Duke of Charsianon

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Duke of Charsianon is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Mesogeian nobility. The present title was granted to the Argyros family in 1120 by Emperor Manuel II. The title refers to the fortress of Charsianon and the surrounding district of the same name in Cappadocia located in central Anatolia. The holder of the title is afforded the rank of a Patrician in the first class, allowing them a hereditary seat in the Senate, by virtue of their descent from the senior line of the gens Sulpicia.

The family's ancestral seat is Charsianon Castle, but the family reside in the Villa Argyroupoli.


History

The Argyros family was first attested in the 9th century during the reign of Romanos I residing in the theme of Pontus. By the 11th century they already possessed large estates spread across the plains of Cappadocia most notably in the area around the fortress of Charsianon. It is believed that the fortress of Charsianon gave its name to the district of the same name. Family legend claims that the original Argyroi were in possession of several silver mines in the Pontian mountains.

Titleholders

From To Duke of Charsianon Notes
1120 1165 Leo Argyros, 1st Duke of Charsianon (1102-1165) the inagural holder of the ducal title
1165 1179 Demetrius Argyros, 2nd Duke of Charsianon (1144-1179)
1179 1237 Basil Argyros, 3rd Duke of Charsianon (1161-1237)
1237 1269 Constantine Argyros, 4th Duke of Charsianon (1219-1237) grandson of predecessor
1269 1314 Basil Argyros, 5th Duke of Charsianon (1269-1314) born mere weeks before his father's death
1314 1344 Demetrius Argyros, 6th Duke of Charsianon (1309-1344)
1344 1377 Leo Argyros, 7th Duke of Charsianon (1311-1377) brother of predecessor
1377 1408 Heraclius Argyros, 8th Duke of Charsianon (1359-1408)
1408 1457 Leo Argyros, 9th Duke of Charsianon (1389-1457)
1457 1507 John Argyros, 10th Duke of Charsianon (1442-1507) grandson of predecessor
1507 1544 Leo Argyros, 11th Duke of Charsianon (1498-1544) grandson of predecessor
1544 1575 Heraclius Argyros, 12th Duke of Charsianon (1530-1575)
1575 1617 Heraclius Argyros, 13th Duke of Charsianon (1555-1617)
1617 1633 Heraclius Argyros, 14th Duke of Charsianon (1593-1633) powerful figure at court during the reign of Manuel VII
1633 1683 Heraclius Argyros, 15th Duke of Charsianon (1623-1683)
1683 1711 Andreas Argyros, 16th Duke of Charsianon (1650-1711) cousin of predecessor
1711 1728 Manuel Argyros, 17th Duke of Charsianon (1674-1728)
1728 1776 Andreas Argyros, 18th Duke of Charsianon (1712-1776)
1776 1816 Leo Argyros, 19th Duke of Charsianon (1742-1816)
1816 1866 Leo Argyros, 20th Duke of Charsianon (1801-1866)
1866 1867 Leo Argyros, 21st Duke of Charsianon (1836-1867)
1867 1922 Stavros Argyros, 22nd Duke of Charsianon (1853-1922)
1922 1930 Leo Argyros, 22nd Duke of Charsianon (1880-1930)
1930 2001 Leo Argyros, 23rd Duke of Charsianon (1926-2001)
2001 incumbent Leo Manuel Argyros, 24th Duke of Charsianon (1992-present) grandson of predecessor; current incumbent