«Тахиййат»: Сборник статей в честь Н. Н. Дьякова

m 68 n Dimitrios G. Letsios criticism colouring his narration, which possibly reflects personal sentiments. 1 The Emperor Justinian II for the time of discussion could claim serious success against Slavs and Bulgarians. His wide population transfer policy was related to his military activities and occasionally was motivated by religious and military considerations 2 . Even if the motives behind the population’ trans- fers seem to be more or less clear in the concrete cases, it is nonetheless worth mentioning that in some cases doctrinal issues have motivated similar transfers as well and the monophysite or heretic for the main stream doctrine population was equally suffering with the enemies 3 . To come back to the Mardaites’ transfer, Theophanes reports that 12000 people have been transferred from Lebanon to Armenia and they were later reported as skilful seafarers of the coastal region 4 . The part that remained at Lebanon seems to have been absorbed in the local Maronite community 5 . But the question for the reasons that emanated to their transfer and the Emperor’s motives for this movement remain. In addition to Ostrogorsky`s suggestion that the Mardaites occasionally cooperated with the Arabs against Byzantium, we must also take into consideration the fact that Justinian’s policy in the Arab frontier probably pursued some objectives which are revealed in the various concrete movements. It seems rather ill fated to suppose that the transfer of the Mardaites was an irrational weakening of the Syriac frontier as Theophanes asserts, at a time in which the Empire was at a dominating position towards its rival in the area. Especially the advance in Armenia, dated in the third year of Justinian’s reign (687/8 AD) is reported as an impressive success in Armenian sources 6 . A military campaign by ‘Abd al-Malik towards Kerkision is errone- ously presented by Theophanes as the immediate Arab reaction to the Byz- antine invasion in Armenia 7 . The fact that a peace agreement with the Arabs has been preferred instead of further decisive attack could be explained due to simultaneous military engagement with the Bulgarians in the west 8 . 1 Tinnenfeld (1971) 58f. 2 Ditten (1993) 158ff. 3 The motives that instigated these populations transfers are commented extensively by Ditten (1993) 138, 216–234, 308–317; cf. Lemerle (1973). 4 In a text published from a thirteenth century manuscript, which possibly copies information from earlier sources dated in the tenth century: Lampros (1912) 162–177. Cf. Dagron (1990) 145–146; Dimitroukas (1997) 512, 522; Avramea (2002) 81. 5 Hitti (1956) 205; Herrin (1987), 283; Moosa (1969), makes an effort to distinguish among Maronites, Mardaites and al-Jarājima. 6 Theophanes 363, 26–31; Stephanos of Taron 71f. Cf. ROTTER (1982) 178. 7 Theophanes 363. Possibly Theophanes confuses twoArab expeditions one against Kerki- sion and a second against Theopolis (Antakia). Cf. ROTTER (1982), 179. 8 Theophanes 364. Concerning the situation at the Arab front for the time in question cf. Lilie (1976) 102ff.; Rotter (1982) 174ff.