byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy

5/21/2018 Byzantine Aristocracy and Bureaucracy

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Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy 1

Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy

Painting of Emperor Basil II in triumphal garb,

exemplifying the Imperial Crown handed down by

Angels.

The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and

bureaucracy, which was inherited from the Roman Empire. At the

apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler (autokrator) and

divinely ordained, but beneath him a multitude of officials and

court functionaries operated the administrative machinery of the

Byzantine state. In addition, a large number of honorific titles

existed, which the Emperor awarded to his subjects or to friendly

foreign rulers.

Over the more than 1000 years of the Empire's existence, different

titles were adopted and discarded, and many lost or gained

prestige. At first the various titles of the Empire were the same as

those in the late Roman Empire. By the time of Heraclius in the

7th century many of the titles had become obsolete; by the time ofAlexius I, many of the positions were either new or drastically

changed, but they remained basically the same from Alexius' reign

to the fall of the Empire in 1453.

Background history

In the early Byzantine period (4th to early 7th century) the system of government followed the model established in

late Roman times under Diocletian and Constantine the Great, with a strict separation between civil and military

offices and a scale of titles corresponding to office, where membership or not in the Senate was the major

distinguishing characteristic.[1] Following the transformation of the Byzantine state during the 7th century onaccount of massive territorial loss to the Muslim conquests, this system vanished, and during the "classic" or middle

period of the Byzantine state (8th-late 11th centuries), a new, court-centered system emerged. In this, the new titles

derived from older, now obsolete, public offices, and dignities of a certain level were awarded with each office. A

senatorial class remained in place, which incorporated a large part of the upper officialdom as every official from the

rank of protospatharios (Literally "first sword-bearer;" originally the head of the Emperor's bodyguards) was

considered a member of it. During this period, many families remained important for several centuries, and several

Emperors rose from the aristocracy. Two groups can be distinguished: a metropolitan civil nobility and a provincial

military one, the latter remaining regionally based and having large land-holdings, but apparently no military forces

of their own, in contrast to contemporary Western Europe.

The 10th and 11th centuries saw a rise in importance of the aristocracy, and an increased number of new families

entering it. The catastrophic losses in the latter 11th century again prompted a reorganization of the imperial

administrative system, at the hands of the new Komnenos dynasty: the older offices and titles fell gradually into

disuse, while an array of new honorifics emerged, which signified primarily the closeness of their recipient's familial

relationship to the Emperor. The Komnenian-led Empire, and later their Palaiologan successors, were based

primarily on the landed aristocracy, keeping the governance of state tightly controlled by a limited number of

intermarrying aristocratic families. In the 11th and 12th century for instance, some 80 civil and 64 military noble

families have been identified, a very small number for so large a state.[2] Finally, in the Palaiologan system as

reported by pseudo-Kodinos one can discern the accumulated nomenclature of centuries, with formerly high ranks

having been devalued and others taken their place, and the old distinction between office and dignity had vanished.
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Imperial titles

These were the highest titles, usually limited to members of the imperial family or to a few very select foreign rulers,

whose friendship the Emperor desired.

Titles used by the emperors

The back of this coin by Manuel I Comnenus

bears his title,porphyrogennetos.

Basileus (): the Greek word for "sovereign" which

originally referred to any king in the Greek-speaking areas of the

Roman Empire. It also referred to the Emperors of Persia. Heraclius

adopted it to replace the old Latin title of Augustus (Greek form

Augoustos) in 629, and it became the Greek word for "emperor."

