How long did the Byzantine Empire hold onto the Crimea?

Not a WI, just a general question. A lot of the maps of the Byzantine Empire that I see have the Crimea (most likely part of) coloured in as part of its territory. When did it "annex" the Crimea, and how long did they hold onto it?
 
Not a WI, just a general question. A lot of the maps of the Byzantine Empire that I see have the Crimea (most likely part of) coloured in as part of its territory. When did it "annex" the Crimea, and how long did they hold onto it?
Apparently, the southern part of Crimea was under Byzantine rule from AD 526, at the beginning of Justinian's reign, until the sacking of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 1204 by the Crusaders during their fourth crusade, which originally was supposed to go to the Holy Land via Egypt, but instead were diverted to Constantinople.
 
Apparently, the southern part of Crimea was under Byzantine rule from AD 526, at the beginning of Justinian's reign, until the sacking of Constantinople (modern Istanbul) in 1204 by the Crusaders during their fourth crusade, which originally was supposed to go to the Holy Land via Egypt, but instead were diverted to Constantinople.

It's more complicated than that. First, there isn't really complete info, but also, it changed hands a lot. It began as the Bosporan Kingdom under Roman protectorate, and there were periods where it was lost to Gothic rulers or Varangians - I don't think it was under Byzantine control at the time of the 4th Crusade - and after that, there were periods where it was under independent Greek rulers, run by the Empire of Trebizond, Genoa, or others. For the most part, though, a Southern strip of the Crimea was Byzantine until around the period of the 4th Crusade.
 
Abdul, that's pretty interesting. Do you know of any good resources on that?

Not really - that comes from lots of different places. There was a period where I was fascinated by the Bosporan Kingdom and Byzantine Crimea, and I had to glean all that from snippets in dozens of books.
 
There was also the Principality of Theodoro, a Crimean Gothic state on the middle of the peninsula which lasted until the 15th century.
 
This is a useful little thread, better than starting my own one to a similar end

I'm trying to find out/work out what cities the Byzantine empire had in the Crimea, specifically what was the main naval base or port (cos I don't think there was anything at Sevastopol ?) and what was the main city of the interior

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Kherson, iirc. Feodosia was a Byzantine vassal but not actual Byzantine territory. And the Genoans held parts of the Crimea for a period around 1200-1400 iirc, I think taken during the sack of Constantinople.
 
In 10th -11th centuries there was rivalry over Crimea between Byzantium, Rus’ state and (before 960-ies) Khazar Kaganate. After 11th century Rus (divided into several principalities) became too weak to oppose Byzantines; however, strong Turkic nomadic confederations were able to challenge Greek domination, at least in the Northern Crimea, that is, steppe part of the peninsula. In 1204 Byzantine Crimea was not included into division of Empire between Western conquerors, probably, due to already weak imperial control over that region. From 1220-ies (and as late as early 15th century) Crimean cities are mentioned as dependencies of the Trebizond Empire. Nonetheless, Tatar Golden Horde, as well as early Crimean Khanate, listed Crimean cities among their dependencies too. Moreover, the Genoans occupied significant part of Southern Crimea from at least 1289; Genoan colonies acknowledged Tatar protectorate.
So, it seems that Byzantium lost Crimea in 1204, or even earlier.
This is a useful little thread, better than starting my own one to a similar end

I'm trying to find out/work out what cities the Byzantine empire had in the Crimea, specifically what was the main naval base or port (cos I don't think there was anything at Sevastopol ?) and what was the main city of the interior

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
There was something near modern Sevastopol's site - Kherson, capital of Byzantine Crimea and main naval base in the peninsula.

