1. Administration

The Early Byzantine province of Cappadocia II was the western part of the Early Byzantine province of Cappadocia, in central Asia Minor, and was part of the diocese of Pontica. It was established by Valens (364-378) in 371, with Tyana as its political and ecclesiastical metropolis and was initially under the jurisdiction of a praeses.

Cappadocia II to the east bordered the province of Cappadocia I, to the south the province of Cilicia I of the diocese of Oriens and to the west the province of Lykaonia of the diocese of Asiana. To the north the province bordered the provinces of the diocese of Pontica, Galatia I and Galatia II/ Salutaris.

In the early years of Justinian I’s reign, Cappadocia II was governed by a consularis. Between 535 and 553 the provinces of Cappadocia I and Cappadocia II were united and their administration was assigned to a proconsul.¹ At the same time measures were taken in the unified Cappadocia to restrict the outrageous and largely uncontrollable activity of influential figures who employed private armies defending the interests of the landowners against the welfare of the small landowners of the countryside.² The province of Cappadocia II was annexed to the theme of Anatolikon after 669.

2. Cities

Hierokles’ Synekdemos, a source of the first quarter of the 6^th century, records eight cities in Cappadocia II, including regionMokissos, which was subsequently fortified by Justinian I (527-565), when the latter strengthened the defence of the area; Nazianzos, the birthplace of the prominent hierarch Gregory (of Nazianzos), and Kybistra, near the volcanic valley of Soandos, where throughout the Byzantine period the rock-cut monasteries and troglodytic settlements provided accommodation for monks and farmers respectively.

According to the notitie episcopatuum of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the metropolis Tyana was responsible for the operation of the three bishoprics based in Cappadocia II. Justinian I (527-565) promoted Mokissos to a metropolis with jurisdiction over four bishoprics, among which first ranks Nazianzos.

3. History

The lands of the province were raided by Tzans, Huns and the unsuccessful revolted Isaurians in the 5^th century, and by the Persians in the 6^th century. The big cities of the province were fortified by Anastasios I (491-518). The Arabs raided the entire Cappadocia regularly from the 740s onwards.