THE NOTICE OF STEPANOS OF TARON (ASOGHIK)
ABOUT AN ARRANGEMENT FOR A DYNASTIC
MARRIAGE BETWEEN THE COMETOPOULOI AND THE
MACEDONIAN DYNASTY: AN ATTEMPT TO CLARIFY
SOME CONTROVERSIAL POINTS
Yulian Todorovski
(Summary)
The purpose of the present study was to shed more light on some controversial
moments from the notice of the Armenian historian Stepanos of
Taron, also known as Asoghik, in connection with the negotiations between
the Cometopuls and Emperor Basil II (976 – 1025) for the conclusion of
a dynastic marriage. It focuses mainly on two issues: 1) establishing the
identity of the metropolitan bishop of Sebasteia, mentioned by Asoghik as
the main actor in the negotiations between the two parties, and whether his
participation can be accepted as credible; 2) clarifying the question of who
had led the negotiations from the Bulgarian side; what were the reasons
for resorting to such a diplomatic means; are there other sources that confirm,
albeit indirectly, his story; and is the negativism of some researchers
justified regarding the authenticity of the event described. Attention has
also been paid to the question of the author’s chronological accuracy, more
specifically, whether it may be assumed that the episode with the arranged
dynastic marriage took place before the Battle of the Gates of Trajan (August
17, 986), as indicated by the Armenian chronicler, or it is more correct
to postpone it to the time after the battle in question.
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