouflagedditchand ontothemachinewiththespikes,whereastheremainderwhohadsurvivedthe catastropheofthefleetmadeittothetowerandsidegateonlytobeslainthereby anattackofthedefenders.Theremainderofthesurvivingboatshadbeached themselvesonthesandsandcouldnotbedrawnbackouttosea.TheMiracula related thattheentireseaviewhadturnredfromthebloodofthebarbariansandas thewind begantoblowtheycouldnotrowanyofthe boatsouttosea,butthe remainingboats 14.LEMERLE,MiraculaI,167. 15.LEMERLE,MiraculaI,176-178. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE71 managedto maketheirway byhugging theshore tothewestandthe east.And many ofthebodiesofthebarbarianswerethrownuponthesandandagainstthewalls. Theinternalcontradictionofthispartoftheanonymousnarratoris striking.Inthe beginninghespeaksofaSlavicnavalprowesswhich,bytheuseofthemonoxyles, hadnavigatedtheroughAegeanSeaandhadproceededtotheravagingand distructionofmuchoftheGreekspeakingworldthatlivedaroundtheAegeanbasin. YetthedetaileddescriptionofthenavalsectorofthesiegeofThessalonikiinabout 614,showscompletedisasterduetothelackofanymaritimeskillsonthepartofthe Slavicsailorsandboatbuilders.Theirineptnessemergesineveryoneofthedetails of thenavalfiascoofthisexpedition.First,theydidnotknowhowtomanoeuvretheir ships...theyfellontooneanother,sinkingmanyoftheirownboats.Second,the monoxylewassounseaworthythatonedrowingsailorcouldoverturnthemonoxyle simplybygrabbingitandpullingdownonit.Thisspeakstothesmallnessofthe monoxyleaswell astoitslackofadeepkeel.Thelackofexperienceinmanoeuvring ships,andinbuildingseacraftthatcouldnavigatetheroughseaswasnotyetinthe possessionoftheSlavicsettlers.Howthencouldtheysailoffandsacktheentire maritimeworldofGreekspeakerswho, livingontheAegeannowfromsometwoand one-halfmillenia,hadcompleteknowledgeandthetechnologyfordealingwiththeir maritimeenvironment?ThebayofThessalonikiwaswellprotectedandshouldnot havepresentedtheSlavswithsuchdifficultiesiftheyhadhadappropriateshipsand knowledge.The Slavic experiencewithwatershadtodowith riversand lakes and their smallboatswereappropriateforthesemilderwaters.TheSouthSlavshad encounteredthesea,now,buttheyhadnotmasteredthebodyofmaritimeknowledge andtechnologynecessaryforanaccomodationwiththisnewaspectoftheforcesof nature.Anditisobviousthatinthisparticularmiracletheanonymousauthorhas committedagrossanachronismfortheSlavsweretolearnabouttheseafromtheir neighbouringByzantinepopulations,astheyhadlearnedthetechnologyofsiege warfarefromalocalurban,Byzantineengineer.Inthisearlymilitaryencounterwith theseathesegroupsofSlavshadexperiencedatotalandbloodydisasterinan engagementwheretheByzantinemilitaryfleetwasnotevenpresent. TheSouthSlavsoftheregionofThessalonikiseemtohavemadethetransition fromtheirsmallriverinemonoxylestoseaworthyvesselsbythethirdquarterofthe seventhcenturyaswelearn,againfromtheMiraculaofSt.Demetrios.IntheFourth MiraclerelatedbyouranonymousauthorwehavetodowithoneofthemanySouth SlavregesorkingsastheByzantinesourcestellus.Thoughheisconnectedwiththe SlavsoftheStrymon,theRhynchinos,andtheSagoudatai,hepreferstoliveinthe greatmetropolisofThessaloniki,hespeaksGreekandseemstohavedressedinthe 72SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. Byzantinemanner.Hewasaccusedofplottingarebellionagainsttheemperor,and wassentofftoConstantinople wheretheemperor,busilypreparingforhiswarswith theArabs,kepthimunderclosewatch.ThenameofthissmallkingwasPerbundos andhehadclosetiesnotonlywiththelocalSlavs,manyofwhomrecognisedhimas theirleader,butalsowithmanyofthecitizensofThassaloniki.ThelocalByzantine eparchhadaccused,totheemperor,thiskingofthelocalSlavsofRynchinos,as havingconspiredagainstThessaloniki.UponhisarrivaltherethelocalSlavsofboth RhynchinosandtheStrymon,alongwithrepresentativesofThessaloniki,senta missiontoConstantinople topleadforthelifeofPerbundos.EventuallyPerbundos fledthecapitalandcontinuedhisconspiracy.Eventuallyhewasrecapturedand executed.TheresultwastherisingoftheSlavsofStrymon,Rhynchinosandthe SagoudataiandtheirdecisiontosetalongsiegetoThessaloniki. ThelocalSlavs,inapportioningthelaborsofwarandattack,ordainedthatthe SlavsoftheStrymonshouldraidand plundertheregionstotheeastandnorthofthe city,andtheSagoudataiandSlavsoftheRhynchinosshouldattackthoseregionsto thewestofthecityandthattheyshouldraid,withtheiryokedvessels(= )theadjacentseasonadailybasis.Thesemilitaryandnavalraids andattacksweremaintained forthenexttwoyearsduringwhichtherewerethreeto fourattacksorraidseveryday.Theinhabitantsofthecitywerethedailywitnesses andmournerstoandforthecitizensslainbothonlandandseaforthislongperiod. Eventuallythecity,thuslockedupfrombothwithinandwithoutbegantosufferthe