Editing Theme (Byzantine district) (section)

=== First themes: 640s–770s ===
[[File:A28 Sergiopolis-Martirion 562.jpg|thumb|left|Ruins at [[Sergiopolis]]]]
[[File:Byzantine Empire Themata-750-en.svg|thumb|200px|Byzantine ''themata'' in [[Anatolia]], c. 750.]]
[[File:Asia Minor ca 780 AD.svg|thumb|250px|The Byzantine themata in Asia Minor as they existed in c. 780, following the creation of the Bucellarian and ''[[Optimatoi]]'' themes out of the original theme of the ''[[Opsikion]]''.]]

What is clear is that at some point in the mid-7th century, probably in the late 630s and 640s, the Empire's field armies were withdrawn to Anatolia, the last major contiguous territory remaining to the Empire, and assigned to the districts that became known as the themes. Territorially, each of the new themes encompassed several of the older provinces, and with a few exceptions, seems to have followed the old provincial boundaries.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1990|pp=212–216}}</ref> The first four themes were those of the Armeniacs, Anatolics and Thracesians, and the Opsician theme. The [[Armeniac Theme]] ({{lang|grc|Θέμα Ἀρμενιακῶν|size=90%}}, {{Lang|grc-Latn|Théma Armeniakōn}}), first mentioned in 667, was the successor of the Army of Armenia. It occupied the old areas of the [[Pontus (region)|Pontus]], [[Armenia Minor]] and northern [[Cappadocia]], with its capital at [[Amasya|Amasea]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Kazhdan|1991|p=177}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1999|pp=73, 112}}</ref> The [[Anatolic Theme]] ({{lang|grc|Θέμα Ἀνατολικῶν|size=90%}}, ''{{Lang|grc-Latn|Anatolikōn}}''), first mentioned in 669, was the successor of the Army of the [[Diocese of Oriens|East]] ({{lang|el|Aνατολῆ|size=90%}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|Anatolē}}). It covered southern central Asia Minor, and its capital was [[Amorium]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Kazhdan|1991|p=90}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1999|p=73}}</ref> Together, these two themes formed the first tier of defence of Byzantine Anatolia, bordering Muslim Armenia and Syria respectively. The [[Thracesian Theme]] ({{Lang|el|Θέμα Θρᾳκησίων|size=90%}}, {{Lang|el-Latn|Théma Thrakēsiōn}}), first mentioned clearly as late as c. 740, was the successor of the Army of [[Diocese of Thrace|Thrace]], and covered the central western coast of Asia Minor ([[Ionia]], [[Lydia]] and [[Caria]]), with its capital most likely at [[Chonae]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Kazhdan|1991|p=2080}}</ref> The [[Opsician Theme]] ({{lang|grc|Θέμα Ὀψικίου}}, {{lang|grc-Latn|Théma Opsikiou|size=90%}}), first mentioned in 680, was constituted from the imperial retinue (in [[Latin]] {{lang|la|Obsequium}}). It covered northwestern Asia Minor ([[Bithynia]], [[Paphlagonia]] and parts of [[Galatia]]), and was based at [[Nicaea]]. Uniquely, its commander retained his title of {{Lang|grc-Latn|kómēs}} ({{Lang|grc|κόμης|size=90%}}, "count").<ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1990|pp=216–217}}</ref>

In addition, the great naval division of the Carabisians or ''[[Karabisianoi]]'' ({{lang|grc|Kαραβισιάνοι|size=90%}}, "people of the {{lang|grc|κᾱ́ρᾰβοι|size=90%}} [ships]"), first mentioned in 680, was probably formed of the remains of the Army of the [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] or, more likely, the old ''[[quaestura exercitus]]''. It never formed a theme proper, but occupied parts of the southern coast of Asia Minor and the Aegean Islands, with its {{Lang|la|stratēgos}} seat most likely at [[Samos]]. It provided the bulk of the [[Byzantine navy]] facing the new Arab fleets, which after the [[Battle of the Masts]] contested control of the Mediterranean with the Empire.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1990|p=217}}</ref> In the event, the Carabisians would prove unsatisfactory in that role, and by 720 they had been disbanded in favour of a fully fledged naval theme, that of the [[Cibyrrhaeot Theme|Cibyrrhaeots]] ({{lang|grc|Θέμα Κιβυρραιωτῶν}}, ''Thema Kibyrrhaiotōn''), which encompassed the southern coasts of Asia Minor and the [[Aegean islands]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1999|p=77}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Cheynet|2006|p=155}}</ref>

The part of the region of [[Thrace]] under Byzantine control was probably constituted as a theme at about 680, as a response to the [[Bulgars|Bulgar]] threat, although for a time the command over Thrace appears to have been exercised by the Count of the ''Opsikion''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haldon|1990|p=216}}</ref><ref name="HaldonB87">{{Harvnb|Haldon|1999|p=87}}</ref><ref>{{Harvnb|Kazhdan|1991|p=2079}}</ref> Successive campaigns by the emperors of the [[Heraclian dynasty]] in Greece also led to the recovery of control of [[Central Greece (geographic region)|Central Greece]] from [[Slavs|Slavic]] invaders, and to the establishment of the theme of [[Hellas (theme)|Hellas]] there between 687 and 695.<ref>{{Harvnb|Kazhdan|1991|p=911}}</ref> [[Sicily]] too was formed as a theme by the end of the 7th century, but the imperial possessions in mainland [[Italy]] remained under the exarch of Ravenna or the local ''doukes'', as did [[Byzantine Africa]] until the fall of [[Carthage]] in 698. At the same time, [[Crete]] and the imperial exclave of [[Cherson (theme)|Cherson]] in the [[Crimea]] formed independent ''[[archontia]]i''.<ref name="HaldonB87"/><ref>{{Harvnb|Cheynet|2006|p=146}}</ref>

Thus, by the turning of the century, the themes had become the dominant feature of imperial administration. Their large size and power however made their generals prone to revolt, as had been evidenced in the turbulent period 695–715, and would again during the great revolt of [[Artabasdos]] in 741–742.<ref>{{Harvnb|Treadgold|1998|pp=26–29}}</ref> The suppression of Artabasdos' revolt heralded the first significant changes in the Anatolian themes: the over-mighty ''Opsikion'' was broken up with the creation of two new themes, the [[Bucellarian Theme]] and the [[Optimatoi|Optimates]], while the role of imperial guard was assumed by a new type of professional force, the imperial ''[[tagma (military)|tagmata]]''.<ref>{{Harvnb|Treadgold|1998|pp=28–29, 71, 99, 210}}</ref>