Themata (Yunanca θέματα) imparatorluğun idari bölümleridir, her birinin bir general (Yunanca στρατηγός, strategos) hem idari hem de askeri başıydı, bir hakim (Κριτής του Θέματος, Krites tou thematos) ise adli gücü elinde tutardı.
İmparator II. İoannis şanlı generalliği ile nam salmış ve birçok başarılı kuşatmayı yürütmüştür. Onun liderliğinde Bizans ordusu çevre bölgeleri Türklerden geri aldı.
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