Optimatoi, Theme of
Years: 740 - 1204
The Optimatoi (from Latin: Optimates, "the Best Men") were initially formed as an elite East Roman (Byzantine) military unit.
In the mid-eighth century, however, they are downgraded to a supply and logistics corps and assigned a province (thema) in northwestern Asia Minor, which is named after them.
As an administrative unit, the Theme of the Optimatoi survives until the Ottoman conquest in the first decades of the fourteenth century.
