It was founded in 969 after the reconquest of Antioch by imperial troops and existed until December 1084, when Suleiman ibn Qutalmish (r. 1077–1086) of the Sultanate of Rum conquered the ducal capital.

In 989, Burtzes was again appointed as duke, a position he held until 995 when he was removed by continuous defeats in the face of the Arab onslaught,[5] especially at the Battle of the Orontes.

Alongside Basil, he carried out a series of military expeditions aimed at appeasing the province, while also assisting in the expansion of the imperial borders toward the Kingdom of the Iberians.

As an imperial representative, he acquired full powers of command of the troops stationed on the eastern frontier and, according to a seal of his, was appointed as "lord of the East.

[15] Parallel to the troubles in Antioch, Philaretos Brachamios revolted against the imperial authority and assumed the title of emperor upon the death of Romanos IV Diogenes (r. 1068–1071), who had been defeated at Manzikert by the Seljukids.