1. Location

The historical area of Chaldia, a territory on eastern Pontos in northeast Asia Minor, constituted, throughout the entire Byzantine Period, a part of a bigger administrative unity.¹ On the southeast and south of Chaldia expanded Armenian and Cappadocian territories; on the north, the coast was washed by the Black Sea; on the northeast of the region of Chaldia the roman coast of Pontos blended into the land of west Iberia, Lazika; the territories of Western Pontos stretched away on its west.

2. Integration into the Byzantine Empire

Chaldia was fully integrated into the Early Byzantine Empire after the successful expeditions of Justinian I (527-565) against the Tzannoi, the indigenous inhabitants of Tzanicha (Canca), in the heart of the inland which was also known as "Mesochaldia" (Inner Chaldia). Ever since the coastline and Pyxites river valley linked better to Constantinople and to Euphrates valley, through upland Chaldia and the Armenian territories on the western boundaries of Mesochaldia, on the first and second centuries respectively, the coast and the Greek colonies of Cerasous and Trebizond separated from the inland, which kept the name "Chaldia" during the entire Byzantine Period.

Chaldia proved to be a difficult territory for the Romans and the Byzantines: impassable roads, due either to extended forested areas or steep, precipitous ground, and unfordable rivers without valleys. In historical geography the inland became progressively a defensive zone.

3. Economy

The bare landscape of inland Chaldia, characterized by sparse vegetation and habitation, is formed by the alternation of granite and volcanic subsoil. The lead-rich deposits, some silver-poor deposits and the gold nuggets of the Chalybia subsoil, especially in west Mesochaldia, were systematically exploited at certain periods. The most important city of the region, Argyroupolis, was named after the silver (argyros) mines. The region, from rivers Kanis and Philabonites to the slopes of the mount of Zygana, is an extended forest area, comprising the historical site of Tzanicha. The roads in Tzanicha became once again passable on foot and by horse² when, on the 6th century, the trees that covered them were finally cut. The zone behind the costland, stretching north from the settlement of Zygana, consists of valleys and grasslands. It was a fertile and densely populated region.

The entire Chaldia were always prosperous due to the goods they produced, to the taxation of transit trade, as well as to coastal trade. The period between the 10th and 13th centuries was the most economically prosperous. Part of the incoming wealth of Trebizond was absorbed by the militarized part of the Chaldia upland during the Middle Byzantine Period. In the Late Byzantine Period, tihs was the region where the land owned by members of the local aristocracy was mostly to be found.

4. Society and History

Byzantine sources provide evidence that the people of Chaldia and Tzanicha were descended from the indigenous inhabitants of the historical area of Chaldia. Strabo identifies them with the ancient people of Chalybia and describes them as rough and warlike³. The survival of the ancient name of the inhabitants and their placenames, as well as of their distinctive cultural identity, which often resulted in the confrontation of Chaldia with the central authority and the more byzantino, led to the contemporary belief that the society of ancient Chaldia most possibly survived throughout Byzantine times.⁴ Former "archons of Chaldia" (high-ranking officials) became administrative officials in the middle Byzantine period at the bottom of the hierarchy pyramid, possibly as intermediaries in the attempt to exercise control in a sensitive area.

As far as the military administration was concerned, the greater region of Pontos and Armenia had a common administration under the same military official, until the area developed into an autonomous theme around 824. The theme of Chaldia participated in unsuccessful rebellions at several occasions during the 10th century, usually under the guidance of prominent locals.⁵ During the periods 1091/5-1098 and 1126-1140, it was granted autonomy by the central administration, and in particular by the doukes of Chaldia Theodore Gabras and Constantine Gabras respectively, both of Chaldian descent. Between 1204 and 1461 Chaldia came under the domination of the Empire of Trebizond; by that time, the inland was completely disconnected from the coast. It was organized as a theme on the basis of the military administration of the Empire of Trebizond. It might be the case that the part, which in ancient times was the centre of the historical area, kept its original name. Between the Trapezuntine theme of Chaldia in Mesochaldia and the outskirts of the city of Trebizond on the coastline, in the territories of the zone close to the cost of Chaldia, three banda (subdivisions of themes) were situated .⁶

The inland settlements were modest, but their castles were magnificent. Chaldia was in charge of the defense of the coastline and the trade routes during Byzantine times: against the Arabs (7th - 9th centuries), against the Seljuks of Ikonio (Konya) in the 13th century and the Turkmen Emirs henceforth. The castle of Golacha in inland Chaldia was the last Christian territory in Asia Minor, which came under Ottoman domination in 1479, when the castles of Mesochaldia, property of the local noble families Kavazitai and Tzanichitai, were occupied.

5. General Evaluation

The historical area of Chaldia survived throughout the Byzantine times as part of the Early Byzantine provinces organized in Pontos, of the themes of Armeniakon and Chaldia (Middle Byzantine period), of the autonomous principality of the same name (1091/5-1098, 1126-1140) and of the Empire of Trebizond (1204-1461). Chaldia played an vital strategic role in the defense of the coastline of the Black Sea. Particular traits, surviving ancient traditions, were to be found in inland Chaldia until 1479, when the Ottomans occupied its fortified sites.