Amytzantarioi

Amytzantarioi (Greek: Aμυτζανταράνται) one of the most influential aristocratic families of Empire of Trebizond. according to A. Bryer, who does not consider them members of a family, but believes that the term “Amytzantarantes” denotes individuals or families of possibly common descent or, most likely, a mixture of people living in the eastern Pontus, whose roots could be traced in Georgia, Armenia, Lazica, Greece and possibly Turkey.

Regarding the origin of the name of the “family” or the “social group”, it is possibly related to the military rank of amyrtzantarios, which indicates the respective title of protospatharios and derives from the Turkish Emir. The metropolitan of Trebizond John Lazaropoulos refers to them as “Amitzantarantas”, while the list of Pseudo-Kodinos reports that the amy(r)tzantarios was an official. However, Trebizond officials holding the same title are reported in other sources as well. For example, the chronicler of the empire of the Grand Komnenoi, Michael Panaretos, reports Michael Meizomates as an amy(r)tzantarios in 1344.

Sources

• Vougiouklaki Penelope, "Amytzantarioi", Encyclopaedia of the Hellenic World, Asia Minor (10/17/2003)