painsofhungerand begantoeatthe domestic animalsand eventhe nettles. The Slavs hadseizedthenearbyruralchurchesandusedthemasoutpoststoslayallthosewho daredcomeoutofthewallstoscavangeforfood,andtheSlavicmonoxyles,hidden undertheoverhangingcliffsandsecretplaceswouldrushouttoattacksolitaryboats andkillthoseattemptingtoderivesomesmallsourceoffood(fish)andtheywould slaythemall. Thenthecitycouncilandthecitizensdecidedtosendout,secretly,tenseaships, theremainingboatsandthemonoxylestotheSlavictribeoftheVelegezitesinthe districtsofThebes(ofPhthiotes)andDemetriasinordertopurchasegrain.For,itis related,theSlavVelegezitesofThessalyhadanagreementforpeace.Seeingthatthe Thessaloniansweresorelypressedbyhunger,theSlavsoftheregionofThessaloniki decidedtoorganizeafull,developedsiegeofthecityhopingthustotakeitinits weakenedstate.ItisofinterestthattheboatsinthelocalSlavicfleetwerenolonger themonoxylesofoldbutanew,forthe Slavs,typeofshipcalled(yoked,or, madebycarpenters), whichwasadapted tothe needsoftrue maritime movementand warfare.TheanonymousauthorrelatesthatfinallytheSlavicattackswerethwarted BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTS ANDTHEIR CULTURE73 andtheappearanceoftheimperialarmyandimperialgrainshipssostrengthenedthe citizensthatthe Slavsfledindisorderabandoningtheirbootyandsiegemachines.But thefleetoftheSlavsofStrymonandRhynchinos,afterhavingabandonedthesiege, begantoseekByzantineshippingontheopenseaswith,asthe textsays,theiryoked (orcarpentermade)ships.Theyplunderedverymanyoftheshipsthatwereusedto collectsuppliesandtobringthemtoConstantinople, allthewayfromtheislands,the narrowsea(theDardanelles),theregionsaboutParionandProkonessosandofthe shipsinthecustomsitself.Havingenslavedthesetheyreturnhomewithverymany ships,totheirlairs.Itwaspreciselythismilitary/piraticalactivityonthehighseas whichcausedtheemperortosendtheimperialarmyandfleettodespersetheSlavs (theemperorwasmostprobablyConstantine IVwhohad justconcludedapeacewith theArabs). Thetextshows,clearly,thatthe Slavshadfashionedanewtypeofship,unlikethe olderandcrudemonoxyleswhichweresuitableonlyforriversandforshallowcoastal movement,the.Andasweseeitwasquitecapableofcarryingoutraids andattacksonthehighAegeanseas,particularyalongtheshippinglanesthatlead fromtheAegeantowardConstantinople.TheSlavswerefinallyattheireaseinthe AegeanSea,andhadlearnedtheropesfromthelocalmaritimetechnology. Itisinterestingtonote,first,thatthetextoftheMiraculaofSt.Demetrios differentiatesbetweenthetermontheonehand,andtheterms ,,.PaulLemerle,inhistranslation,renderedthesetwo formsoftheverb,bytheFrenchnavirescharpents,thatistosayships puttogetherwithdifferentpiecesofwood16.HisimplicationisthattheselaterSlavic shipsweredifferentfromthemonoxylesandthusinsomelineofevolutioninterms ofmaritimetechnology.Itwouldberelevanttoinspectothertextstoseewhatspecific ortechnicalmeaningthebasicverbanditsderivativesmighthaveina Byzantinemaritimecontextandinthe historyofthiscomplexoflexicalderivativesof theverb. Generallythisverbmeans:toyoke,bridge,pair.It also,byextension,could mean tofitortobind.TheunabridgedLiddell-ScottGreeklexicongivestwosimilar meaningsthathaveveryspecificreferencetofurnishingorstrengtheningships.One ofthesereferencesisalocusclassicus.InthefamedepisodebetweenCorcyraand Corinth,whichsetoffthePeloponnesianWar,theformerhadrepairedtheiraged 16.LEMERLE,MiraculaI,169-170,200. 74SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. battle-ships: , 17. Onenotesfirstthe balancebetweenand .The latterword isto be translatedhavingrepairedbuttheformerwordis muchmoreloadedforif theyhad notthe oldershipswouldhavebeenunabletonavigateonthesea Liddell-Scotthas translatedthispassagein itsrelevantsection,asfollows:having strengthenedwiththwarts(seats).Thetranslatorof thispassagein theLoebext, C. M.Smithtranslatesmorespecifically:havingpreviouslystrengthenedtheoldvessels withcrossbeamsso as to makethemseaworthy. Inthe Avaro-Slavsiege of Constantinople inlateAugust-earlySeptember626,the textsofTheodoreSyncellus,GeorgeofPisidiaandthePaschal Chronicle relatethat theAvarrulerbrougthaconsiderablenumberofSlavicmonoxylesfromDanubian region,overland,andputthemintothesea at Halaion theEuropeanshoreofthe Bosphorusandin thewesternshallowsandrocksoftheGoldenHorn(wherethey wouldbe safefromattackby thelargerByzantinetriremesandbiremeswhichcould notventureintotheshallowwaters)18.Bothgroupsofmonoxyleswereutterly destroyed,andtheircrewswiththem, by theByzantineships.Thisis indicative,once more,thattheSlavicsailorswerehindered by theircontinuedrelianceonsuchboats outfittedtooperate primarilyinriverineenvironmentsand shallows.George of Pisidia, inhispoeticrenditionof thelandandseabattlesmakesaninterestingobservationas tothearrangementof themonoxylesjustpriorto theirfatalclashwiththeByzantine fleetinthewesternmostGoldenHorn: (andthere(inviewofthe churchofthePanagia Vlacherna)didtheyspreadout,likesomenetinthesea,theircarvedships,andthey linked(tied)themtheone to the other)19. 