1. Establishment - Presentation of the Theme of Boukellarion

The kaballarikon thema (equestrian theme) of Boukellarion has been evidenced in the sources since 767/768, together with the first reference to the strategos of Boukellarion. It is believed that it was established between 743 and 756, possibly as a result of the reforms introduced by Constantine V the Isaurian (740-775), after he had vanquished the usurper Artabasdos and his supporters. The seals of officials, domestikoi and tourmarchs serving in the theme of Boukellarion, which were dated to the first half of the 8^th century,¹ strengthen this assumption, although no special policies by Constantine V have been attested in relation to the thematic division.

The strategos (general) and the army of the theme must have been stationed in Ankyra. The Boukellarioi used to meet the emperor at the aplekton of Colonea, which was successively incorporated into the themes of Anatolikon and Cappadocia. The roga of the Boukellarioi was paid every four years together with those of the Opsikion and the Cappadocians.

2. Geographical Position

The theme of Boukellarion was established in the northwestern territories of the theme of Opsikion, which had been previously included in the early Byzantine provinces of Honorias, Galatia I (partly) and Galatia II (partly), and probably Paphlagonia (partly). To the north, the theme controlled a part of the Black Sea coast, while to the south it initially bordered the theme of Anatolikon. The theme of Armeniakon was to the east, while the themes of Optimaton and Opsikion were to the west and southwest, respectively.

In the 9^th century, after the establishment of the theme of Paphlagonia to the east and the themes of Cappadocia and Charsianon to the south and southeast, the jurisdiction of the theme of Boukellarion was restricted. Moreover, the reforms introduced by Leo VI (886-912) deprived the theme of eight banda to the south, that is, the military forces together with their bases. During the reign of Michael IV the Paphlagon (1034-1041), more regions were detached from the theme of Boukellarion. According to modern research, Michael’s reforms were introduced as a punishment for the theme because it had been loyal to the Amorian dynasty.

As a geographical term, the theme of Boukellarion is attested in the sources until 1263, when the thematic army had long ago been disbanded.

3. Administration

Until 766 the theme of Boukellarion was governed by a domestikos. Then the military command of the theme was assumed by a strategos, while in the 11^th century it was exercised by a doukas. The katepano of “the Boukellarioi and the Paphlagonians”, an official whose 10^th-c. seal has been preserved, was probably based in the Paphlagonian city of Amastris and was responsible for naval issues in the Black Sea. It should be noted that in the 11^th century, the Boukellarioi demonstrated remarkable naval activity with their commercial rather than military ships.

The strategoi of Boukellarion held the titles of royal spatharios, protospatharios and spatharokandidatos. The strategos Gregoras, head of the Boukellarioi in the 10^th century, held also the title of patrikios. These were most usually the titles of the theme’s judges (kritai), who were civil officials serving in the geographical division from the 10^th century onwards. The judge (krites) Romanos Genesios was a consul and patrikios in the 11^th century.

4. Cities - castles

The fortified city of Ankyra, the political metropolis of the Early Byzantine province of Galatia I, which was “displaced” to the southern border of the theme after the 9^th c. reforms, was probably the base of the strategos and the military camp of the Boukellarioi. The castle of Samalu (Semalouos) was a strategic position along the border finally given to the Boukellarioi (most possible) or to the theme of Armeniakon in 781.

Only five cities with their fortified acropolises were reportedly included in the theme of Boukellarion in the 10^th century. Claudioupolis was the base of a tourma, as evidenced by the seal of Eustathios, the royal strator and tourmarch of Claudioupolis, dated to the second half of the 9^th century.²

5. Military operations

The city of Ankyra suffered most of the Arab attacks directed against the Boukellarioi, as it happened in 776, 797 and 805/806, though without success. The theme of Boukellarion reached its ultimate military power in 766-828. The army of the theme campaigned alongside the armies of the themes of Anatolikon and Armeniakon against Syke of Isauria in 771 and alongside the armies of all the themes except Optimaton against Germanikeia in 778. The darkest moment of that period was when the strategos of Boukellarioi defected to the Arabs in 782 and the castle of Kriotauros surrendered. The Boukellarioi fought bravely during the battle of Lalakaon (863) under strategos Nasar, when the theme had an estimated army of about 8000. In the following decade, the Paulicians under Chrysocheir threatened certain positions of the theme and plundered the countryside. Fortunately, the Arabs became less dangerous for Asia Minor in the following period and the Paulicians were vanquished.

However, Ankyra was assaulted and sacked in 838, during the successful attack against Amorion in the theme of Anatolikon. The citizens of Ankyra were enslaved. The attack of the emir of Tarsus against the city in 931 was fruitless. Around the mid-10^th century, the coastal regions of the theme of Boukellarion were probably occasionally threatened by Rus invaders, but the danger was soon averted. The last references to the Boukellarioi are dated to the late 11^th century.

6. The Origin of the Boukellarioi

The Boukellarioi or Boutellarioi were initially low rank military officials of Roman or Goth origin. The term “Gothogreeks” (γοτθογραίκοι) referring to the theme of Opsikion is associated by modern research with the Boukellarioi. It is quite likely that the latter served in the imperial guard before they formed a cavalry unit in the theme of Opsikion with jurisdiction over the territories later forming the independent theme.³ According to researchers, the history of the theme of Boukellarion is closely connected with the appointment of domestikoi of the equestrians and protectores in Galatia and other regions by Justinian I (527-656). The title of comes of Opsikion is possibly associated with the title held by the head of these officials, the comes domesticotum of the equestrians.⁴

The Boukellarioi derived their name from the boukellion or boutellion, the dry bread-roll offered to Roman soldiers during their dinner.