Античная древность и средние века (Oct 2018)
About the date of establishment of the theme Klimata in Taurica (in con-tinuation of discussion)
Abstract
The article is devoted to the study of the one of the debatable question in the history of Taurica in 11th century, the time of formation of the byzantine theme. The main attention is paid to the analysis published recently critical comments to the basic version of events, which was first presented in the works of W. Treadgold (1979) and C. Zuckerman (1997). This hypothesis relates the emergence of the theme Klimata to the spring-summer of 841 and is the most reasoned in modern historiography. In the article also examines the hypothesis of T. Zivkovic about the possibility of establishment the theme in Taurica at the end of the reign of Emperor Nikephoros I. In our view, this hypothesis is interesting not only for its originality, as range of issues for the region's history and the system of themes in Byzantium, which additionally arise in the course of discussion the version of Serbian historian. Among the most important of them should be noted, firstly, the author's attempt to refuse from the identification of the theme Klimata in Taktikon of Uspenskij and the first byzantine theme of Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos and Theophanes Continuatus, secondly, the new date for the formation of Taktikon of Uspenskij (about 812-813). Finally, our criticism causes the T. Zivkovic's interpretation of archons' institute in Cherson as an example of long-term conservation of the collegial municipal government.
