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History and Theory of culture 33
УДК 7.03
Аннотация
Статья посвящена фоллисам, чеканившимся одним из первых франко-
нормандских правителей Антиохии – князем Рожером (1112-1119 гг.), как
яркому примеру латинской рецепции византийской иконографии, в част-
ности – раннему для латинских христиан прецеденту приятия образа «Чуда
Св. Георгия о змие».
Ключевые слова
Византийское искусство, крестовые походы, нумизматика, нормандцы,
Антиохия, Сирия, иконография Богоматери, Св. Георгий, Чудо Георгия о
змие.
2. Bouchier E.S. A Short History of An- Antioch, 969-1268 // East and West
tioch, 300 B.C. – A.D. 1268. – Lon- in the Medieval Eastern Mediter-
don: Blackwell, 1921. – 324 p. ranean. Antioch from the Byzantine
3. Cahen C. La Syrie du Nord a l’epoque Reconquest until the End of the Cru-
des Croisades et la principaute sader Principality. – Leuven, 2006. –
franque d’Antioche. – Paris, 1940. – Pp. 283-318.
768 p. 7. Michel le Syrien. Chronique de Mi-
4. Galterii Cancellarii. Bella Anti- chel le Syrien. Patriarche Jacobite
ochena // RHC Occ. Vol. 5. – Paris, D’Antioche. Vol. III. – Paris, 1905. –
1895. – Pp. 1114-1119. 748 p.
5. Mathieu D’Edesse, Grégoire le Prêtre. 8. Walter C. Origins of the Cult of Saint
Chronique de Mathieu D’Edesse George // Revue des études byzan-
(962-1136) avec la Continuation de tines. – 1995. – No. 53. – Pp. 295-326.
Grégoire le Prêtre. – Paris, 1858. – 9. Walter the Chancellor. The Anti-
546 p. ochene Wars / ed. & trans. T. As-
6. Metcalf D.M. Six Unresolved Prob- bridge and S. B. Edgington. – Derby-
lems in the Monetary History of shire, UK: Ashgate, 1999. – 242 p.
UDC 7.03
Abstract
Italy has historically served as a center of the contact of the Latin West with
Byzantium and, of course, with the center of the Western reception of Byzantine
art. In various regions of this diverse and fragmented peninsula one can come
across numerous monuments of Byzantine art, and more or less close imita-
tion of Byzantine models. However, it should be noted that among the peoples
of Italy in the XII century unusually open to the acceptance of Byzantine art
were not only the Lombards, Venetians and Romans, but also outlandish North
French conquerors – the Normans.
Syria became no less important center of Western (and, in particular, Nor-
man) reception of Byzantine culture, iconography and art, and particularly the
ancient capital of the Hellenistic and Byzantine Syria – Antioch.
Antioch became a new center of the contact and the Latins and the Byzantine
Empire. This juxtaposition took different forms, ranging from violent military
clashes to very intensive communication in the church, city and commercial and
economic life. In particular, the Norman Antioch turned into a some kind of an
outpost of the Latin reception of the images of Byzantine art.
Keywords
Byzantine art, Crusades, numismatics, the Normans, Antioch, Syria, iconog-
raphy of the Theotokos, Saint George and the Dragon.
forms – from fierce military clashes to a terranean. His father, Richard del Princi-
very complex dialogue and long periods pato (also known as Richard of Salerno)
of coexistence in the spheres of ecclesi- took part in the First Crusade along-
astical, urban and economic life. Antioch side his cousins – Bohemond and Tan-
became the new outpost of Latin recep- cred, who later became the first Norman
tion of Byzantine art. Unfortunately, we princes of Antioch. It seems that Roger
cannot properly compare the Byzantine followed his father and moved from It-
monuments and artwork of Norman Italy aly to the East in the first years of the
and Norman Antioch, since Antioch was 12th century. In December 1112 Roger
razed to the ground by the Mamelukes in succeeded his uncle Tancred as Prince
1268. So, when discussing the work of of Antioch2. Roger's seven-year reign
Byzantine artists, architects and artisans (1112-1119) was an incredibly intensive
commissioned by the Normans of Italy, period in the history of Antioch3. In au-
we can appeal to surviving palaces and tumn of 1114 Syria was devastated by a
churches of Sicily. In the case of Norman powerful earthquake, and it was Roger
Antioch, we lack any comparable monu- who had to deal with the restoration of
ments, which forces us to look at more the Christian strongholds and fortress-
subtle evidence – documentary, archeo-
2 It must be stated that both Tancred and
logical and, of course, numismatic. The Roger were supposed to hand over the rule
coinage of Crusader Antioch, especially of Antioch to Bohemond II, the son and
heir of the Principality's founder, in case
the coins minted during the reign of the of his arrival to the East. Nevertheless, it
first Norman princes, serve as a remark- is more befitting to talk of Tancred and
Roger as "princes" in their own right,
able testimony of the Normans' love for rather than mere regents, since both of
Byzantine art and iconography. In this them used the title "prince" (princeps), and
avoided the titles of "regents" or "bailiffs"
particular case, we would like to exam- (bailli).
