The Treaty of Devol (1108) as an Example of the Byzantine Po

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The Treaty of Devol (1108) as an Example of the Byzantine Policy of “Divide and Rule”

By Azat Bozoyan

Published online by the Armenian Studies Program, University of Michigan (2009)

Introduction: In the 12th century the Byzantine Empire tried to establish a system of vassal states in Northern Syria and in Cilicia. It is obvious that after the establishment of the sultanate of Iconium and Danishmand emirate in the possessions of Asia Minor, Byzantium lost its land frontiers, which linked the Empire to the region. Therefore, the institutions developing the Byzantine foreign policy attempted to use the Byzantine-oriented forces of Crusader East to solve the foreign-political issues facing the country. As a rule, representataions of different Christian beliefs were of first-rate, whom the Byzantine Empire tried to use for promoting its relations with the Muslm states. Even the slightest religious differentation among the peoples of the region were take into account by the Empire. The inhabitants of Byzantium were deeply informed about the religious features and ritual pecularities of Christians lving on the frontiers or in the vicinity of the Empire. The works entitled ‘Panoplia dogmatike’ written by Euthymios Zigabenos (12th century) and later by Niketas Choniates (13th century may serve as a proof.

http://www.umich.edu/~iinet/asp/Docs/BO ... 0PAPER.pdf

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