Tzanichites

The Tzanichites (Greek: Τζανιχίτες) were an aristocratic family of Laz origin, from Tzanicha (Greek: Τζάνιχα; Turkish: Canca), central Chaldia region of Pontus. According to the historian Anthony Bryer, after 1355 the Tzanichites took the positions that the Kabazites family had occupied in the Trebizond Empire; that of doukes of Chaldia. The most famous of the Tzanichites were: Theodore, John, Sevastos, Stephen, Michael and two Constantines.

Notable members

• Theodore Tzanchites is mentioned in a text of 1306, during the reign of Alexios II.

• John Tzanichites Michael Panaretos attributes the title of epikernes in 1330-55. John rebelled in 1352 and seized the castle of Tzanicha but was defeated by Alexios III.

• Sevastos Tzanichites, who was born in 1295, held the office of major in the military camp and contributed in an attempt to overthrow Irene Palaiologina (1341), the end result being the overthrow of the noble personnel from the fortified monastery of St. Eugenius. He was later deported to Limnia and executed.

• Stephen Tzanichites is mentioned as the megas kontostaulos in the period 1344-1350.
• Michael Tzanichites took part in a naval attack on the Trapezuntine naval fleet outside of Kaffa (1349) and was killed in the battle along with John Kabazites.
• Of the two Constantines, the first is mentioned in the codes of Vazelon Monastery as megas kontostaulos and leader of the bandon of Palaiomatzouka (Maçka) during 1365-1386. According to the Vazelon codices, the second Constantine was head of the same bandon during the year 1415.

Castle

Bryer states that at Tzanicha (Canca) exists the remains of an old castle and two chapels. The castle is located on an elongated expanse of land 2 km northwest of modern Gümüşhane, and 400m above the south bank of the Kanis (Harsit) river. Both chapels contain paintings or inscriptions of Christian figures of the church.

Sources

• Encyclopedia of Pontian Hellenis. Malloiaris Peadia
• Anthony Bryer & David Winfield, The Byzantine Monuments and Topography of the Pontos (DOS. XX), vol. 1–2, Washington, 1985. Page 309-310.
• Alexios Savvides (2002). "Τζάννοι-Τζανίτ-Τζανιχίτες: Το πρόβλημα της επιβίωσης ενός καυκασιανού λαού στο βυζαντινό Πόντο των Μεγαλοκομνηνών". Αρχείον Πόντου (in Greek). 49.