Duke of Karkisa and Aeolis

Duke of Mysia is a title in the Peerage of Mesogeian nobility. The present title was originally granted to Parsakoutenos family in 1135 by Emperor Manuel II. The title later passed to the Melissenos family who married the only daughter of the last Duke of Mysia. The title refers to the theme of Mysia in Anatolia. The holder of the title is descended in from the senior line of the gens Cloelia, which affords them the rank of a Patrician in the first class, allowing them a hereditary seat in the Senate.

The family seat is Parsakoutenos Hall. Subsidiary titles of the Duke of Mysia are Marquis of Gordion and Count of Dorylaion.

History

The title of Duke of Mysia was originally granted to Theophilus Parsakoutenos by Emperor Manuel II in 1135. Sometime later on the Parsakoutenos line died out in the male line. The only heiress married into the wealthy Melissenos family and the title was passed on to that storied family.

With the advent of the Franks in the 11th century the process by which the empire was westernized and modernized began. The southern and northern Mesogeian empires (Anatolia and Romaica respectively) turned west. Between the 11th century and 15th century thousands of Franks, Latins, and Normans settled in Mesogeia at the request of several Mesogeian Emperors seeking their aide against the encroachment of their lands by barbaric tribes to the north as well as Muslims and followers of the ancient religion residing to the south and east of the empire.

While the Parsakoutenos and Melissenos families were native to Mesogeia they adopted many of the practices of the latin emigrants who arrived between the 11th and 15th centuries. With the arrival of several French speaking peoples during that time, the use of the noble particle 'de' emerged. The Melissenos family along with their counterparts adopted its use. Presently the family of the Duke of Mysia bears the surname de la Melissenos de Parsakoute or less commonly as de la Melissenos de Parsakoutenos. For the sake of space in correspondence the family surname is usually hyphenated as Melissenos-Parsakoutenos.

Titleholders

Duke of Mysia (1135)

1. Theophilius Parsakoutenos, 1st Duke of Mysia (1101-1150)
2. Quintus Cloelius Leo Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 2nd Duke of Mysia (1141-1211) son of the above
3. Nikephoros Cloelius Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 3rd Duke of Mysia (1201-1246) granson of the above.
4. Publius Cloelius Theophilus Parsakoutenos, 4th Duke of Mysia (1229-1290) son of the above
5. Gaius Cloelius Alexander Parsakoutenos, 5th Duke of Mysia (1264-1317) son of the above
6. Quintus Cloelius Demetrius Parsakoutenos, 6th Duke of Mysia (1299-1380) son of the above
7. Publius Cloelius Manuel Parsakoutenos, 7th Duke of Mysia (1353-1408), grandson of the above
8. Gaius Cloelius Alexander Parsakoutenos, 8th Duke of Mysia (1381-1448), son of the above
9. Quintus Cloelius Alexius Parsakoutenos, 9th Duke of Mysia (1400-1459), son of the above
10. Gaius Cloelius Demetrius Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 10th Duke of Mysia (1430-1481) nephew of the above
11. Quintus Cloelius Manuel Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 11th Duke of Mysia (1457-1517) son of the above
12. Publius Cloelius Alexius Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 12th Duke of Mysia (1511-1570) grandson of the above
13. Quintus Cloelius Constantine Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 13th Duke of Mysia (1551-1619) grandson of the above
14. Publius Cloelius Demetrius Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 14th Duke of Mysia (1610-1665) grandson of the above
15. Quintus Cloelius Manuel Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 15th Duke of Mysia (1648-1698) son of the above
16. Publius Cloelius Demetrius Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 16th Duke of Mysia (1681-1740) son of the above
17. Gaius Cloelius Constantine Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 17th Duke of Mysia (1723-1810) son of the above
18. Nikephoros Cloelius George Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 18th Duke of Mysia (1784-1854) grandson of the above
19. Publius Cloelius Manuel Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 19th Duke of Mysia (1824-1880), nephew of the above.
20. Quintus Cloelius Alexander Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 20th Duke of Mysia (1858-1901) son of the above
21. Publius Cloelius Manuel Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 21st Duke of Mysia (1883-1945) son of above
22. Gaius Cloelius Henri Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 22nd Duke of Mysia (1933-2001) grandson of the above
23. Quintus Cloelius Michael Melissenos-Parsakoutenos, 23rd Duke of Mysia (1964-present) son of the above