Megas Doux

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The megas doux Alexios Apokaukos (1341–1345), in his official costume.

The Megas Doux (Greek: μέγας δούξ) was one of the highest offices in the hierarchy of the Byzantine Empire . When the title is reproduced in Western European languages ​​with Latin script , forms such as Megaduke , Megaduque or Megadux are also used for this office . The Greek word δούξ comes from the Latin dux , which means “ army leader ”, also “ military governor ”. In medieval, feudal Western Europe it then served as a Latin rendering of the title " Duke " and assumed this meaning in medieval Latin and the Romance languages, cf. Duc (French), Duque (Spanish), Duke (English). In the Byzantine Empire, however, the word retained its original meaning. The German rendering of the title as Grand Duke is therefore misleading, because the office of Megas Doux has nothing to do with the title of Grand Duke , which has emerged in modern times and denotes a ruling sovereign monarch.

History and functions

The office was created shortly after 1085 by the Byzantine emperor Alexios I Komnenos , at that time as "doux" of the fleet (Greek: δούξ τοῦ στόλου). This happened in the course of the reform of the Byzantine fleet , whereby the remnants of the provincial fleets were combined with the central fleet in Constantinople. Around 1092 Alexios handed this office over to his brother-in-law Johannes Dukas and added a megas to the title . John now had the task of securing the Aegean Sea and the areas around the islands of Crete and Cyprus for the empire. The Megas Doux was also given authority over the provinces of Central Greece, the Peloponnese and Crete, which were mainly intended to supply the fleet with ships, crews and other needs. In practice, however, these areas continued to be administered by local governors, magnates or bishops, as the Megas Doux, as one of the most important dignitaries of the empire, was often charged with campaigns or other missions. During the 12th century the office was firmly in the hands of the Kontostephanos family. One of the family members, Andronikos Kontostephanos , became one of the most important holders of this title. He was jointly responsible for several military victories under the basileus Manuel I. Komnenos .

After the conquest of Constantinople in the Fourth Crusade and the establishment of the Latin Empire , the title in the successor state of the old Byzantine Empire, the Empire of Nikaia , became a kind of honorary title that Michael VIII Palaiologos , the ruler of this empire, reserved. After Constantinople returned to Byzantine ownership in 1261, the office was restored to its old functions and duties. Foreigners could also take office, such as Licario , who came from the Italian peninsula, who conquered several islands in the Aegean for Michael VIII, or Roger de Flor , the commander of the Catalan Company . In the middle of the 14th century, the Megas Doux was entrusted with other tasks that were previously in the care of other officials, and thus rose to the first minister of the empire. Alexios Apokaukos worked in this capacity for the basileus John V Palaiologos during the great civil war of 1341-1347 against John VI. Kantakouzenos . The last and perhaps best known Megas Doux was Loukas Notaras , who remained in office until the fall of Constantinople in 1453.

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