ine the coinage of Prince Roger, the third 3 The only surviving medieval narrative
Norman ruler of Antioch. text, entirely dedicated to Crusader
Antioch – "The Antiochene Wars" was
written by Roger's chancellor, Walter, and
Roger – Norman prince of deals with the third (1115) and final (1119)
years of the Prince's reign. See: Galterii
Antioch Cancellarii (1895), "Bella Antiochena",
RHC Occ. Vol. 5, Paris, pp. 1114-1119;
Asbridge, T., Edgington, S.B. (1999),
Roger belonged to the third gen-
Walter the Chancellor. The Antiochene
eration of Normans, born in the Medi- Wars, Ashgate, Derbyshire, UK, 242 p.
es in Syria, such as Marash, Artah and ances with his Muslim neighbors, when
Antioch itself. In the following year, it suited Norman interests4. Roger was
Frankish Syria witnessed a Seljuk inva- also known for safeguarding the Syrian
sion, such as had not been seen since the Orthodox (Jacobite) Church from the in-
Crusader siege of Antioch in 1098. Yet fringement of the Latin Patriarch of An-
the overwhelming Turkish forces were tioch (a fact, that was later and with full
decisively defeated and scattered by gratitude noted by Michael the Syrian5).
Prince Roger's army in the Battle of Tell And, finally, the most notable surviving
Danith, on September 14th 1115. During examples of the Antiochian Normans'
the following years Roger succeeded in reception of Byzantine iconography are
expanding the frontier of the Principality also connected with Roger's reign and
to the East, practically surrounding Alep- can be found on coins, minted by this
po, Islam's chief fortress-city in northern particular Prince.
Syria. It was in Roger's and his prede- The Norman princes of Antioch
cessor Tancred's reign that the emirs of continued to use the old Byzantine mint,
Aleppo were forced to pay tribute to the employing th services of local Greek
Princes of Antioch. In 1113, and again in artisans. During Bohemond's and Tan-
1118 Roger led the forces of Antioch on cred's reign the Antiochian mint issued
southward marches to Palestine, in order follis coins, bearing the images of Christ
to aid the kings of Jerusalem, the senior Pantokrator and the Apostle Peter, with
Frankish monarchs in Outremer. Rog- Greek legends and either the names of the
er also was known as the patron of the Princes or the inscription "IC XC NIKA"
Hospitaller order of St. John, providing between the bars of the cross on the re-
the Hospitallers with grants of lands and
4 In 1115 Roger made a military alliance
revenues in the Principality of Antioch. with Toghtekin, the emir of Damascus,
It must also be stated that Prince Roger aimed against the invading Seljuk forces
of emir Bursuq. In 1118 Roger granted the
also showed an open-minded attitude in Muslim population of Azaz safe passage to
matters, pertaining to the dialogue and Turkish territory, once the city surrendered
to him. See: Mathieu D'Edesse, Grégoire
interaction with the native population of
le Prêtre (1858), Chronique de Mathieu
the Middle East – both Muslim and East- D'Edesse (962-1136) avec la Continuation
ern Christian. Following his uncle Tan- de Grégoire le Prêtre, Paris, p. 298.
5 Michel le Syrien (1905), Chronique de
cred's example, Roger did not hesitate
Michel le Syrien. Patriarche Jacobite
to enter into negotiations and even alli- D'Antioche. Vol. III, Paris, p. 210.