17.THUCYDIDES,I, 29. 18.The textsare conveniently collected inGrcki Izvori zablgarskata istorija,ed. J. DUJCEV,Genoveva CANKOVA-PETKOVA,Vasilka, PKOVA-ZAIMOVA,L.JONCEV,PetarTIVCEV,Sofia1960,vol.VI-3:THEODORE SYNCELLUS,41-55,GEORGEOFPISIDIA,57-67,PaschalChronicle, 77-84.Forthebroadersubjectsee,Fr. BARISIC,Lesigede ConstantinopleparlesAvareset lesSlavesen 616,Byzantion24,1954,371-395; V. GRUMEL,Ladefencemaritimede Constantinopledu ctde la Corned'Oret le sigedesAvares,BS125, 1964,217-233; J. D.HOWARD-JOHNSTON,TheSiegeof Constantinoplein 626,in C.MANGO- G. DAGRON (eds.),Constantinopleand Its Hinterland, Aldershot1995,131-142;thedetailedaccountof A.STRATOS, T " ,',626-634,Athens1966,491-542,and especially524-529,is noteworthy.His analysisof thesourcesonthe eventsintheGoldenHornis carefuland convincing. 19.Giorgio di Pisidia,Poemi.I Panegiriciepici,a cura di A.PERTUSI, Ettal1959,196.446-447.Seealso hisnotesonp.196,and hiscarefulcommentaryonthe textonpp.223-224. BYZANTIUM,ITS SLAVICELEMENTS ANDTHEIRCULTURE75 Therecanbenodoubtthatthisformoftheverbmeanstotieorto bind,andfurthertheuseofthesimileofthenetthrownintotheseameansan instrumentwhichistiedtogetheratregular,smallintervals.It wasatactic applied in ordertokeepthesmallmonoxylesfromlosingtheirorderandfallinguponone another.Buttheuseoftheverbinitscompoundformindicatesthattheuseofthe simplewordwouldnot haveconveyedthe meaning ofbeing tiedorbound together. Important,also,isthetextofPsellos'Chronographia whichdescribesthenaval battlebetweenthe Russianfleetofmonoxyles(whateverthewordmayhavecome to meanbythislatetime)and theimperialfleetsentoutbytheemperorConstantineIX in104320.Finding that the warshipsimmediatelyat hand wereinsufficient,the emperor hadtogather,quicklywhatevershipshehad:' ,(whencetheemperorgathered someremnantsoftheoldfleet,andhavingrefittedthem...)21. Inthis casewehavea derivativeofthe simpleverband itsuseisprecisely thatofThucydidesindescribingtherefittingorstrengtheningoftheolderbattleships bytheCorcyreans.In bothcasesthere isatechnical procedureofstrengtheningolder shipssothat theycanundertake a typeofnavalwarefarewhichinvolved,among other things,violentramming,andwhichinvolvedgrapplingandboardingenemywarships. These usagesinPsellosand Thucydidesare veryspecificand wouldseemsomehow todifferfromtheepithetsof andintheMiracula ofSt. Demetrios astotheSlavicshipsofthelatterseventhcentury. ThederivativesoftheverbutilizedintheMiracula areallinthepluralanddo not appear,atleastinthetextsavailabletoday,inconnectionwithByzantineships.Two possibleexplanations,butteyremained unconfirmed,emergefromthe examinationof thelexicalmatteritself.ThefirstisthepossibilitythatthenewSlavicboatsweretwo ormorewhichwereboundtogetherandwhichwouldservefirsttoenlargetheir capacity,andsecondtogiveakindofmaritimestabilitytotwoormorebound monoxylesintheopensea.Or,theywerenolongershipssimplycarvedoutofone treetrunk,butwereeithercompoundshipswiththestructuressimilartoother seagoingcraft,ortheycouldhavehadanadjustedbodycarvedoutofone tree-trunk butwithanumberafaddedfeatureswhichwouldgiveitasomewhatbettermaritime ability.Still,theMiraculatextappliesthesetypeepithetstodescribeonlySlavicboats 20.OnthelatterseetheinsightfulcommentaryofDimitriObolenskyinR.J.H.JENKINS(ed.), ConstantinePorphyrogenitus,DeAdministrandoImperio, II.Commentary,London1962,23-25, where he bringstobearthe additional information inRussiansourcesonthe monoxyles and theirvariety. 21.M.PSELLOS,Chronographie,ed .RENAULD,Paris1928,vol.II, 10. 76SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. (withexceptionofthecoastalmonoxylesusedbyByzantinesforcoastaltrade). Such wasthe caseofthe Russianmonoxylesthatdescendedthe rapidsoftheRussianrivers (wheretheycouldbedisassembled)andcarriedoverland,andthenreassembledwhen inthepresenceoftheseas.ButtheByzantinetextsdonotrefertotheseas-22. Onemustawaitfurtherlexicalandarcheologicalresearchonthismatter.Butit wouldseemthatthe Slavicmaritime technologyofthe latterseventhcenturysucceded inmakingaconsiderableadaptationintermsoftechnologicaldetailsintheirmeeting withtheAegeanSea.HowevertheirperformanceintheGoldenHornandthe BosphorusduringtheAvaro-SlavicsiegeofConstantinople wasacompletedisaster23. HalfacenturylatertheirwereregularyraidingByzantineshipping, bothgovernmentalandprivateintheAegeanandinopenviewofthecustomshouse