Katepanikion Explained
A katepanikion (Greek, Modern (1453-);: κατεπανίκιον) was a Byzantine term for an area under the control of a katepano. It was used to describe two different types of administrative divisions:
- From ca. 971 until the late 11th century, it referred to large circumscriptions comprising several themes and commanded by a doux ("duke") or katepano ("catepan"). In English, the divisions are usually termed "duchy" (in Greek doukaton) or "catepanate" (katepanikion).
- In the Palaiologan period, the katepanikion became a much smaller province comprising a fortified town and its surroundings or an island, under a kephale and also termed a kephalatikion.
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