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 Wuzurgan (grandee of the empire), allowing them a hereditary seat in the Senate, by virtue of their descent from the Mesogeian line of the gens Sulpicia.
The family's ancestral seat is Charsianon Castle, but the family reside in the Villa Argyroupoli.
The family like the majority of the Greek speaking nobility in Mesogeia, makes uses of the noble particle Tou and Apo in their surname. Their official surname is Tou Argyrou apo ta Soulpikia, which is usually rendered as just Argyros.
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
|