ofAbydos. Inthesetwocases,militarypoliorceticandinmaritimetechnology,thenewly settledSlavshadbeguntobeinfluencedbyByzantinemilitaryandmaritime technology. Butthereareotherdetails,especiallyinthenarrativeconcerningPerboundos, that indicatethatacculturationwastakingotherformsaswell.AswesawPerboundoshad becomebiculturaltoacertainextent:helivedinThessaloniki,hespokeGreek,and dressedByzantine,buthealsohadcloserelationswiththecitizensandmembersof thecitycouncilofThessaloniki.HisruralSlavicsubjectscooperatedwiththeThessa-loniansinsendinganembassytoConstantinopletopleadforthelifeofPerboundos. WhentheSlavickingwasexecuted,thelocalSlavsindicatedthattheiracculturation waslimitedpoliticallyandsotheybesiegedthecityfortwoyears.The localauthorities hadnoassistancefromtheemperorasthelatterwasinvolvedinmilitaryoperations aigainsttheArabswhoconstitutedanimmediatedangertotheentireempire.Butthe cityofThessalonikiseemstohavehadapeaceagreementwithyetanotherSlavic tribe,whichwaslocatedintheThessalianplainandsosenttothemforgrain.Here oneseesanimportanteconomicaccomodationandacculturationofbeligerantSlavic tribes.AstheprincipalurbanandeconomiccenterThessalonikiwasanimportant centerofconsumptionandsowasalsoaprincipalcustomerandmarketforSlavic produce.YettheThessalonianswhowentwiththeshipstoacquiregrainfearedthat if theVelegezitaigotwindofthesiegewhichhadjustbrokenoutthelocalSlavsmight murderthem. 22.Ibid. 23.STRATOS,op.cit.. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE77 BythelatterseventhcenturytheseSlavicgroups,whichhadenteredtheGreek peninsula,hadestablishedthemselvesonthelandwiththeiranimalsandwereengaged inagriculturalproduction,andsofoundeconomicdemandinsuchmarketsasthatof Thessalonikitotheiradvantage.Also theyweresettledwithina societyandlandwhich wasfarmoredevelopedinmostaspects,andthistoowasattractive.Fromthefew SlavicgravesthathavebeenexcavatedinGreece,butmuchmorefromthoseSlavic cemeteriesexcavatedinBulgaria,weseethatthematerialcultureoftheearlySlavs did notevenhavethe potter'swheelinthelatesixthcentury,somethingthathadbeen aroundforsometwothousandyears. Bytheninth,tenthandeleventhcenturyweseethattherehasdevelopedafull culturaladaptationofmanysuchSlavicsettlements,andthatinsomecasesthiswas wellonthewaytosocio-culturalabsorptionintothelocalsociety.Butbeforethis cametoprevailtherewasanintermediateperiodwhenthestrongculturalandsemi-politicalidentityofthesenewlysettledSlaviccommunitiesisclearlyevident. TheinvasionsandsettlementsofSlavsinByzantinelandsinvariouspartsofthe ByzantineempireresultedintheappearanceofseveralsmallerSklaviniai.Theuse ofthistermbothinthesingularandpluralbythesourcesimpliedtheexistenceof separateandcompactSlaviccommunitiesintheBalkanseachofwhichhaditsown socialorganizationandchiefs,aswellasitsownmilitarybodies.UsuallytheseSkla-viniaiwereinterspersedamongtheolderByzantinepopulationswithwhomtheyhad relationsofsortsaswell aswithConstantinopleandits provincialrepresentatives.The suddensettlementofcompactSlavicgroupswithinthematrixofanolderpopulation producedhostile,andoftenviolentrelationsmuchasthenewsettlerswerestillina heroicorepic,pre-literatestageinwhichwarfare,raids,boody,banditryandpiracy werepreeminent.Wehaveseen,above,howthistribalmodeandtechnologyof warfarebegantoundergotransformationinmilitaryandmaritimematters.Wehave alreadyseenthemannerinwhichtheserelationsalsotookonaveryimportant economicaspectasintheexampleoftheThessaloniansuccessfulefforttobuyagri-culturalprovisionsfromtheSklaviniaoftheVelegezitaiinThessaly,withwhich SklaviniatheinhabitantsofThessalonikihadmadepeaceagreementswhiletheywere atwarwiththelocalSklaviniaswestofThessaloniki.Finallywehavealreadycaughta glimpseoftheeffortsofthecentralizedstatetoimposeitspoliticalwillonsomeof theseSklaviniaswhentheemperorConstantineIVsentoutamajorexpeditionto reducethemtopeaceandorder. Ifthestateweretosurviveduringthegreatcrisisoftheseventhcenturyithadto takemilitarymeasuresnotonlyagainstthegreatArabthreatandlaterthatofthe newlyfoundedBulgariankingdom,butithadtofindtimetorestrainandtosubject, 78SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. oftenrepeatedly,thesesmallSklaviniaslestthestatebegintodissolvefromthe internaldecompositionofthestate.Thisinvolvedamilitaryreductionofthe disobedientsandsomekindofformalincorporationoftheirseparatesocietiesintothe statestructure.ThustheindividualSklaviniaswerefaced,beforethepressureofthe Byzantinestate,tochoosefromthreepossibilities:a)A struggletoremaincompletely independentoftheByzantinestate; b)Essentiallytoacceptincorporationofthenewly