Lykandos

Lykandos was a Byzantine frontier district (thema) located in the region of Cappadocia, in what is now eastern Turkey. Established in the late 9th century, probably around 900/903 AD, it served as a crucial defensive outpost against incursions from the Muslim border emirates, particularly that of Melitene.

The thema was formed out of territory previously under the control of the Kleisoura of Charsianon and named after its principal fortress, Lykandos, meaning "wolf's path" or "wolf's gorge" in Greek. Strategos, the military governor, of Lykandos held a high rank in the Byzantine hierarchy, receiving a salary corresponding to the third class. This reflected the strategic importance of the region.

The region was mountainous and difficult to traverse, making it suitable for defensive operations. Its establishment was part of a broader Byzantine strategy to strengthen its eastern frontier and gradually push back against Muslim advances. Lykandos played a significant role in the Byzantine successes of the 10th century, serving as a base for raids into enemy territory and contributing to the eventual recapture of key cities like Melitene.

The history of Lykandos as a thema is relatively short-lived. By the late 11th century, following the Battle of Manzikert in 1071 and the subsequent Seljuk Turkish incursions, the Byzantine presence in Cappadocia was significantly weakened. While Byzantine administration may have continued for a time, the region was ultimately lost to the Seljuks, marking the end of Lykandos as a distinct Byzantine administrative and military unit. The precise date of its demise is uncertain, but it likely occurred within a few decades of Manzikert.