Theodora, the basilissa of Sugdaia
The XIV-th century
The Italian merchants strived for the monopolization of the trade on the Black
Sea. Genoese widened their trade privileges as with power as with bribery,
carrying out the economical and political expansion in the local regions. In
1318 they opened their consulate on Bosporus and built in the heart of
Alanic archonate the fortress named Cherchio. At the forties of the XIV-th
century they took away from “proud, grasping and discordant with each other
Greek archonts” the important port Simbolon (now the part of Sevastopol,
Balaklava). After the victories over Byzantium during the wars of 1347-48-th and
1350-52-nd Genoese consulate was established in Cherson and Greek ships
were forbidden to enter the town. Finally, in 1365 with the help of Tatar
tumenbashy Mamay they captured the main Byzantine town on the seaboard
Sugdaia.
The reminiscences about this period of wars can be found in the heroic epos
about the basilissa (woman ruler) of Sugdaia Theodora Palaiologina
perished by the Genoese. The Orthodox Church canonized her with the name
of Theodora the Queen-nun of Surozh.
Armenian chronicle regarding the events of 1365 year:
“It was the time of many disturbances because from the whole country, from Kerch
and to Sarukerman the people and cattle were collected here, and
Mamay was in Karasue with his countless Tatars, and the town was in fear
and horror”
The legend about Theodora:
“It was deep dark night when betrayer led enemy troops through iron gates by the
secret subway that lied under the whole mountain till its peak where the
fortress stood in that times, and no inhabitant of fortress stayed alive. In
this treacherous massacre Theodora was killed, stroked down with enemy’s sword.
However her death was costly for enemies: less then quarter of those who came
into subway returned to their ships to celebrate the victory”