foundedBulgariankingdoma realisticpossibilityonlyforthoseSklaviniasnearthe Bulgarianborders;c)AcculturationtothelocalByzantinesocietyandincorporationof anofficialnatureintothe local administrativesystem,butwith the rightsofmaintaining theirlocalchiefsorarchontes. Unlike thevastbureaucraticstateofByzantiumwith its politicaltheoryofoneGod, onestate,onelaw,mostgroupsofSklaviniaiwithintheterritoriesofthenowreduced Byzantinebordershadnooverallinstitutionorrulersoas tobeable tocoordinatethe totaldemographicstrengthoftheSklavenoiinthePloponnse,incentralGreece,in MacedoniaandThrace.AccordinglytheirmilitaryeffortsagainsttheByzantinestate wereofacircumscribedlocalnature,andas a resultthismostseriousfailure(theyhad failedtotakeThessaloniki)was thattheyhadnoreliable, contiguousdemographicbase onwhichtoamasslargerandmoreeffectivemilitaryforces.TheBulgarianstate appearedonlyinthelatterpartoftheseventhcenturyandinthebeginninghadto concentrateonabsorptionofitsownSlavicgroupsandontheincessantwarswith Byzantiumwhich,inthecriticalreignofConstantineVweredisastrousforBulgaria ThepresenceofSklaviniasontheByzantino-Bulgarianboundariesrenderedthose regionsparticularlysusceptibletoBulgarianbidsontheseSklavinias,butasonegoes furthersouththerealitiesfortheBulgarianstatewerequiteotherwise.Bythetenth andeleventhcenturiestheBulgarianstatefirstweakenedandthendisappeared. ThoughthetroubledconditionsoftheByzantinestateinthefaceofthe tremendousAraboffensivesoftheseventhcenturyallowedthelocalSklavinias considerablefreedomtoindulgetheiractivitiesofbanditryonlandandpiracyonthe sea,aswellasoccasionalsiegesofThessaloniki,theywereneversufficienttoleadto thefoundationofanindependentstate. In688/9 theemperorJustinianII carriedouta successfulmilitaryexpeditionagainst theBulgariansbutalsoagainsttheSklaviniai,goingasfarasThessalonikiandtook awaycaptivesaverylargenumberoftheSklavinoi.Thesehesettledinthethemeof Opsikionin northwesternAsia Minorandfromwhich he raiseda specialarmyofsome 30,000.Unfortunatelyfortheemperorthissubstancialarmyof30,000desertedtothe caliphalarmiesintheirfirstmilitaryencounterandonhisreturntoBithyniaJustinian BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE79 issaidtohaveslaintheirfamilies.Muchlater,in762,208,000Sklavenoiaresaidto havesettled24. Sometwentyyearslater(782-3)inthereignofConstantineVIandhismother Irenethegovernmentsentoutamajormilitaryforcethepurposeofwhichwas,once more,tosubduethelocalSklaviniai,underthedirectionoftheLogotheteStavrakios. Itprovedtobesuccesful,atleastfortheimmediatefuture,asheforcedtheSklavenoi oftheregionofThessalonikiandcentralGreecetopaytheirtaxestothegovernment, andinPloponnsehesuccededintakingawayextensivenumbersofthelocalSlavs andtakinggreatbootyattheirexpense.Inthefollowingyearhewasallowedto celebratehisvictoriesintheConstantinopolitanhippodromeduringthecourseofthe horseraces.Thisandothersuchencountersoftheimperialarmiesandofthelocal administrativeofficialsindicatethattheimpetusofsuchmeasuresarosefromthe insistanceofthegovernmentthatthelocalSlavsfulfilltheirobligationstothestate, andtheresistanceonthepartoftheseSlavswasduetothethatfacttheywishedto be freeofall suchobligations.Butthattheywere alreadywell advancedin someformal integrationintothe local politicalsituationemergesfromtheincidentsattendantonthe ByzantinecivilstrifebetweentheempressIreneandhersonConstantineVI.Forin 798/9Akamir,archonoftheSklavenoiofVelzetia(inThessaly),conspiredwiththe ByzantinesoftheHelladikon(districtofcentralGreece)tofree(inAthens)the imprisonedsonsofConstantineVIandtoreplaceIrenewithoneofthem.Irene, herselfanAtheniansenthernephewTheophylactSarantopechis(alsoanoble Athenianfamilly)whosuccededtoblindalltheconspirators25.Thisclosepolitical connectionofthearchonoftheThessalianSlavictribewithmembersoftheleading citizensofAthensinaplottoreplacetheempressinConstantinopleindicatesthe degreetowhichtheSklaviniaihadbeenincorporatedintothepoliticallifeofboththe provincialadministrationandoftheimperialofficeitself. AtthesametimecertainoftheSklaviniairebelledagainstthepaymentoftaxes,or tribute,to Constantinople,againstperformanceofobligationstothe state andpersisted inactsofbanditryonthelandandofpiracyonthesea.Herethetestimonyof ConstantinePorphyrogenitusintheDeAdministrandoImperio,makesthecasequite clearwherehespeaksofthreesubstantialstateinterventionsintheninthandinthe tenthcentury.Theseinterventionsconsistedofmilitaryexpeditionsofthestateas well asofmilitaryactionsonthepartofthelocalGreekinhabitantstoputanendtothe 24.THEOPHANES,Chronographia,ed.C.DEBOOR,Hildesheim1963,vol.I,364-366;Nikephoros Patriarch ofConstantinople,ShortHistory,text,translationandcommentarybyC.MANGO,Washington 1960,140,220. 