Tzanichites


The Tzanichites were an aristocratic family of Laz origin, from Tzanicha, central Chaldia region of Pontus. According to the historian Anthony Bryer, after 1355 the Tzanichites took the positions that the Kabazites family had occupied in the Trebizond Empire; that of doukes of Chaldia. The most famous of the Tzanichites were: Theodore, John, Sevastos, Stephen, Michael and two Constantines.

Notable members

Bryer states that at Tzanicha exists the remains of an old castle and two chapels. The castle is located on an elongated expanse of land 2 km northwest of modern Gümüşhane, and 400m above the south bank of the Kanis river. Both chapels contain paintings or inscriptions of Christian figures of the church.