This map shows Kaffa as Genoan

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/historical/shepherd/byzantine_empire_1355.jpg

With a note that it was Feodosia

So, when it was in Byzantine hands was it Feodosia or Kherson which was the major port ? Which one is best-suited to being a naval base in more modern times ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
Kherson, alias Sevastopol has best harbour of the Black Sea. However, that harbour is open to the steppes; at the same time, Feodosia (Theodosia, Kafa, Kefe) is defended by kilometer-high Crimean mountains, despite having somewhat worse harbour.
Kherson, iirc. Feodosia was a Byzantine vassal but not actual Byzantine territory. And the Genoans held parts of the Crimea for a period around 1200-1400 iirc, I think taken during the sack of Constantinople.
Feodosia before 13th century was Byzantine territory, while Kherson was in
5th to 7th centuries autonomous (and sometimes rebellious) city under imperial protectorate.
Genoans had merchant communities in the Crimea from late 12th century; however, only after 1204 they became Genoan colonies, independent from Byzantine administration (but dependent from the Golden Horde).
 
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Thank you very much for the replies :) I see from your examples, and from what maps I have been able to locate, that all of the Byzantine era cities are on the coast (including Eupatoria). Was there nothing much in the middle, no cause or purpose for there to be anything there ? Such as at Simferopol, which I know was founded in the 18th century, but was it built on the remains of an earlier trading post or fortress ?

Thanks again !

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
This is a useful little thread, better than starting my own one to a similar end

I'm trying to find out/work out what cities the Byzantine empire had in the Crimea, specifically what was the main naval base or port (cos I don't think there was anything at Sevastopol ?) and what was the main city of the interior

Best Regards
Grey Wolf

You don't need to get hung up on that. The obvious choice is Sevastopol, since it's a fantastic port. If the Byzantines planned a major naval base in the Crimea, they'd put it there. A lot of ports that work in antiquity can't operate deep draught vessels - hence Zeyla and Suakin being largely abandoned for Berbera and Port Sudan, etc.
 
You don't need to get hung up on that. The obvious choice is Sevastopol, since it's a fantastic port. If the Byzantines planned a major naval base in the Crimea, they'd put it there. A lot of ports that work in antiquity can't operate deep draught vessels - hence Zeyla and Suakin being largely abandoned for Berbera and Port Sudan, etc.

Ah thank you! I also see that Cherson was not at Kherson (my mistake) and if its position in antiquity is relatively close to Sevastopol it could simply expand to take over the area, perhaps how London's docks weren't actually always in the centre of London (and certainly aren't now)

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
Thank you very much for the replies :) I see from your examples, and from what maps I have been able to locate, that all of the Byzantine era cities are on the coast (including Eupatoria). Was there nothing much in the middle, no cause or purpose for there to be anything there ? Such as at Simferopol, which I know was founded in the 18th century, but was it built on the remains of an earlier trading post or fortress ?

Thanks again !

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
There were "unfriendly savages" in the middle - Pechenegs, Kipchaks, Tatars. Byzantines could not defend city relatively far from the sea, but amidst nomads' summer pastures (famous Crimean Yayla, literally "summer pastures", is situated some 30 kilometers to the south of Simferopol). Simferopol was built on the site of Tatar town, which was in turn built on the ruins of Scythian royal city of Neapolis. Scythians, as well as Tatars, consisted of sedentary populations as well as nomads. Consequently, they (unlike Greeks) could have cities in the middle of the Crimea.
 
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There were "unfriendly savages" in the middle - Pechenegs, Kipchaks, Tatars. Byzantines could not defend city relatively far from the sea, but amidst nomads' summer pastures (famous Crimean Yayla, literally "summer pastures", is situated some 30 kilometers to the south of Simferopol). Simferopol was built on the site of Tatar town, which was in turn built on the ruins of Scythian royal city of Neapolis. Scythians, as well as Tatars, consisted of sedentary populations as well as nomads. Consequently, they (unlike Greeks) could have cities in the middle of the Crimea.

Thank you! So if it falls 'back' under Byzantine hegemony, they could build a city at this site, and call it Neapolis

Or what did Neapolis mean ?

Best Regards
Grey Wolf
 
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