Akritai

The Akriten (Greek Akritai ) were the inhabitants of the Byzantine- Muslim border area (9th - 13th century), which constitute together with the issues of armies, an important part of the Byzantine frontier defense.

Often the late antique limitanei be viewed as precursors, but this is likely to be only partially true, even if the Akriten certainly partly from serving in garrisons or participated in campaigns. The Akriten any case were freed for their military services of the sometimes oppressive taxes and received land assigned, which is certainly their will to defend the border area, additionally promoted. However, it was also connected with time, a semi- autonomous position in relation to the national government in Constantinople Opel, they understood cleverly exploit. In the 11th century the decline of Akriten, which have now also started taxed, but they are still up in the Palaeologi detectable. The resolution of the Akriten, and the acute financial difficulties of the Byzantine State owed ​​at this time, but had a fatal effect on the Byzantine frontier defense in western Asia Minor and accelerated the conquest of this important region by the Seljuks.

An important source represents, inter alia, the epic Digenis Akritas, which (as well as that of their Muslim opponents ), describes life in the border area, including the permanent border battles and the Code of Ethics of the Akriten.

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