Alans
A Sarmato-Iranian people who appeared during the Early Byzantine period. The settled in SE Europe and were quickly assimilated by the Visigoths. During the reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos they offered, in return for permission to settle in imperial territory, to fight against the Ottomans, who were spreading across the Byzantine provinces of Asia Minor. After their defeat, they retreated and turned to looting.
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arsenitai
Followers and supporters of patriarch Arsenios Autoreianos, who had excommunicated Michael VIII Palaiologos. Michael managed to get rid of Arsenios in 1265; from that time, Arsenios’ followers were at odds with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, refusing to recognize Arsenios’ successors to the patriarchal throne. Politically they supported the Lascarid dynasty and opposed the dynasty of the Palaiologoi. The dispute was resolved in 1310.
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Catalan Company, the
(almugavares, compagnia) A group of fully-armed and highly-trained Catalans mercenary warriors, who numbered a few thousand. In 1303 they came to the assistance of Byzantium against the Turks, but soon they turned against the Empire and took to large-scale looting. They conquered the Burgundian duchy of Athens, after the battle of Orchomenos in Copais, in 1311.
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chrysobull
(gold seal) Imperial document of the Byzantine state which was so named because it bore the gold seal of the emperor.
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hyperpyron
The Byzantine gold coin, 4.3 gr. and 20 ½ carats, introduced by Alexios I Komnenos in 1092. It was preserved until the end of the Byzantine Empire with big changes in his cold content.
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Sicilian Vespers
A revolution that broke out in Palermo in March 1282 and put a bloody end to the rule of Charles d' Anzou in Sicily. The revolt had been fostered by Pedro of Aragon, who wanted to rule Sicily, and the Byzantine emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, who was threatened by Charles' policy. The overthrow of Charles meant that the recently reconstituted Byzantine Empire was rid of both a dangerous enemy and an anti-Byzantine coalition of which Charles was the soul.
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sitokrithon
A tax in kind instituted by Andronikos II Palaiologos; according to Georgios Pachymeris, every villager was required to pay six modii of wheat and four of barley.
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