25.THEOPHANES,Chronographia, I,473-474. 80SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. violationof localsecurityaswellas insubordinationagainstthe authorityof the state. Thefirstof theserebellionsbrokeout andendedbetween802-811andwascarried outby the Slavs of the northenPloponnseinalliancewithArabcorsairs.The Slavs ofAchaeafirstattackedthedwellingsof theirGreekneighborsin theruralareasand thenproceededto attacktheareaaroundthecityof Patrasbeforesettlingdown to thesiegeof thecity.Asthesiegewas protractedandthecitizenswerebeginning to sufferfromlackof provisionstheysentwordto the Byzantinestrategos,whosecenter wasat Corinth,to sendsuppliesandhisarmy.ButbeforethesereachedPatras the localforceshadsuccededin routingtheSlavsand so theymanaged,by themselves notonlyto defendthe citybut also to defeattheirattackers.Uponreceiptof the news thestrategosnotifiedthe emperorin Constantinople,thatis NicephorusI, who replied thatinasmuchas the victorywasdue to the interventionofPatras'patronSaint Andrewtheentiretyof theattackingSlavsandtheirfamilieswerededicatedtothe perpetualserviceof theecclesiasticalmetropolisthereto servethemetropolitanand all foreingembassiesas well as statemissions,fromthe estatesand wealth of the local Slavsthemselves.And so thepoliticalintegrationwas intensifiedthroughthearmof thechurchandthroughthe localadministrationof Patrasitself26. Theproblemof thedisobedienceof theSlavsin thePloponnseappearsonce morein the reignsofTheophilusandhis son MichaelIII (841/2):Rebellingthey becameautonomousand busiedthemselveswithrobbery,enslaving,the taking of booty,arsonandtheft.Andso in the reignofMichaelthe sonofTheophilus, the protospathariusTheoktistusVryenniuswassentout as strategosin thethemeof the Ploponnsewitha substantialforceof Thracians,Macedoniansandof thewestern themesin orderto makewar on and to subduethem.And hesubduedall theSlavs ofthePloponnsethereandotherswho had beeninsubordinant...Andthe protospathariusand generalofthe PloponnseTheoktistus,havingbeenable to subduealsothe Milingoiand the Ezeritai,he imposedon the formera tax of60 nomismataand onthelattera tax of 300 nomismata27. By921, in thetimeof RomanusI, theparticularSlavictribesof theMilingoiand Ezeritai,saflyensconcedonthe heightsof mountTaygetos,wereagainthesource of localdisturbancesandrefusedto obeythestrategosandtheyrefusedto heed the imperialorder.Theyconductthemselvesas thoughtheywereautonomousandself-governing.Theyrefusedtoany archonappointedby the strategosnordotheydeign 26.CONSTANTINEPORPHYROGENITUS,DeAdministrandoImperio,ed.G.MORAVCSIK-R.J.H.JENKINS [CFHB1], Washington1967 (hereafterDAI),228-233. 27.DAI,232. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE81 toperformmilitaryservicewithhim,nordotheyundertaketoperformanydutyto theimperialtreasury...28. ConstantineVII relatesthatthenewstrategosofthePloponnseKrinitesArotras cruchedtheirrebellioninamilitarycampaignthatlastedfromMarchuntilNovember duringthecourseofwhichthetwoSlavictribessufferedtheburningofall theircrops andthepillagingofalltheirlands:Seeingthencetheircompletedestructionthey negotiatedforpeacebysubmittingtothem(thegovernment'stroopes)andaskingfor thepardonoftheirpreviouscrimes.Buttheaforementined...generalKrinitesplaced onthema tribute(tax?)largerthanthattheyhadpreviouslypaid...sothatthetribute oftheMilingoiwas600nomismataandthatwhichheplacedontheEzeritai...was 600... 29. Thesetwotribesseemtohavesurvivedassocio-ethnicgroupslongerthanthe otherSlavsofPloponnse,andthisundoubtedlyduetothefactthattheywerevery difficulttoaccess.Butitwasnotsomuchamatterofpoliticalindependenceasa matterofavoidingresponsabilitiestothelocalandstateauthorities.Eventuallythey werefullyassimilatedintoalargerpoliticalsocietythatbythefourteenththroughthe fifteenthcenturiesbecameevermorefragmented. AndwhatoftheSklavinoiofthe regionsofThessaloniki,whomwe followedinthe MiraculaofSt.Demetrioswellintothelatterhalfoftheseventhcentury? Whenin904theArabfleet,undertheleadershipoftheByzantinerenegadeLeo ofTripoli,wassightedenroutetosackThessaloniki,thestrategosofThessaloniki immediatelynotifiedtheByzantinestrategosofStrymontosendanextensivebody of SlavicarcherstohelpmanthewallsofthecityagainstthependingSaracensiegeof thecity.ThereactionoftheStrymonianSlavswassluggishandveryfewresponded totheorderdespite thefactthatthe authoritiesofThessalonikirepeatedlyandurgently sentoutthedemandTheresponsewassoweakastobedisheartening.Cameniates paintsa pictureofThessalonikiandits hinterlandontheeveofthesiegewhichreflects conditionsquitedifferentfromthosewhichhadprevailedinthelatesixthand throughoutmuchoftheseventhcenturywhentheSlavictribeswereindulgingin disruptiveraidsandattacks,sieges,banditryandpiracy:Weshall,tothedegree possible,depicttheconditionoftheplaintothewestofthecity.Thisotherplain, whichbeginsfromthewalloftheEkboleandwhichleadsuptothemountainonthe right,andontheleftis boundedbythesea,is averitablesightbyvirtueofitsbeauty. Theretheplainismoistenedbythewatersanditboaststohavingasneighborboth 28.DAI, 232. 