Duke of Karkisa and Aeolis

Duke of Aeolis is a title in the Peerage of Mesogeian nobility. The present title was originally granted to the Parsakoutenos family in 1135 by Emperor Manuel II. The title later passed to the eldest son of the Melissenos family who married the only daughter of the last Duke of Aeolis. The title refers to the theme of Aeolis in Anatolia. The holder of the title is a Wuzurgan (grandee of the empire), a position that affords them a hereditary seat in the Senate.

The current holder of the title is one of the most awarded peers in the empire, with 39 titles, consisting of 5 dukedoms, 8 Marquessates, 10 counties, 4 Viscounties, and 12 lordships

The family seat is Parsakoutenos Hall. Subsidiary titles of the Duke of Aeolis are

• Duke of Pergamon,
• Duke of Adramytteion,
• Duke of Issa,
• Duke of Hellespontia,
• Marquess of Mytilene
• Marquess of Mithymna
• Marquess of Teuthrania
• Marquess of Halisarna
• Marquess of Gambrion
• Marquess of Palaigambrion
• Marquess of Myrina
• Marquess of Gryneia
• Count of Perperene
• Count of Didymateiche
• Count of Cisthene
• Count of Thyateira
• Count of Attea
• Count of Astyron
• Count of Parthaneion
• Count of Pedasa
• Count of Pioniai
• Count of Kerateis
• Viscount of Agiasos
• Viscount of Chryse
• Viscount of Cilla
• Viscount of Antissa
• Lord of Polmari
• Lord of Eresos
• Lord of Anemotia
• Lord of Kalloni
• Lord of Panagiouda
• Lord of Palaiochorion
• Lord Evergetoulas
• Lord of Vrisa
• Lord of Mantamados
• Lord Vatera
• Lord of Chidira,
• Lord of Sigri

History

The title of Duke of Aeolia 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 Mesogeian empire 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 and invaders to the north, and east of the empire.

While the Parsakoutenos and Melissenos families were native to Mesogeia they adopted many of the practices of the western 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, which was translated into tou. The Melissenos family along with their counterparts adopted its use. Presently the family of the Duke of Aeolis bear the surname Tou Melissenos Apo Parsakoute or less commonly as Tou Melissenos Apo Parsakoutenos, which means: of the Melisenoi from Parsakoute For the sake of space in correspondence the family surname is usually hyphenated as Melissenos-Parsakoutenos.

Titleholders

Duke of Aeolis (1135)

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