On the status of the Vlachs of Hellas in the theme system

Abstract

The paper analyzes the military-administrative position of the Vlachs of Hellas in the thematic organization of the Byzantine Empire. Two of their leaders - Nikoulitzas and the archōn Sthlabōtas Karmalakēs - are mentioned by Kekaumenos in his text. Although there is no surviving testimony about the administrative rank of the unit composed of the Vlachs of Hellas, an analysis of the information provided in sources of various provenances indicates that a Vlach archontia was established in Hellas during or in the early 10th century, and transformed into the theme/province of Blachie in the second half of the 11th or over the course of the 12th century, as was the case with similar Slavic formations.