Was the later emperor Nikephoros Botaneiates the dux of Branicevo and Nis in the 1050s?

Abstract

The mystery concerning a seal type erroneously interpreted in the past, could be solved with the help of a new parallel piece. The legend presents Nikephoros Botaneiates (who later became emperor) as magistros, bestes, bestarches , and doux of Nisos and Edesos for the middle of the 11th century (surely before 1061). This is the earliest mention of Nisos? upgrading from a strategis to a doukate (because of increasing difficulties with the kingdom of Hungary, the Pechenegs, and the archon of Diokleia). It is impossible to identify Edesos with one of the known toponyms of Edessa. We prefer to interpret Edesos as an (ephemeral?) Greek name of Branichevo (or esp. of its fortress). This town was the center of the northern part of the doukate of Nish, which reached till the Danube, and was of enormous strategic value. Two more seals mention Edesos as the seat of a topoteretes (the deputy commander of the doux) and of a metropolitan (perhaps of southern Hungary, during a period when Branichevo belonged to this kingdom). Finally some others seals from the region of Morava and Branichevo are discussed to illuminate the historical importance of this territory during the 11th and 12th centuries.