Gregoras Nicephorus

Gregoras, Nicephorus (1290 or 1291 – 1360) was a Byzantine historian, political and ecclesiastical figure.

His main work, “Roman History”, covers events from 1204 to 1359. From the perspective of Georgian history, particularly important are the accounts concerning the Kings of Trebizond: Alexios I (1204–1222), John II (1280–1298), and Basil I (1333–1340) of the Komnenos dynasty, as well as information about various political factions in Trebizond during their reigns and the relationships between Trebizond and Byzantium.

Gregoras refers to the rulers of Trebizond as “rulers of the land of the Colchians”, “owners of the lands of the Colchians and the Laz”, or simply as “the Laz”. This fact is significant for understanding the ethnic and ethno-political situation of the Kingdom of Trebizond.

Sources: გეორგიკა. ბიზანტიელი მწერლების ცნობები საქართველოს შესახებ, ს. ყაუხჩიშვილის გამოც., ტ. 7, თბ., 1967.

N. Lomouri