Offices and titles in the Byzantine Empire

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The Byzantine Empire had a complex aristocratic and bureaucratic system, but many offices and titles were only honorary, as the emperor was ultimately the sole ruler. In the more than thousand year history of the empire a number of titles have been accepted or discarded, many gained or lost in prestige. Initially, the Byzantine titles were the same as in the late Roman Empire , as Byzantium had its roots in late Roman antiquity . This changed in the time of the emperor Herakleios (reigned 610–641); at that time many of these titles had become superfluous due to the internal and external crisis of the late Roman state. The structure of the state changed fundamentally from the 7th century , and in the time of Emperor Alexios I (ruled 1081–1118) most positions were newly created or drastically changed, but remained basically the same until the fall of Constantinople in that year 1453 . Some of the titles were taken over by the neighboring Bulgarians and Serbs.

The work of Philotheos provides important information for the Middle Byzantine period .

Aristocratic title

Higher aristocratic titles

  • βασιλεύς Basileus - the Greek word for king already in Mycenaean times (see main article Basileus ), referred to every king in the Greek-speaking countries of the Roman Empire, for example Herod the Great in Judea . The term was also applied to the rulers of Persia . Emperor Herakleios used it in 629 to replace the old Latin title Augustus (Greek σεβαστός Sebastos ) or Imperator - it then became the Greek word for emperor - also the titles αυτοκράτωρ Autokrator (autocrat) and κύριος Kyrios (lord). Under the Christian rulers, the Byzantines applied the word basileus exclusively to the emperor in Constantinople and designated the western European kings with ρηγας Rigas , a Hellenized form of the Latin word Rex (king). Emperors who wanted to emphasize the legitimacy of their accession to the throne appended the title πορφυρογέννητος Porphyrogennetos ( born in purple ) to their names to indicate that they were born in the delivery room of the imperial palace, which was called Porphyra because of its purple marble paneling . The feminine form βασιλισσα Basilissa refers to the empress, who was called ευσεβεστατη αυγουστα Eusebestati Augousta (most pious Augusta), Κύρια Kyria (mistress) or δέσποινα Despoina (the feminine form of despotes , see below). βασιλεοπάτωρ Basileopator was the honorary title of the (not necessarily bodily) "father" of an emperor. The first base opator was Zautzes, a nobleman at the time of Emperor Leo VI. (ruled 886-912); Romanos I. Lekapenos used the term for himself when he was regent for Constantine VII .
  • δεσπότης Despotes - The title despot was created by Manuel I. Komnenos (ruled 1143–1180) as the highest title after that of the emperor. A despot could be the owner of a despotism, but from 1261 it was also the title of heir to the throne, who was also the ruler of the despotate Morea . The feminine form δέσποινα Despoina denotes a female despot or the wife of a despot.

  • σεβαστοκράτωρ Sebastokrator - The “Venerable Regent” was a title that was created by Alexios I as a combination of autocrator and Sebastos . The first Sebastokrator was Alexios' brother Isaac; the title was empty of content and merely indicated the close relationship to the emperor. The feminine form was σεβαστοκράτωρισσα Sebastokratorissa .
  • Καῖσαρ Kaisar - Caesar was the title of subordinate co-emperor and obvious heir since the late principate and well into late antiquity . When Alexios I invented the sebastocrator , Kaisar fell back to the third position, and then even to the fourth when Manuel I created the despot . The feminine form was Καῖσαρισσα Kaisarissa .
  • From late antiquity to the 11th century, νωβελίσσιμος Nobelissimos - Nobilissimus was the title of a member of the imperial family directly subordinate to the heir to the throne or the direct preliminary stage to the elevation to Caesar . The feminine form was νωβελίσσιμα Nobelissima .
  • πανυπερσέβαστος Panhypersebastos and πρωτοσέβαστος Protosebastos - developed from Sebastos : Alexios and later emperors created a large number of titles by adding Pan ("All"), Hyper ("Over"), Proto ("First") and other prefixes to the actual titles added.

