Le backgammon de Kékaumenos. À propos d’un passage peu clair et d’une bataille peu connue

Abstract

The Stratégikon of Cecaumenus tells the story of Basil Pediadites, who has suffered the ironic attacks of the emperor for having played tavla during his mission in Sicily. The message, rather strange, is explained in a different way: in the imperial message the issue was a pun, concerning tavla and a locality in the plain, which could be identified with current Piano Tavola near Catania.

Keywords

• Cecaumenus
• Sicily
• Basil Pediadites
• George Maniakes
• Byzantine geography
• Byzantium and the Arabs