Establishement The exact date of the theme's establishment is unclear; a
strategos of Dyrrhachium is attested in the
Taktikon Uspensky of , but several seals of
strategoi dating from the previous decades survive.
J.B. Bury proposed its creation alongside the themes of the
Peloponnese and
Cephallenia in the early 9th century, with the historian
Jadran Ferluga putting the date of its establishment in the reign of Emperor
Nikephoros I (). Its boundaries are not very clear. To the north, it abutted the
Theme of Dalmatia and the
Serbian principality of
Duklja, and the
Theme of Nicopolis to the south. The theme covered the coast in between, but how far inland it extended is uncertain: according to
Konstantin Jireček, it reached as far as Drivast (modern
Drisht) and
Pulati in the north, and Bellegrada (modern
Berat) in the centre, and bordered the lands of the Upper
Devoll and
Ohrid in the south. During the
Byzantine–Bulgarian wars of the late 10th and early 11th centuries, the city seems to have been autonomous or at times under
Bulgarian suzerainty.
11th to 12th century From the mid-11th century on, its governor held the title of
doux or
katepano. In 1040–1041, the troops of the theme, under their leader
Tihomir, rebelled and joined the revolt of
Peter Delyan. During the late 11th and the 12th centuries, the city of Dyrrhachium and its province were of great importance to the Byzantine Empire. The city was the main point of entry for trade but also for invaders from Italy, and was ideally placed to control the actions of the
Slavic rulers of the
western Balkans. Thus the
doux of Dyrrhachium became the senior-most Byzantine authority throughout the western
Balkan provinces. Two successive governors,
Nikephoros Bryennios the Elder and
Nikephoros Basilakes, used this post as a launchpad for their imperial ambitions in the late 1070s. The region also played a crucial role in the
Byzantine–Norman Wars, being
occupied by the
Normans in 1081–1084. After its recovery, Emperor
Alexios I Komnenos entrusted the command of the theme to some of his closest relatives. Around 1190, the
Principality of Arbanon, centered in
Krujë, was ruled by
Progon, followed by his sons,
Gjin and
Dhimitër. Although it was virtually self-governing, the principality also remained dependent on the Byzantine Empire, as indicated by Progon’s title of
archon. Due to its predominantly
Albanian ethnic character, the theme was referred to in the
Partitio Romaniae as
provintia Dirrachii et Arbani, highlighting two main centers of Albanian settlement within the empire:
Arbanon-Raban and
Devol. Other areas within or in close proximity of the theme, such as the coastal regions of Epirus, were also largely inhabited by Albanians. In addition, Albanians were the principal inhabitants of the mountainous regions above the eastern shore of
Lake Shkodër, while the central regions of what is now modern Albania around the Devol river, were also predominantly inhabited by Albanians. Likewise, the region of ancient
Dardania (modern
Kosovo), accessible via the
Drin river system, had strong Albanian presence during this period. According to the same
Partitio Romaniae, the regions of
Vagenetia and
Glavinitsa, designated as
chartoularaton, were also part of the province of Dyrrhachium.
Sack of Constantinople and dissolution of the theme The city magnates (
archontes) retained considerable influence and autonomy of action throughout, and it was they who in 1205, after the
sack of
Constantinople by the
Fourth Crusade, surrendered the city to the
Republic of Venice. Between July and August, the Venetian expedition en route to Constantinople, intended to install Doge Tommaso Morosini as Patriarch, took this opportunity and
seized Dyrrachium. In addition to acquiring the dependencies of the city, Venice also gained control over other territories formerly part of the theme, specifically the regions of Glavinitsa and Vagenetia. However, the Venetians showed limited interest in maintaining control over these two territories, and by the end of the same year, they had fallen under the authority of the newly-established
Despotate of Epirus, then ruled by
Michael I Komnenos Doukas. Arbanon, facing difficulties in the aftermath of Constantinople’s fall, chose to align itself with the Orthodox world and accepted suzerainty under Epirus, while at the same time preserving an alliance with
Serbia. Under the rule of Dhimitër, Arbanon regarded Venice as its primarily threat. ==Religion==