verse. Tancred also introduced his own Yet we must differentiate between the
image on the coinage of Antioch; such presence of the 'Orans' on mosaics, fres-
follises depict a Byzantine-style half-fig- coes and painted icons, and the presence
ure portrait of the Norman Prince, bear- of this iconography on seals and coins,
ing a sword and an Arabic turban. De- the signs of power of Christian (and spe-
spite being one of the most remarkable cifically – Western Christian) secular
'eclectic' monuments of the Latin East, and ecclesiastical authorities. Indeed,
Tancred's follises are unmistakable Byz- the 'Orans' is present on numerous Ital-
antine in style, and closely resemble 11th ian mosaics and frescoes, yet it never ap-
and 12th century half-figure portraits of peared on the coinage or seals in Latin
Byzantine emperors. But during Roger's Christendom. In Byzantium, on the con-
reign, the traditional images of Christ trary, both the 'Orans' and its variation –
Pantokrator, the Apostle Peter and Tan- the 'Platytera' icons of the Theotokos
cred gave way to two new variations of were often present on coins, seals and
follis coins, which bore Byzantine icon- bulls. And it was from Byzantium, that
ographic images, previously unknown to this imagery was accepted by the rulers
either Byzantine, or Norman coinage of of the Latin East. For example, one can
Antioch. see the 'Platytera' Theotokos on the sur-
It was in Roger's reign that the viving bull of Queen Morphia of Jerusa-
image of Panagia Orans made its first lem, the consort of King Baldwin II de
appearance on Antiochian coinage. In Bourq. Although this may be an example
this case, it was the classical, full-height of the images 'Byzantine', rather than
depiction of the Orans, "The Unbreak- Latin usage, since Morphia was a Chal-
able Wall". The 'Orans' iconography of cedonian (Greek Orthodox) Armenian,
the Mother of God was well-known all and a daughter of the Byzantine ruler of
over the contemporary Christian world – Melitene. In the 13th century coins bear-
from Italy to the lands of Kievan Rus6. ing the 'Orans' were minted by the Latin
Emperors of Constantinople. In any case,
6 It is a curious coincidence, that in the same the appearance of the 'Orans' Theotokos
year that Roger became Prince of Antioch
(1112), the cathedral of Ravenna (Basilica
on the Prince Roger of Antioch's coins is
Ursiana) in northern Italy was decorated probably the earliest and unique example
with new mosaics, among which was the
'Orans'. This serves as a good example of the Holy Virgin among Latin Christians in
the popularity of this Byzantine image of the early 12th century.
of the icon's presence on the coinage of early in 1112-1119 the image of 'Saint
Latin rulers. George and the Dragon' was minted on
Another unique example of Byz- the coins of the Prince of Antioch (one
antine iconography, accepted by Roger of the two greatest Crusader rulers in the
and minted on his coins was the image of East), is absent from the vast majority of
'St. George and the Dragon'. We should published works, dealing with the his-
point that by the early 12th century the tory of the legends and iconography of
iconographic imagery of 'St. George St. George. The appearance of the image
and the Dragon' was widespread among of Saint George slaying the Dragon, with
the Christians of the East (both Chalce- the Greek legend 'ΡΟΤΖΕΡ ΠΡΙΓΚΙΠΟΣ'
donian and Non-Chalcedonian), it was ('Prince Roger I') on the coins of Antioch
literally unknown in the Latin West7. can in no way be seen as an accidental
The transmission of this imagery and or secondary-rate event. On the contrary:
legend to the West is undoubtedly con- this Eastern iconographic image could
nected with the Crusades. Even though not have been chosen without the con-
this connection is inevitably mentioned sent of Prince Roger himself, since the
by scholars, many modern researchers coins were among the most important in-
tend to focus on the stories of miracu- signias of power in the Medieval world,
lous appearances of Saint George dur- no less than seals, banners and heraldic
ing the battles of the Saracens, as told by signs8. It is quite possible that the im-
various crusaders and pilgrims, and pre- age of a Warrior-saint triumphing over
served by the Latin chroniclers. Yet, for the heathen Drag on was introduced af-
reasons unknown, the simple fact that as ter Prince Roger's great victory over the
Seljuk Turks in the Battle of Tell Danith
7 The eldest surviving image of 'St. George (1115).
and the Dragon' (made in the first decade
of the 11th century) can be found on a 8 For more details on the coinage of Norman
fresco in the Byzantine Church of St. Antioch, see: Bouchier, E.S. (1921), A
Barbara in Cappadocia. The first literary Short History of Antioch, 300 B.C. – A.D.
version of 'The Miracle of Saint George 1268, Blackwell, London, pp. 282-285;
and the Dragon' is a Georgian 11th century Metcalf, D.M. (2006), "Six Unresolved
text (the eldest surviving manuscript is Problems in the Monetary History of
kept in the Library of the Greek Orthodox Antioch, 969-1268", East and West in the
Patriarchate in Jerusalem). See: Walter, Medieval Eastern Mediterranean. Antioch
C. (1995), "Origins of the Cult of Saint from the Byzantine Reconquest until the
George", Revue des études byzantines, No. End of the Crusader Principality, Leuven,
53, p. 321. pp. 283-318.
period onwards, Byzantine follises were tal, unique and literally forgotten period
replaced by Western-style silver deniers. of early Latin reception of Byzantine
Thus, the brief reign of Prince Roger of iconography during the time of the Cru-
Antioch may justly be considered a vi- sades.
References