Despotes , Sebastokrator , Kaisar , Panhypersebastos, and Protosebastos were usually titles reserved for members of the imperial family. They visually differed from each other by different clothes and crowns. These titles could also be given to strangers. The first despot was Béla III. of Hungary (ruled 1172–1196), which should only make it clear that Hungary was considered a Byzantine vassal . The first foreigner who was called Sebastokrator was Stefan Nemanjić of Serbia (ruled 1196-1227), who received the title in 1191 . Justinian II (ruled 685–695 and 705–711) called Terwel , Khan of the Bulgarians (ruled around 700–720), 705 Kaisar , which became tsar in the Slavic languages . Andronikos II. (Ruled 1282-1328) named Roger de Flor , the leader of the Catalan Company , also Kaisar in 1304 . Protosebastus was bestowed on Enrico Dandolo , the future Doge of Venice , before he was involved in the Fourth Crusade .

In the later centuries of the empire, Byzantine emperors were also referred to as χρονοκράτωρ Chronocrator and κοσμοκράτωρ Cosmocrator , literally “Regent of Time” and “Regent of the World”.

Low aristocratic titles

  • σεβαστός Sebastos - "Majesty", a title that was originally equivalent to Augustus or Augoustos and was worn by the emperors. Under Alexios I, it became less important after the creation of Protosebastus . The feminine form was Sebaste .
  • πανσεβαστόὑπέρτατος Pansebastohypertatos , πᾶνοἶκειοτατοσ Panoikeiotatos and πρωτοπροεδροσ Protoproedros are examples of the extension of titles by adding prefixes. These titles wore members of the imperial family from Alexios I and only indicated the close relationship to the emperor without any real power.
  • πρωτοβεστιάριος Protovestiarios - usually a minor member of the emperor who took care of the emperor's personal wardrobe, especially on campaigns. He was sometimes responsible for the other members of the imperial household, as well as the emperor's personal finances. The older term with the same content from the time of Justinian I (ruled 527-565) was Curopalata (or κουροπαλάτης Kuropalates in Greek), derived from κουράτωρ Kourator (Curator), the official responsible for finances. The vestiarios was a subordinate official. The Protovestiaria and Vestiaria existed in the same way for the Empress.

The Byzantines also had aristocratic titles for the lesser members of the imperial family and the lower nobility, which they derived from Latin terms and which became common in Western Europe, coming from the same source: πρίγκηψ Prinkeps (Prince, Principe - Fürst ), δούξ doux ( Duc, Duca, Duke - Herzog ) and κόμης komes (Comte, Conte, Count - Graf ). There were also titles such as κλεισουράρχη Kleisourarka , ἀπόκομεσ Apokomes and Ἀκρίτα Akrita , which corresponds in something to the margrave (marquis), vice count ( viscount ) and baron (baron).

Various lower nobility wore in the imperial residence titles such παρακοιμώμενος Parakoimomenos (a bodyguard), πᾶνκερνες Pankernes (a cupbearer) and μέγας κονόσταυλος Megas konostaulos ( "Big constable") used for the imperial stables was responsible.

Military titles

army

  • δομέστικος Domestikos - numerous high military (such as the respective commanders of the Tagmata ), civil and also ecclesiastical dignitaries were referred to as domestikoi , including:
    • μέγας δομέστικος Megas domestikos - the commander in chief of the army (since the Comnen time).
    • δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν Domestikos ton scholon - the commander of the Tagma der Scholai, a powerful elite association, has been documented since the 8th century. Since the late 10th century two domestikoi have been appointed, one for the west and another for the east of the empire, one of which later rose to become Megas domestikos . A respected title with great power.
  • κουροπαλάτης Kuropalates - Was one of the highest titles given to relatives of the emperor and foreign princes
  • στρατηγός Strategos - general "General", in the period from around 650 the military commander of a subject which since the late 10th century also bore the title doux .
  • πρωτοσπαθάριος Protospatharios (Greek: first sword-bearer ) - initially the commander of the imperial guard troops of the spatharioi , later a title
  • πρωτοστράτωρ protostrator - initially head of the imperial grooms, later a name for the army commander.
  • στρατοπεδάρχης Stratopedarches - an army commander in the field who may also have had legal powers.
  • πρωτοκένταρχος Protokentarchos and κένταρχος Kentarchos - commanders of small army units in the field. The name is derived from the Latin centurion .
  • μεράρχης Merarches - a commander of the cavalry .
  • σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος Spatharokandidatos - officer of the Imperial Varangian Guard , later a title
  • μαγλαβίτης Manglabites - imperial Varangian guardsman , charged with guarding the palace. Well-known bearer of this title was the Viking and later King Harald Hardråde .

