Nikephoros Melissenus

Intro ...

(1080-1081)

NICAEA (?)

Nicephorus Melissenus (1080-1081). AR ⅔ Miliaresion. Nicaea mint (?). Sear 1891.

Obv: Facing bust of the Virgin orans, nimbate and wearing pallium and maphorium; on either side ᴍᴘ ⲑᴠ [LINES].

Rev: [+ ⲑᴋє ʀⲑ?] / ɴıᴋ-[ʜ]ϕᴏ / ᴘω Δєcⲡᴏ / ᴛʜ ᴛω ᴍє / ᴧıcʜɴω in five lines [TIE]; — · — beneath.

…

Nicephorus Melissenus, a member of one of the great Byzantine families, revolted against Nicephorus III sometime in 1080 and occupied what remained of the Asiatic provinces of the empire. When Alexius Comnenus, whose sister Melissenus had married, in turn revolted in March 1081, Melissenus proposed to him that they should share the purple as joint emperors, Melissenus ruling in Asia and Comnenus in Europe. Alexius replied with the counter-offer of the title of Caesar and the governorship of Thessalonica. Botaniates thereupon proposed to Melissenus, who was encamped at Damalis just across the Bosphorus, that he should abdicate in Melissenus’ favor, but Alexius’ occupation of the city put an end to this project. Melissenus submitted to the new emperor, received Thessalonica and the promised rank of Caesar, and as a military commander and a member of the imperial family played a moderately important role in the history of Alexius' reign.

The account of Anna Comnena implies that Nicephorus Melissenus did not actually assume the imperial title, but that it was only rumored that he had done so. The testimony of Bryennius and the existence of a silver coin giving him the title of despotes are proof to the contrary. Only a single specimen of the coin, now in the Bibliothèque Nationale, is known. It was presumably minted atNicaea, which we know from Bryennius was the pretender’s chief residence during his brief period of power.

(from DOC vol. lll)

Coinage