Serblias family

The Serblias family (Greek: Σερβλίας) was a Byzantine family that was active between the 11th and 13th centuries, employed in civil service in the central and provincial government.^[1] A part of the family was related to the Spanopouloi in the 1090s.^[1] The etymology of the name derives from their origin, either Serbia (Σερβλία), or the fortress town of Servia (τὰ Σἐρβλια).^[2] Contemporarily, the family used its name as an argument to claim descent from the ancient Servilia gens. Writing a letter to one Nikephoros Serblias, John Tzetzes addressed him as "descendant of the Servilian Caesars" (ὁ Σερβιλίων Καισάρων ἀπόγονος).^[3]

People

Members recorded in Byzantine Sigillography:

• Peter, son of Serblias (c. 1025–50).^[2]
• Michael Serblias (fl. 1029), protospatharios of the Chrysotriklinos and krites of Thessaloniki; or krites of Boleron, Strymon and Thessaloniki.^[4]
• Stephanos Serblias (1040/70), protospatharios and tax official (kommerkiarios) of Longibardia,^[4] possibly also mystographos.^[5]
• Leon Serblias (1040/80), magistros.^[6] Constantine IX Monomachos' envoy to Iberia.^[7]
• Peter Serblias (c. 1050–75), magistros.^[8]
• Nicholas Serblias (fl. 1060–62), krites of the Hippodrome and of the velon (1060);^[9] kensor and megas kourator of Tarsos and Seleukeia (c. 1060–62);^[9][10] hypatos, krites of the Hippodrome, of the velon, of Boleron, Strymon and Thessalonica (August 1062).^[11]
• John Serblias (c. 1066–early 12th century), two seals with that name without titles, possibly two persons.^[12]
• John Serblias (c. 1066–beginning of 12th century), deputy of inspection.^[13]
• Michael Serblias (c. 1066–beginning of 12th century), no title.^[14]
• Anthimos Serblias (unknown), krites.^[15]
• Nikephoros Serblias (c. 1100–1166), krites.^[16]
• John Serblias (1106), imperial notarios of the genikon. Possibly the homonymous deputy of inspection.^[17]
• Nikephoros Serblias (1140), mystikos. Possibly the homonymous krites.^[18]
• [Anonymous] Serblias (1146), krites. The period suggests a possible identity with Nikephoros Serblias the mystikos or the krites.^[19]
• Basil Serblias (1143–80), no title. A close relative of John.^[19]
• John Serblias (1143–80), no title.^[20]
• Nikephoros Serblias (2nd half of 12th century), no title.^[20]
• George Serblias (1200–1266), praitor of Thrace and Macedonia.^[21]

References

1. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 35.
2. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 36.
3. Leidholm 2018, p. 194.
4. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 37.
5. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 38–39.
6. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 39.
7. Gilbert Dahan; Irène Rosier (1998). La rhétorique d'Aristote: traditions et commentaires de l'Antiquité au XVIIe siècle. Vrin. p. 57. ISBN 978-2-7116-1307-6.
8. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, pp. 41–43.
9. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 44.
10. McGeer, Nesbitt & Oikonomides 2005, p. 171.
11. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 45.
12. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 46.
13. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 47.
14. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 48.
15. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 50.
16. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, pp. 50–51.
17. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 52.
18. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, pp. 52–53.
19. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 53.
20. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 53–54.
21. Wassiliou-Seibt 2012, p. 54.

Sources

• Wassiliou-Seibt, Alexandra-Kyriaki (2012). "Der Familienname Serblias und seine Träger in Byzanz. Eine prosopographisch-sigillographische Studie". In Cheynet, Jean-Claude; Sode, Claudia (eds.). Studies in Byzantine Sigillography (in German). Walter de Gruyter. pp. 35–55. ISBN 978-3-11-027114-0.
• Gkoutzioukostas, Andreas. "Judges of the velum and judges of the hippodrome in Thessalonike". Byzantine Symmeikta. 20: 67–84. doi:10.12681/byzsym.970.
• Leidholm, Nathan (2018). "Nikephoros III Botaneiates, the Phokades, and the Fabii: embellished genealogies and contested kinship in eleventh-century Byzantium". Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies. 42 (2). Cambridge University Press: 185–201. doi:10.1017/byz.2018.4. ISSN 0307-0131. S2CID 165391827.
• McGeer, Eric; Nesbitt, John; Oikonomides, Nicolas, eds. (2005). Catalogue of Byzantine Seals at Dumbarton Oaks and in the Fogg Museum of Art, Volume 5: The East (continued), Constantinople and Environs, Unknown Locations, Addenda, Uncertain Readings. Washington, DC: Dumbarton Oaks Research Library and Collection. pp. 16, 171, 173, 176, 183. ISBN 0-88402-309-5.