marine

  • μέγας δούξ Megas doux - supreme commander of the Byzantine Navy since the Comnen times . He was probably one of the few who knew the secret of the Greek fire . At the end of the reign of the paleologists , he was the head of government and administration.
    • μέγας δρουγγάριος ( τοῦ στόλου ) Megas drungarios ( tou stolou ) - a subordinate of the Megas doux , who was responsible for the naval officers.
    • δρουγγάριος Drungarios - a lower officer rank in the Navy. A higher Drungarios was the Drungarokomes .
  • κατεπάνω Katepano - from the 10th century the commander of a nautical theme.

Other military titles

  • κονόσταυλος Konostaulos - the Greek form of the constable, the commander of the Frankish mercenaries
  • ἑταιρειάρχης Hetairiarch - the commander of the barbarian mercenaries
  • ἀκόλουθος Akolouthos - the commander of the Varangian Guard
  • σπαθαροκανδιδᾶτος Spatharokandidatos and μαγλαβίτης Manglabites - further titles with the Varangian Guard

Administrative title

The extensive Byzantine bureaucracy produced many titles which also varied more than aristocratic or military ones. There were hundreds if not thousands of them in Constantinople at any given time. Here are the most important:

  • πρωτασηκρῆτις Protasekretis - an early title of the head of the chancellery who was responsible for the government files . The Asecretai were his subordinates. Other employees of the Chancellor were the Chartoularios (who was responsible for the imperial documents) and the Eidikos (an official of the State Treasury).
  • Praetorian prefect - an old Roman title which initially referred to the head of the Praetorian Guard, from 312 - after his military disempowerment - the highest official of the prefectures. The title was abolished when the Byzantine Empire was reorganized into subjects.
  • λογοθέτης Logothetes - a secretary within the bureaucracy, responsible for various tasks depending on the exact description. The Logothetai were among the most important bureaucrats. They include:
    • μέγας λογοθέτης Megas logothetes (before λογοθέτης τῶν σεκρέτων logothetes ton sekreton , then μεσάζων Mesazon ) - the head of the Logothetai , who was personally responsible for the legal system and the state treasury, comparable to a chancellor .
    • λογοθέτης τοῦ δρόμου Logothetes tou dromou - the head of diplomacy and the post .
    • λογοθέτης τῶν οἰκιακῶν Logothetes ton oikeiakon - responsible for internal affairs, such as the security of the capital and the local economy.
    • λογοθέτης τοῦ γενικοῦ Logothetes tou genikou - responsible for tax collection.
    • λογοθέτης τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ Logothetes tou stratiotikou - a civilian who organized the pay of the army.

The Logothetai initially influenced the emperor, but soon became honorary holders. In the late empire, the Megas logothetes became the Mesazon (literally "middle man", now a "manager").

Other offices in the administration are:

  • ἄρχων Archon - Archon was an official title throughout the Byzantine period, but its meaning and competencies varied widely. In general, archons were named among other things as the owner of certain secular and ecclesiastical administrative posts, high dignitaries and governors.
  • Prefect - a lower office in Constantinople in the municipal authority.
  • Quaestor - originally a legal clerk or tax clerk wholost his powerwith the introduction of thelogothetes.
  • Tribounos - corresponds to the Roman tribune ; he was responsible for the condition of the streets, monuments and buildings in Constantinople.
  • Magister ( Magister officiorum , Magister militum , "Maistor" in Greek) - an old Roman term used in administration and the army; at the time of the emperor Herakleios these titles were honorary and probably even abolished.
  • σακελλάριος Sakellarios - under Herakleios a voluntary overseer over the other officials of the palace, Logothetes etc.
  • Praetor - originally a tax officer in Constantinople, after Alexios the civil governor of a subject.
  • κεφαλή Kephale - "head", the civil governor of a Byzantine city
  • Horeiarios - responsible for distributing the grain from the state granaries.

The Protoasekretes , Logothetes , Prefect, Praetor, Quaestor, Magister and Sakellarios , they were all members of the Byzantine Senate until this - after Herakleios - faded into the background more and more in the empire.

swell

literature

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