29.DAI,234. 82SPEROSVRYONIS,Jr. thecityandthesea,andiscrownedbyvineyards,trees...andgardens,aswellasby dewllingsandbyverymanyreverentsanctuariesmostofwhicharesharedbyflocks ofmonkswhichareexcercizedineverytypeofvirtueandwholiveonlyinGod...At thatpointtheplainleadstodrylandwhichthoughit is treelessis neverthelesscovered byvegetationandwhichisfelicitousforagriculturalactivity.Thelandreachesoutto thewestuptosomegreatandhighmountainswhereacertaincity,Berroiabyname, wassettled,anditalsoisveryfamousastoitsinhabitantsandinallotherthingsof whichacitycanboast.Inthemidstofthisplain(tothewestofThessaloniki)thereis locateda numberofvillagesofwhichonegrouppaysits taxestoThessaloniki(andits inhabitantsarecalled DrougouvitaiandSagoudatai),andtheothergrouppaysitstaxes tothenationsoftheScythians(Bulgars),especiallywhentheyareallatpeaceand whentheydonotresorttothoseweaponswhicharousebattles...Andinalively communitytheyexchangethe nessecities,thus preservinga wondrousanddeeppeace amongthemselves.CertainverylargeriverswhichariseinthelandoftheScythians (Bulgars)andwhichsharetheplain,theyalsoproduceanabundancetothecitywith theirmultitude offishand by the ability ofmerchantvesselsto ascendthem(the rivers) sothatthereflowsfromthesewatersavariedincomeofthenecessities30. By804themodusvivendibetweenthelocalSlavicandolderByzantinepopu-lationshadbeenregulatedinternally,thevariousSlavicgroupshadbeentightly integratedintoByzantinesocietyandtheiracculturationhadproceededapace.They wereincorporatedintherealmsofthelocaleconomy,ofpolitical,administrativeand militaryrelationsaswell as byintegrationthroughreligiousconversion.Theirrelations totheneighboringBulgarianstatewereregulatedbythetreatiesbetweenthetwo statesaswellasbylocalcommercialandeconomicpractices.Theyparticipatedinthe localpoliticalrelationsthroughthedealingsoftheirarchonteswiththelocalByzantine strategosorwithhisrepresentative.Theirreligioushierarchsandpriestswere integratedinthebureaucraticstructureofthechurch.Theystill retainedtheirlanguage which,incontrasttothecaseoftheSlavsincentralGreeceandthePloponnse, bordedonamassivelinguisticSlavicreservoirjustontheothersideoftheborders betweenByzantiumandtheBulgariankingdom.As fortheirtribal identityConstantine PorphyrogenitusremarksintheDeThematibus,onthethemeofStrymon:The themeofStrymonwasorganizedwhithinthatofMacedoniaandthereisno(early) mentionconcerningathemeforitwasthenreckonedtobeakleisouraScythians 30.IOANNISCAMENIATAE,DeexpugnationeThessalonicae,d.G.B HL I G,Berlin1973,7-8;on Cameniates'descriptionoftheSlavs,seeR.A.NASLEDOVA,MakedonskiSlavjanekontsaIX-nachalaXv.po dannymIoannaK ameniaty,Viz.Vrern.11,1956,82-97. BYZANTIUM,ITS SLAVIC ELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE83 (Slavs)insteadofMacedoniansnowdwellinitasJustinian(II)Rhinotmetossettled theminthemountainsofStrymonandin...thekleisourai"31. Weseethatthegovernmentalinstitutionalizationoftheadministrativeobligations oftheSklaveniaiis manifestedinthesystemsofenforcedmilitaryservice,paymentof taxesortribute,andintheperformanceofpublicobligations,allofwhicharenoted inthewritingsofConstantinePorphyrogenitus.TherebellionofolderByzantine populationsagainstmanyoftheseobligationsisalsotobeseen,aswitnessedinthe novellaeofJustinianIconcerningtheAnatoliaprovinces.Thustherewereentire villagecomplexes,ofteninmountainousregions,whichrefusedtopaytheirtaxesand resistedtaxcollectorattemptsbytakinguparmsagainsttheagentsandtroopsof centralgovernment32.Inthisrespectthegeneralobedienceoftheinhabitantswas alwaysaproblemforthecentralgovernment. OnelastglanceofthemilitaryabsorptionofSlavicsettlersinAnatoliawillserve toshowhowthesystemfunctioned.Inthelargeamadawhichwasorganisedinan efforttoretakeCretefromtheArabs in949,ConstantinePorphyrogenitusrecordsthe factthatSlavic soldierywere still beenrecruitedas a separateethnicentityinthatyear. Herelatestheirnumber,officersandpayment:(Pay)fortheSthlavenianswhoreside inOpsikion:125 men.The chiefs(kephalai)receive,each,5 (gold)nomismata,andthe other124soldierseachreceive3nomismata,oratotalrogaof5poundsand27 nomismata33. Constantinetookthesefiguresfromtheofficialaccountsoftheexpensesofthe failedexpedition,accountswhichwereundoubtlykeptinthecentralarchivesofthe palace.ThefigureofSlavictroopswasrathersmallwhencomparedwiththemassive figuresreportedforSlavictroopsandsettlementsinwesternAsiaMinor.Thesame contingentwasalsosenttofightunderthestrategosofLangobardiainsouthernItaly atthesamerateandwiththesamenumbersofarchontesandtroops. Infinishingthisbriefanalysisofthesocialaccomodationandacculturationofthe SlavicgroupssettledwithintheByzantineempirewecansee,inroughoutline,how thisworkedoutinonespecificcaseinthePloponnsewhereaslateasthesecond 31.ConstantinoPorphyrogenito,DeThematibus,ed.A.PERTUSI,Vatican1952(hereafterDeThem), 89. 