Tzanichites

The Tzanichites (Greek: Τζανιχίτες) were an aristocratic family of Laz origin,[1] from Tzanicha (Greek: Τζάνιχα; Turkish: Canca), central Chaldia region of Pontus. According to the historian Anthony Bryer, after 1355 the Tzanichites took the positions that the Kabazites family had occupied in the Trebizond Empire: doukes of Chaldia.[2]

Notable members
  • Sebastos Tzanichites, participated in the attempt to overthrow Irene Palaiologina (1341), the end result being the overthrow of the noble personnel from the fortified monastery of St. Eugenius. He was later deported to Limnia and executed.[3]
  • John Tzanichites, epikernes in 1330-55. John rebelled in 1352 and seized the castle of Tzanicha but was defeated by Alexios III.[4]
  • Stephen Tzanichites, megas kontostaulos in the period 1344-1350.[5]
  • Michael Tzanichites, participant in a naval battle between the Trapezuntine navy and Frankish ships near Kaffa (1349); he was killed in the battle along with John Kabazites.[6]
  • Constantines are mentioned in the records of Vazelon Monastery, also known as Acts of Vazelon. The first was megas kontostaulos and head of the bandon of Palaiomatzouka (Maçka) between the years 1365 and 1386. The second was head of the same bandon around 1415.

Castle

Bryer states that at Tzanicha (Canca) exists the remains of an old castle and two chapels. The castle is located on an elongated expanse of land 2 km northwest of modern Gümüşhane, and 400m above the south bank of the Kanis (Harsit) river. Both chapels contain paintings or inscriptions of Christian figures of the church.[2]

References
  1. David Marshall Lang. Georgia in the reign of Giorgi the Brilliant : 1314-1346
  2. Anthony Bryer & David Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (DOS. XX), vol. 1–2, Washington, 1985. pp. 309-310.
  3. Panaretos, chh. 25, 26. Greek text and English translation in Scott Kennedy, Two Works on Trebizond, Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 52 (Cambridge: Harvard University, 2019), pp. 12-15
  4. Paneratos, ch. 51. Greek text and English translation in Kennedy, Two Works on Trebizond, pp. 24-27
  5. Paneratos, ch. 38. Greek text and English translation in Kennedy, Two Works on Trebizond, pp. 18f
  6. Paneratos, ch. 43. Greek text and English translation in Kennedy, Two Works on Trebizond, pp. 20f

Further reading
  • Encyclopedia of Pontian Hellenis. Malloiaris Peadia
  • Alexios Savvides (2002). "Τζάννοι-Τζανίτ-Τζανιχίτες: Το πρόβλημα της επιβίωσης ενός καυκασιανού λαού στο βυζαντινό Πόντο των Μεγαλοκομνηνών". Αρχείον Πόντου (in Greek). 49.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.