Heraclius also used the titles autokrator (

"autocrat," "self-ruler") and kyrios ( "lord"). The

Byzantines reserved the term "basileus" among Christian rulers

exclusively for the emperor in Constantinople, and referred to

Western European kings as rgas, a Hellenized form of the Latin word rex ("king"). The feminine form basilissareferred to an empress. Empresses were addressed as eusebestat avgousta ("Most Pious Augusta"), and were also

called kyria ("Lady") or despoina (the female form of "despotes", see below). Primogeniture, or indeed heredity

itself, was never legally established in Byzantine imperial succession, because in principle the Roman Emperor

was selected by common acclamation of the Senate, the People and the Army. This was rooted firmly in the

Roman "republican" tradition, whereby hereditary kingship was rejected and the Emperor was nominally the

convergence of several offices of the Republic onto one person.Wikipedia:Citation needed Many emperors,

anxious to safeguard their firstborn son's right to the throne, had them crowned as co-emperors when they were

still children, thus assuring that upon their own death the throne would not be even momentarily vacant. In such a

case the need for an imperial selection never arose. In several cases the new Emperor ascended the throne after

marrying the previous Emperor's widow, or indeed after forcing the previous Emperor to abdicate and become amonk. Several emperors were also deposed because of perceived inadequacy, e.g., after a military defeat, and

some were murdered.

Porphyrogenntos () "born in the purple": Emperors wanting to emphasize the legitimacy

of their ascent to the throne appended this title to their names, meaning they were born in the delivery room of the

imperial palace (called thePorphyra because it was paneled with slabs of purple marble), to a reigning emperor,

and were therefore legitimate beyond any claim to the contrary whatsoever.

Autokratr () "self-ruler": this title was originally equivalent to imperator, and was used by the

emperors.
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Titles used by the imperial family

Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos with his family: empress Helena

Draga (right), and three of their sons, John, Andronikos and

Theodore. John, as his father's heir and co-emperor, wears an exact

replica of his imperial costume.

Despots () "Lord": This title was used

by the emperors themselves since the time of

Justinian I, and was an honorific address for the sons

of reigning emperors. It was extensively featured in

coins, in lieu ofBasileus. In the 12th century,Manuel I Komnenos made it a separate title, the

highest "awarded" title after the emperor. The first

such despots was actually a foreigner, Bela III of

Hungary, signifying that Hungary was considered a

Byzantine tributary state. In later times, a despot

could be the holder of a despotate; for example, the

Despotate of Morea, centred at Mistra, was held by

the heir to the Byzantine throne after 1261. The

feminine form, despoina, referred to a female despot

or the wife of a despot, but it was also used toaddress the Empress.

Sebastokratr () "Venerable

Ruler": a title created by Alexios I Komnenos as a

combination of autokratr and sebastos (see below).

The first sebastokratr was Alexios' brother

Isaakios. It was essentially a meaningless title,

which signified only a close relationship with the

Emperor, but ranked immediately after the despots.

The feminine form was sebastokratorissa. The firstforeigner to be called sebastokratr was Stefan

Nemanja of Serbia, who was given the title in 1161. A Bulgarian aristocrat by the name Kaloyan also used the

title.

Kaisar () "Caesar": originally, as in the late Roman Empire, it was used for a subordinate co-emperor or

the heir apparent, and was first among the "awarded" dignities. The office enjoyed extensive privileges, great

prestige and power. When Alexios I created sebastokratr, kaisar became third in importance, and fourth after

Manuel I created despots. The feminine form was kaisarissa. It remained however an office of great importance,

and was awarded to a few high-ranking and distinguished officials, and was only rarely awarded to foreigners.

Justinian II named Tervel, khan of the Bulgars, kaisar in 705; the title then developed into the Slavic term tsar or

czar (from Latin through Bulgarian and then into Russian, Serbian etc.). Andronikos II Palaiologos also named

Roger de Flor, leader of the Catalan Grand Company, kaisar in 1304.

Nobelissimos () from the LatinNobilissimus ("most noble"): originally a title given to close

relatives of the Emperor, subordinate only to the kaisar. During the Komnenian period, the title was awarded to

officials and foreign dignitaries, diluting its status. The titlePrtonobelissimos was created in its stead, until it too

started to decline, only to be replaced by a further augmented form:Prtonobelissimohypertatos. By the late

Palaiologan era, the former had vanished, while the latter was a provincial official.