32.SpVRYONIS,St.IoanniciustheGreat(754-848)andtheSlavsofBithynia,Byzantion31,1961, 245-248. 33.CONSTANTINIPoRPHYROGENlTl,DeCerimomisaulae byzantinae, ed.I.I.REISKE[CSHB],Bonn1829, I,662-663,666,669. 84SPEROSVRYONIS, Jr. halfoftheninthcenturyPisatisofthe regionofOlympia hasbeensettledbyScythians (Slavs)andwheretheancientnameofPisatishasbeenreplacedbytheSlavicname Vis,awordwhichintoday'sSouthSlavictonguesdesignatesahillorheight34. AtthebeginningofthetwentiethcenturytheSlavistMaxVasmerhadpointedto thetextintheDeThematibus inwhichConstantinePorphyrogenitushadreferredto theexistenceofasignificantSlavicpopulationinthePloponnse: , -,, , '-(andtheentireland[Ploponnse?]wasSlavonisedandbecame barbaricwhenpestilentialdeathgrazedontheoikoumeneatthetimethatConstantine, whohadthelastnameofmanure,heldthesceptreofRomanrule)35. This sentencehas beenvariouslytranslatedbutit conveysthebeliefofConstantine thattheSlavicpopulationofthePloponnsehadbecomedemographicallymore importantasa resultofthegreatplagueof747.Moresignificantforourpurposehere is thetail endofthissmall sectionoftheDeThematibus onthe themeofPloponnse, whichcontainsatantalizingandgossipyaside:AsacertainPeloponnesianwas boastinggreatlyabouthisnoble(sothatI mayavoidthewordignoble)descent,that notoriusscribeEuphemiusjeeredathimwiththismustquotediambicverse:-.ThismanwasNiketaswhomarried hisdaugther Sophia toChristopherthesonofthegrandandnobleemperorRomanus36.Thegossipy phraseconcerningthisNiketasistobetranslated asacunning,Slavonizedface37. Thepersonal hostilityofboththenotoriusscribeandoftheemperorhavetodo withthe emergence ofNiketasasanimportantparticipantinthe politics ofthe court inConstantinopleand ofthe crudeness ofanouveau arriv.Offurtherinterestisthe factthatthe scribe EuphemiusmusthaveknownsomeSlavic,as well as ancientGreek, forhepickedanappropriateSlavicepithettodescribetheman'sfacialfeature-garazhdu=sly,cunning-andwasabletoaddaGreekadjectivalendingtotheSlavic wordandtomakeitfitintotheiambic meter.Howwasit thathewassofamiliarwith theSlavicword? 34.Geographi graeci minores, ed C.MLLER,Paris1889, Il 583, 21. Onpage 574 hespeaks of Skythai SlavoiinallEpirusandHellas,aswell asinPloponnseandMacedonia.Seealsothetersedocuments of Vasmer,17. 35.DeThem., 91.32-35. 36.DeThem., 91.36-42. 37.DeThem.,173-174 forfurthercomments.AlsoVASMER,Die SlaveninGriechenland,15. BYZANTIUM,ITSSLAVICELEMENTSANDTHEIRCULTURE85 MoreimportantisNiketas'familyname,Rendakios,whichisclearlynonGreek thoughitsendingandformhavebeensomewhatHellenized.Thenameisclearly derivedfromaSlavicword38.TheGreekSlavistPhaedonMalingoudishastracedthe historyandcareersof18 individualswho borethis familyname from718 intothetenth centurywhereourNiketasappears,andmostofthebearersofthelastnameheld officialpositionseitherinthecourtorintheprovinces.The nameappearsbothinthe PloponnseandcentralGreeceandsomemayhavebeenrelated.Thefirstnamesin allcaseswheretheyaregivenindicateadoptionofnamescurrentamongByzantine Christians.Undoubtedlytheyhadatsometimebecomefamiliarwiththevarious degreesorstylesoftheGreeklanguage,aswehavealreadyseeninthecaseof Perboundosinthelatterpartoftheseventhcentury.Undoubtedlymostofthese individualsmusthaveusedtheirpositionswithintheirsmallerSlavicsocietiesasa steppingstoneforentryintotheformalgovernmentalstructuresofByzantinesociety, andobviouslyusedmarriagealliances(asweseeinthecaseofNiketas)asfurther bridgestosocialmobility.AsecondcaseofsocialmobilityandByzantinizationisthe caseofthefamousByzantinemonkIoannikios,oftheBoilasfamily,obviouslyof SlavicoriginandsettledinwesternAsiaMinor,whowasfirstasoldierandthen becameasaintinthechurch39. WehavereachedtheendofthisshortexcursusontheSklaviniaiandSklavenoi andthevariednatureoftheirsocialacculturationand/oraccomodationwiththe ByzantineinhabitantsoftheGreekpeninsula.Itwasalongtermprocessanddueto geographical,politicalandlinguisticfactorsattainedorfailedtoattainvariousdegrees ofabsorptionorisolationinByzantinesociety. 38Onthisfamily,MALINGOUDES,',78-99. 39VRYONIS,asinnote32above.