| Theme of the Optimatoi Ὀπτιμάτοι, θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων | |
|---|---|
| Theme of theByzantine Empire | |
| 740s–1204 1240–15th century | |
 Map of the administrative structure of the Byzantine Empire c. 780. Thethema of theOptimatoi is located in the peninsula directly across theBosporus, oppositeConstantinople. | |
| Capital | Nicomedia (modern-dayİzmit,Kocaeli,Turkey) |
| Historical era | Middle Ages |
• Established | 744/745 |
| ca. 1204 | |
• Byzantine recovery | 1240 |
• Conquest byOttomans | 15th century |
TheOptimatoi (Greek:Ὀπτιμάτοι, fromLatin:Optimates, "the Best Men") were initially formed as an eliteByzantine military unit. In the mid-8th century, however, they were downgraded to a supply andlogistics corps and assigned a province (thema) in north-westernAsia Minor, which was named after them. As an administrative unit, theTheme of theOptimatoi (θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων,thema Optimatōn) survived until theOttoman conquest in the first decades of the 14th century.
TheOptimates were first set up in the late 6th century (c. 575), by EmperorTiberius II Constantine (r. 574–582).[1] According to theStrategikon of EmperorMaurice, theOptimates were an elite regiment ofFoederati, most likely ofGothic origin.[2] They were a cavalry corps, somewhere between one and five thousand strong, and formed part of the central reserve army, their commander bearing the then unique title oftaxiarchēs.[3][4] The presence of descendants of these men, calledGothograeci (Γοτθογραίκοι) by the chroniclerTheophanes the Confessor, is attested in northern Bithynia as late as the early 8th century.[5] At that time,Warren Treadgold estimates that the corps numbered 2,000 men, a figure that possibly corresponds to its original size as well.[3]
In the mid-8th century, under the rule of EmperorConstantine V (r. 741–775), and as part of his measures to reduce the power of the thematic generals following the revolt ofArtabasdos, the Count of theOpsician Theme, the corps was downgraded. Split off from the Opsician Theme, the region where theOptimates had settled, including the peninsula oppositeConstantinople, both shores of the Gulf of Nicomedia and stretching to the shores of the riverSangarius, was then constituted as the separatethema of theOptimatoi (θέμα Ὀπτιμάτων) withNicomedia as its capital.[2][6] The first mention of theOptimatoi as a separatethema in the sources occurs only in 774/5,[7] but it is clear that its creation must have come in the years after the suppression of Artabasdos's revolt.[8] The same period also saw the further dismemberment and weakening of the once powerful Opsician Theme with the creation of theBucellarian Theme.[9]
Henceforth, unlike the otherthemata, theOptimatoi no longer provided armed troops, but formed a corps of 4,000 mule-drivers with their animals, which provided thebaggage train (touldon) of the imperialtagmata in Constantinople.[10] The unique role of theOptimatoi set it apart from all otherthemata: given their non-combatant functions, theOptimatoi were not divided into intermediate-level commands (tourmai ordroungoi), a fact pointed out by EmperorConstantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) as a sign of inferior status.[2][11] Consequently, their commandingdomestikos held the lowest rank of all provincialstratēgoi in the imperial hierarchy.[2] As with the otherthemata, for the administration of his duties as governor of the province, thedomestikos was assisted by a deputy (topotērētēs), a chief financial official (chartoularios) and a secretariat headed by aprōtokankellarios.[12]
The rural districts of thethema were raided bySeljuk Turks after theBattle of Manzikert, but Nicomedia was retained, and the area secured again under EmperorAlexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) with the help of theFirst Crusade.[13][14] The area was occupied by theLatins after the dissolution of the Empire by theFourth Crusade in 1204, but thethema was re-established byJohn III Vatatzes when he retook the region in 1240,[2] and survived until the area was gradually conquered by the risingOttoman beylik in the first half of the 14th century.[14]