With regard to the thema of Chaldia (the eighth in Asia Minor), it is to be noted that this originally extended as far as Colonia, Kamak and Keltzene, but in the time of Leo the Wise the two last districts were added to the thema of New-Mesopotamia. We know that the archons and dukes of Chaldia in the 11th century, seeking little by little to free themselves from Byzantine rule, began to call themselves dukes of Trapezus and their country Trapezousia. One in particular, Theodore Gabras, from a noble family in Trapezus, and most skillful in war, saved Trapezus and the surrounding country from two invasions, one by the Seljuk-Turks in 1049 and the other under David, the king of Georgia. He, therefore, regarded the country as his own private possession and held it up to his death, as a prince, independent of Byzantium. Of these Gabrades dukes of Trapezus, Theodore’s son Gregory and his grandson Constantine Gabras are known to us. In the time of the former Trapezus was again made dependent on Byzantium, but in the time of the latter, since the dukes had offered important services to the Byzantine Empire, it gained its independence again and held it till Manuel I (Comnenos) 1143-1180, succeeded in attaching it to his realm by taking advantage of a faction that had risen there against the Gabras family, and from that time on Trapezus continued to be dependent on Byzantium until its capture by the Latins, because at that time the Trapezuntian Empire of the Comneni was established. From the foundation of this new empire until its fall through the capture of Trapezus by the Turks, that is from 1204-1461, the following rulers occupied the throne: (1) ALEXIOS I., the great Comnenos, the son of Manuel, Sebastocrator and the founder of the Trapezuntian Empire 1204-1222 (2) ANDRONIKUS I. Ghidus, son-in-law of the preceding 1222-1235 (3) JOHN I. Axouchus 1235-1238 (4) MANUEL I., the great Comnenos, who built the beautiful church of St. Sophia in Trapezus (still existent) 1238-1263 (5) ANDRONIKUS II., oldest son of the preceding 1263-1266 (6) GEORGE I., brother of the preceding 1266-1280 (7) JOHN II., brother of George I. 1280-1297 (8) THEODORA 1285 (9) ALEXIOS II., the great Comnenos 1297-1330 (10) ANDRONIKUS III., oldest son of Alexios II. 1330-1332 (11) MANUEL II. 1332 (12) BASIL 1332-1340 (13) IRENE, Palæologina 1340-1341 (14) ANNA, Comnenos 1341-1342 (15) JOHN III., Comnenos 1342-1344