| Theme of Koloneia Κολωνεία, θέμα Κολωνείας | |
|---|---|
| Theme of theByzantine Empire | |
| before 863 – 1070s | |
 Map of the Theme of Koloneia within theByzantine Empire in 1000 AD. | |
| Historical era | Middle Ages |
• Established | before 863 |
• Fall to theSeljuks. | 1 April 1070 |
| Today part of | Turkey |
TheTheme of Koloneia (Greek:θέμα Κολωνείας) was a small military-civilian province (thema ortheme) of theByzantine Empire located in northernCappadocia and the southernPontus, in modernTurkey. It was founded sometime in the mid-9th century and survived until it was conquered by theSeljuk Turks soon after theBattle of Manzikert in 1071.
Originally part of theArmeniac Theme, the theme was formed around the city of Koloneia on the river Lykos (modernŞebinkarahisar).[1] The theme is attested for the first time in 863,[1][2][3] but it apparently existed as a separate district earlier:Nicolas Oikonomides interprets a reference by theArab geographeral-Masudi to mean that it constituted first akleisoura (a fortified frontier district).[4][2] In addition, a version of theLife of the42 Martyrs of Amorium mentions that EmperorTheophilos (r. 829–842) appointed a certainspatharios Kallistos as itsdoux in circa 842, making it the likely date of its elevation to a full theme (alongside neighbouringChaldia).[1][3][4]
Koloneia's remote location preserved it from the worst of the Arab raids, except for a major raid bySayf al-Dawla in 939/940. In 1057, the local regiment, underKatakalon Kekaumenos, supported the uprising ofIsaac I Komnenos. In 1069, the theme was occupied by the rebelNorman mercenaryRobert Crispin. The region fell to theSeljuk Turks soon after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071.[1][5]
In theDe Thematibus, EmperorConstantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) describes the theme as a small circumscription, encompassing, aside from Koloneia,Neocaesarea in the east, Arabraca, Mount Phalakros (probably modern Karaçam Dağı),Nicopolis andTephrike. It also comprised sixteen unnamed fortresses.[3][4] Porphyrogennetos also records that his father,Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912), separated thetourma ofKamacha from Koloneia to form (along withKeltzene) the new theme ofMesopotamia.[6]