Kouropalats () from the Latin cura palatii, "charge of the palace": First attested in the time of

Justinian I, it was the official in charge of the running of the imperial palace. However, the great authority and

wealth deriving from this position, as well as the close proximity to the Emperor, meant that it accumulated greatprestige. It was awarded to important members of the imperial family, but from the 11th century onwards, it
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declined, and was usually awarded to the vassal rulers of Armenia and Georgia.

Sebastos () "August One" this title is the literal Greek translation of the Latin termAugustus or

Augoustos, was sometimes used by the emperors. As a separate title it appeared in the latter half of the 11th

century, and was extensively awarded by Alexios I Komnenos to his brothers and relations. The female version of

the title was sebast. The special titleprtosebastos ("First Venerable One") was created for Hadrianos, Alexios'

second brother, and awarded also to the Doge of Venice and the Sultan of Iconium. During the 12th century, itremained in use for the Emperor's and the sebastokratrs children, and senior foreign dignitaries. However, the

parallel processes of proliferation and devaluation of titles during the 12th century resulted in the creation of a

bewildering array of often ridiculously large variations, by using the prefixes pan ("all"), hyper ("above"),

prto ("first"): examples include pansebastos, panhypersebastos, or hyperprtopansebastohypertatos'. Few of

them actually survived past the 12th century, and all of them rapidly declined in importance.

Court titles from the 8th to 11th centuries

Emperor Nikephoros III flanked by personifications of Truth and

Justice, and by his senior court dignitaries, from an illuminated

manuscript dating to the 1070s. From left: theproedros and epi tou

kanikleiou, theprtoproedros andprtovestiarios (a eunuch, since he

is beardless), the emperor, theproedros and dekanos, and the

proedros and megas primikrios.

In the 8th11th centuries, according to information

provided by the Taktikon Uspensky, the Kltorologionof Philotheos (899) and the writings of Constantine

Porphyrogennetos, below the imperial titles, the

Byzantines distinguished two distinct categories of

dignities (): the "dignities by award" (

), which were purely honorific court

titles and were conferred by the award of a symbol of

rank, and the "dignities by proclamation" (

), which were offices of the state and were

conferred by imperial pronouncement. The former were

further divided into three subcategories, depending onwho was eligible for them: different sets of titles

existed for the "Bearded Ones" ( from Latin

barbati, i.e. not eunuchs), the eunuchs () and

women. State officials usually combined titles from

both main categories, so that a high official would be

both magistros (an "awarded" title) and logothets tou

dromou (a "proclaimed" office).

Titles for the "Bearded Ones"

The "by award" titles for the "Bearded Ones" were, in

descending order of precedence:

Proedros () "president": Originally

reserved for eunuchs (see below), it was opened up in the mid-11th century to "Bearded Ones" as well, especially

military officials.

Magistros () in the early Byzantine state, the magister officiorum was one of the most senior

officials, but as his duties were gradually relegated to other officials, by the 8th century, only the title was left. It

remained a high honour, and only rarely awarded until the 10th century.[3] By the early 10th century, there were

12, the first in precedence among them bearing the title ofprtomagistros. Thereafter the number of its holders

was inflated, and the office vanished sometime in the 12th century.[4]
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Vestarches () "head of the vestai", adopted in the latter half of the 10th century for high-ranking

eunuchs, it was awarded to "bearded" senior military officers and judicial officials of Constantinople from ca.

1050 on. It disappeared in the early 12th century.[5]

Vestes () senior honorific title, first attested under John I Tzimiskes. Awarded to both eunuchs and

non-eunuchs, it survived until the early 12th century. The term is etymologically connected to the vestiarion, the

imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts to connect the vestai and the related title of vestarchs, the head ofthe class of the vestai (see above), with the officials of the vestiarion (see below), no such relation appears to have

existed.

