The Prosopography of Byzantine Lesbos, 284-1355 A.D.: A Contribution to the Social History of the Byzantine Province

This book is the first comprehensive prosopography of a provincial region of the Byzantine empire throughout the entire period of its control by the Byzantine state (284-1355). It includes not only natives of the island but also all known visitors; primary texts are quoted in full after each entry. The entries set in alphabetical order are divided into three non-overlapping periods: early (284-650), middle (650-1204), and late (1204-1355); the place of Lesbos in Eastern Mediterranean during each period is illustrated on separate maps. The introduction discusses the state of the field of Byzantine prosopography, its challenges and limitations, as well as the nature of the sources that are used. It also outlines the political and administrative history of the island and the problems of insularity. At the end of the volume appendices with revised episcopal lists, manuscripts cited, and persons in chronological order as well as a general index are provided.