Silver coins from Achaia, known as tornese (tornese/tornesel) or grosia, were found in Rusokastro, Bulgaria. It’s regarding 7 rare coins from the Principality of Achaia which were found in Russokastro fortress of ancient Thrace (now in the area of Southern Bulgaria).
The Russokastro (meaning Red Castle) fortress it is known for the battle fought there in 1332 AD. It was the last major military victory of the medieval Bulgarian empire before it was conquered by the invading Ottoman Turks at the end of the 14th century.
THE PRINCIPALITY OF ACHAIA
The Principality of Achaia, also known as the 13th century “Principality of the Morea, Moria/Morea)” was founded in the Peloponnese, following 1204 when the knights of the 4th Crusade captured and sacked the capital of Byzantium, Constantinople! Now, archaeological findings show a connection between Thrace and Peloponnese and at that time…
The fall of Constantinople to the Latins of the Fourth Crusade led to the fragmentation of Byzantine territory and the creation of Latin dominions. One of them was the Principality of Achaia, which flourished under the rule of the French Villardouine dynasty. Numerous castles in the Peloponnese remain today as living monuments to commemorate the passing of the Frankish rulers.
The Principality of Achaia was a mighty state in the lands of the Peloponnese, which were divided into fiefs among the Frankish Crusaders. The capital of the Principality was Andravida, while its main port was Clarendza or Clarence (at Paleokastro, west of today’s Kyllini). His most imposing castle was Chlemoutsi or Clermont, a little further south.
The administrative division of the Principality of Achaia, on a map of 1214
It was originally under the rule of the Franks, but the situation changed several times until 1452, when it returned to the Byzantine Empire under Constantine Palaiologos, later emperor of Byzantium. After a while, however, the Principality of Achaia passed to the Ottoman Turks.
During the rule of the Villehardouins the Principality experienced great prosperity. They even created a mint in Glarenza and minted their own currency. Villeardouinos, assuming the role of prince, clashed with the Catholic Church, confiscating its property in the area and built Chlemoutsi with it. Godfrey acquired from the local lords, the so-called kephalades, but also from Pope Innocent III, the lordship of Achaia, Ilia and Messinia, as well as a part of Arcadia, as well as the title of prince of Achaia.
“THE TREASURE OF RUSSOKASTR”
Researcher and writer Giorgos Lekakis
As the researcher and author notes in “P”. George LekakisThe “Treasure of Rusokastro” it was discovered during excavations of a monumental palace-type building, 20m long. and 8m wide, with three huge stone pillars, which supported arches and a second floor.
Thanks to the bones discovered during the 2017 excavations at Rusokastro, archaeologists found that wild cattle aurochs (a type of bull, ancestor of domesticated cows), survived in the area until the 13th-14th century and were still hunted for their meat!
The species was previously thought to have become extinct by the 12th century at the latest! In July 2017, the archaeological team excavating the important fortress discovered a rare 10th-century ivory icon believed to have belonged to a Byzantine emperor or member of the Byzantine imperial family. According to archaeologists, the icon was crafted in Constantinople! In September of the same year, the discovery of the “monumental” staircase/staircase, leading to the Rusokastro.
The Chlemoutsi castle built by the Franks near Andravida, capital of the Principality of Achaia,
The Bulgarian Tower History Museum announced the discovery in the fortress of a huge water tank, coated internally with a red-pink waterproof mortar. In 2018, the excavations at Rusokastro were once more financed by the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and by the local authorities of the Municipality of Kamenos.
The announcement was made by the Historical Museum of the Tower (Burgas) of Bulgaria, shortly following the discovery of an unknown tower-fortress of the 4th century. A.D. and a 14th century Byzantine gold coin of the Byzantine emperors Andronikos II Palaiologos (1282-1328) and Andronikos III Palaiologos (1328-1341).
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