Thracesian Theme

Theme of the Thracesians
Θρᾳκήσιον θέμα, θέμα Θρᾳκησίων, Θρᾳκήσιοι
Theme of the Byzantine Empire
640s–660s / 700s–710s – c. 1078
1097–1330

The Byzantine themata in c. 780, after the split of the Opsikion.
CapitalEphesus or Chonae (7th–11th centuries), Philadelphia and later Smyrna (12th–14th centuries)
Historical eraMiddle Ages
• Established
640s–660s or c. 700s–710s
• Fall to the Seljuks
c. 1078
• Byzantine recovery
c. 1097
• Fall to the Turks
1330

The Thracesian Theme (Greek: Θρᾳκήσιον θέμα, Thrakēsion thema), more properly known as the Theme of the Thracesians (Greek: θέμα Θρᾳκησίων, thema Thrakēsiōn, often simply Θρᾳκήσιοι, Thrakēsioi), was a Byzantine theme (a military-civilian province) in western Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Created either in the mid-7th or the early 8th century as the settlement of the former Army of Thrace, after which it was named, it was one of the larger and more important themes of the Empire throughout its existence based on its proximity to Constantinople. The Thracesian Theme was one of the longest-lived themes, surviving until the region was conquered by the Turks in the early 14th century.