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The Theme of Cherson (Greek: θέμα Χερσῶνος, thema Chersōnos), originally and formally called the Klimata (Greek: τὰ Κλίματα, ta Klimata, "the regions/districts"),[1][2] was a Byzantine theme (a military-civilian province) located in the southern Crimea, headquartered at Cherson.[2][3]
The theme was officially established in the early 830's and was an important centre of Black Sea commerce. Despite the destruction of Cherson in the late 900's, the theme endured until it became a part of the Empire of Trebizond after the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire in 1204.
The region had been under Roman and later Byzantine imperial control until the early 8th century, but passed under Khazar control thereafter. Byzantine authority was re-established by Emperor Theophilos (r. 829–842), who in the early 830's (832/833/834) sent a strategos to assume control.[2][3][4][5][6] The city of Cherson, however, continued to be administered by several local lords (archontes) under a proteuon ("the first").[2][3]
The province played an important role in Byzantine relations with the Khazars and later with the Pechenegs and the Rus'. Cherson prospered greatly during the 9th–11th centuries as a centre of Black Sea commerce, despite the city's destruction by Vladimir of Kiev in 988/989. It is notable that Cherson was one of the few provincial mints, having resumed minting of coins under Emperor Michael III (r. 842–867).[2][3]
Cherson and its province remained under Byzantine control until the dissolution of the Empire by the Fourth Crusade in 1204, when they passed under the sovereignty of the breakaway Empire of Trebizond.[3]
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