During the
Roman Empire, the
Ionian Islands (
Corfu,
Cephalonia,
Zakynthos,
Ithaca,
Leucas and
Cythera) were variously part of the
provinces of
Achaea and
Epirus vetus. Except for Cythera, these formed the separate theme of Cephallenia. The islands remained largely unaffected by the
Slavic invasion and settlement of the 7th century, and formed a base for the re-establishment of imperial control and the re-
Hellenization of the mainland coast. It is unknown when exactly the theme of Cephallenia was established. Emperor
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) affirms in his work,
De administrando imperio, that it was originally a
tourma (a division) of the theme of
Longobardia in
Southern Italy, and that it was raised to a
strategis (a "generalship"), but not a full theme, by Emperor
Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912). This is, however, clearly an error, for several instances of generals (
strategoi) of Cephallenia are known through sources before that date. Thus, the
Taktikon Uspensky of 842/843 clearly mentions a
strategos of Cephallenia, and the
Latin chronicle
Annales regni Francorum mentions one already in 809. A number of seals further push the establishment of the circumscription of Cephallenia, at least as a
strategis if not as a theme, back to the middle or late 8th century. from the imperial treasury, but was paid from his theme's tax revenue. Cephallenia was important chiefly in a maritime context, and had its own fleet, including a number of
Mardaites as
marines and rowers, under a
tourmarches. Finally, Corfu and the rest of the theme except for Leucas were captured by the
Normans under
William II of Sicily in 1185. Although Corfu was recovered by the Byzantines by 1191, the other islands henceforth remained lost to Byzantium, and formed a
County palatine of Cephalonia and Zakynthos under William's
Greek admiral
Margaritus of Brindisi. ==References==