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The theme of Iberia ((ギリシア語:θέμα 'Ιβηρίας)) was an administrative and military unit – theme – within the Byzantine Empire carved by the Byzantine Emperors out of several Georgian and Armenian lands in the 11th century. It was formed as a result of Emperor Basil II’s annexation of a portion of the Bagrationi Dynasty domains (1000–1021) and later aggrandized at the expense of several Armenian kingdoms acquired by the Byzantines in a piecemeal fashion in the course of the 11th century. The population of the theme—at its largest extent—was multiethnic with the Armenian majority, including a sizable Armenian community of Chalcedonic rite to which Byzantines sometimes expanded, as a denominational name, the ethnonym "Iberian", a Graeco-Roman designation of Georgians.〔Rapp, Stephen H. (2003), ''Studies In Medieval Georgian Historiography: Early Texts And Eurasian Contexts'', p. 414. Peeters Bvba ISBN 90-429-1318-5.〕〔Арутюновой – Фиданян, В. А. Типик Григория Пакуриана. Введение, перевод и комментарий. Ереван, 1978, с. 249.〕 The theme ceased to exist in 1074 as a result of the Seljuk invasions. == Foundation and enlargement == The theme was created by the emperor Basil II (976-1025) from the lands inherited from the Georgian prince David III of Tao. These areas – parts of the Armeno-Georgian marchlands centered on Thither Tao / Tayk as well as several northern districts of western Armenia including Theodosioupolis (Karin; now Erzurum, Turkey), Basean, Hark’, Apahunik’, Mardali (Mardaghi), Khaldoyarich, and Ch’ormayari – had been granted to David for his crucial assistance to Basil against the rebel commander Bardas Sclerus in 979. However, David’s rebuff of Basil in Bardas Phocas’ revolt of 987 evoked Constantinople’s distrust of the Caucasian rulers. After the failure of the revolt, David was forced to make Basil II the legatee of his extensive possessions.〔 Basil gathered his inheritance upon David’s death in 1000, forcing the successor Georgian Bagratid ruler Bagrat III to recognize the new rearrangement. Bagrat’s son, George I, however, inherited a longstanding claim to David’s succession. While Basil was preoccupied with his Bulgarian campaigns, George gained momentum to invade Tao/Tayk and Basean in 1014. Defeated in the ensuing Byzantine-Georgian wars, George had to relinquish further lands – Kola, Artaan and Javakheti – to the Byzantine crown in 1022.〔Lang, David Marshall (1966), ''The Georgians'', pp. 109-110. Praeger Publishers.〕 These provinces were organized by Basil II into the theme of Iberia with the capital at Theodosiopolis. As a result, the political center of the Georgian state moved north, as did a significant part of the Georgian nobility,〔Edwards, Robert W. (1988), The Vale of Kola: A Final Preliminary Report on the Marchlands of Northeast Turkey, p. 126. ''Dumbarton Oaks Papers'', Vol. 42.〕 while the empire gained a critical foothold for further expansion into the territories of Armenia and Georgia. Basil next claimed the principal Armenian Bagratid kingdom of Ani, currently straddling the division between Gagik I’s sons, John-Smbat and Ashot I. In 1022, John-Smbat, as penalty for having supported Georgia, yielded his appanage to the Byzantine Empire. By the mid-1040s, Emperor Constantine IX (1042-55) had broken the resistance of the survived Bagratids of Ani and forced the catholicos Peter into surrendering Ani in 1045.〔Redgate, Anne Elizabeth (1998), ''The Armenians'', pp. 226-7. Blackwell Publishing ISBN 0-631-22037-2.〕 The kingdom was merged with the theme of Iberia and the capital was transferred from Theodosioupolis to Ani. Henceforth, the theme of Iberia was administered jointly with Greater Armenia and the enlarged theme was frequently referred to as the "theme of Iberia and Armenia".〔Edwards (1988), pp. 138-140〕 In 1064 the last independent Armenian kingdom, that of Kars, was absorbed into imperial territory when Gagik II of Kars was bullied into abdication in favor of Emperor Constantine X (1059–67) to prevent his state from being conquered by the Seljuk Turks. The royal family moved to Cappadocia, probably accompanied by their nobility who were inveigled by the Byzantine administration into ceding their estates in return for lands further west.〔 The event was preceded by the Seljuk capture of Ani and the theme’s center was shifted back to Theodosioupolis.〔"Karin" in: Strayer, Joseph Reese (1983), ''Dictionary of the Middle Ages'', p. 215. Scribner, ISBN 0-684-16760-3.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Iberia (theme)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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