1. Sougdaia during the Early and Middle Byzantine period

Sougdaia (mod. Sudak, Ukraine) lies on the southern shore of the Crimea peninsula, about 50 klm. NW of Kaffa (mod. Feodosia). The date of its foundation remains uncertain. The city already existed in early Byzantine period, since its first report in a written source is dated to the 7^th century.¹ Nevertheless, according to the local tradition that is preserved in much later «recollections»,² Sougdaia had been founded in the year AD 212. This date can not be cross-checked with other testimonies; however, the results of the archaeological research that have been conducted in the region speak for the foundation of the city during the Roman period. The city-founders were in all probability the Alans, as the Iranian etymology of its name implies.³

Sougdaia’s historical course during the Early and Middle Byzantine period is scarsely known. It appears that its administrative dependency on the Byzantine Empire, as well as of the rest of the Taurian cities, was exceptionally loose. At the same time, the Christianization of its population moved on, whereas within the city a Greek-speaking population was probably settled, whose presence became more intense during later periods. From the 8^th century Sougdaia appears as an autocephalous bishopric, subordinated directly to the Patriarchate of Constantinople. The first report to the Sougdaia bishopric is attested in the Acts of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, which are signed by the bishop Stephan. The latter one was an adherent of the Iconophile party, having been imprisoned by Constantine V and reinstated by the empress Eirene. His Vita is preserved in various versions and mentions that Stephan was buried in the church of Hagia Sophia at Sougdaia, which was erected in the year 793 according to the local tradition.⁴

The Middle Byzantine period at Sougdaia is characterised by signs of decline, whereas the maintenance of the Byzantine control over the region is uncertain. Later legends mention occupation of the city by the Rus’ in the 8^th or 9^th century,⁵ whereas the archaeologists have brought to light remains of buildings of the 6^th century which had been left abandoned in the 8^th-9^th century. The city was probably under the suzerainty of the Khazars in the 9^th-10^th century. During the same period (early 10^th century) the church of Sougdaia was promoted to the rank of an archbishopric.

2. Sougdaia from the 11th to the 14th century

A new period of prosperity for Sougdaia is attested from the 11^th century, when the city belonged administratively to the theme of Cherson, as it is known due to a preserved inscription mentioning Leo Aliates as strategos of Cherson and Sougdaia.⁶ The addition of the name of Sougdaia in the older form of the name of the theme shows the importance that this city had for the Byzantines during that period. The exact time of the enrolment of Sougdaia to the Byzantine Empire is uncertain, but it was probably linked to the defeat of the Khazars by the Byzantines in 1016.

The direct administrative dependency of Sougdaia on the Byzantine Empire did not last for long. Already by the end of the 11^th century it appears that the city had passed to the suzerainty of the Cumans, who kept it until the 13^th century, in spite of the annexation of the neighbouring theme of Cherson to the Empire of Trepizond after 1204. Around 1222 the Seljuks laid siege on Sougdaia,⁷ whereas in 1223 and 1238 the Tatars raided the region inflicting great disasters. Around 1249 Sougdaia was subjugated to the State of the Crimean Tatars. During the same period it is reported that its population numbered 8.300 inhabitants.⁸

The administrative dependency of Sougdaia to the State of Tatars in the 13^th and 14^th century was characterized by great amounts of autonomy, exactly as it was during the previous Byzantine period. A paramount role in the political administration played the local notables, who are mentioned in the Greek sources by the Byzantine title of sebastos, whereas in Latin documents of the 14^th century they are referred to as «proti», the local magistrates of the 18 villages around Sougdaia. In the same time, during the Late Byzantine period rearrangements in the ecclesiastical administration of the region have been noted as well: between the years 1275 and 1282 the archbishopric (which had annexed the nearby Phoulloi from the end of the 11^th century and is referred to ever since as archbishopric of Sougdophoulloi) was promoted by the Patriarchate of Constantinople to the rank of a metropolis.

3. The period of Genoese dominion (1365-1475)

During the second half of the 13^th century the establishment of Venetian and Genoese commercial colonies at Sougdaia and at other Taurian ports inaugurated a period of financial flourishing for the city, which was developed to an important centre of transitional commerce. At the same time, however, Sougdaia was involved to the disputes between the two Italian maritime cities, whereas from 1320 the hostile attitude of the already converted to Islam Tatars had disastrous consequences for the Greek-speaking Christian population of the city.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Genoese of Kaffa occupied Sougdaia on the 19^th of July, 1365, transforming it to a commercial colony administrated directly from Genoa. The new rulers of the city took care of the refortification of the city (the ruins of the Genoese castle are preserved until today) and brought a large part of the deported Greek population back to their homestead. The Genoese dominion at Sougdaia lasted until the end of 1475, when the Ottomans captured the castle after a long-standing siege.⁹