Anthypatos () "proconsul": Originally the highest rank for provincial governors, it survived the

creation of the Theme system, until, in the 9th century, it too became a purely honorific title. The variant

prtanthypatos was created in the 11th century to counter its decline in importance, but both disappeared by the

end of the 12th century.

Patrikios () "patrician": Established as the highest title of nobility by Constantine the Great, it

remained one of the highest dignities until its disappearance in the Komnenian period, awarded to high-ranking

officials, including eunuchs, and foreign rulers. The spouses of patricians bore the titlepatrikia (not to be

confused withzost patrikia, see below).

[6]

Prtospatharios () "first spatharios". As its name signifies, it originally was the title borne by

the leader of the spatharioi ("swordbearers," the Emperor's bodyguards.) For instance, in the 6th century Narses

bore this title. It later became one of the most common high court titles, awarded to senior officials such as the

logothetai, the commanders of the imperial tagmata or the strategoi in charge of a theme. The title of

prtospatharios also signified admittance to the Senate. The office survived until the Palaiologan period, but had

declined to the 35th place of the hierarchy.

Dishypatos () "twice consul". A very rare dignity, which originated possibly in the 8th century.[]

Spatharokandidatos () a portmanteau of the titles spatharios and kandidatos, both of

which were types of palace guards in the 4th6th centuries. The earliest references to the title occur in early 8th

century and the title is clearly attested only from the early 9th century on. Its distinctive badge (brabeion) was agolden chain (maniakion) worn around the chest.[1][3]

Spatharios () "spatha-bearer": As their name signifies, the spatharioi were initially a special corps

of imperial guards (A spatha is a kind of sword.) They performed specific duties inside the imperial palace. The

title survived until the early 12th century.

Hypatos (lang) "consul": As in the Roman Republic and Empire, the title was initially given each year to two

distinguished citizens (the "ordinary consuls"), until Justinian I halted the practice due to the extraordinary

expenditure it involved. The title continued to be occasionally assumed by emperors on accession until the end of

the 7th century. Honorary consuls however continued to be named, as attested by seals bearing the titles hypatos

or apo hypatn ("former consul").[7] The title was often conferred to the rulers of south Italian city-states.

Stratr () "groom" Kandidatos () from the Latin candidatus, so named because of their white tunics. They were

originally a select group of guards, drawn from the Scholae Palatinae. The title disappeared in the Komnenian

period.

Basilikos mandatr ( ) "imperial messenger"

Vesttr (), were officers of the imperial wardrobe (Latin vestiarium).[8]

Silentiarios (), originally a group of courtiers responsible for the maintenance of order (including

respectful silence) in the palace.

Stratlats (), a translation of the Latin magister militum, andapoeparchn ( or

), a translation of the Latin ex praefectis. These two titles are listed as equal by Philotheos. Both were

still high dignities in the 6th century, but were devalued afterwards.[9]
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Titles for the eunuchs

By descending order of precedence, the "by award" titles for the eunuchs were:

Proedros () "president": This was an entirely new rank introduced in the 960s by Nikephoros II

Phokas and first awarded to Basil Lekapenos, the eunuchparakoimmenos. The holder of this dignity was also

the president of the Senate, and the termproedros was often used to denote precedence, e.g.proedros of the

notarioi for theprtonotarios. The title was widely awarded in the 11th century, when it was opened up tonon-eunuchs, prompting the creation of theprtoproedros to distinguish the most senior amongst its holders. It

disappeared in the latter 12th century.[]

Vestarches () adopted in the latter half of the 10th century for high-ranking eunuchs, it was awarded

to "bearded" senior military officers and judicial officials of Constantinople from ca. 1050 on. It disappeared in

the early 12th century.

Patrikios The same as for the "Bearded Ones".

Vestes () The same as for the "Bearded Ones".

Praipositos () from the Latinpraepositus, "placed before".

Prtospatharios The same as for the "Bearded Ones"

Primikrios () from the Latinprimicerius, "first in the list". Ostiarios () from the Latin ostiarius, "doorkeeper, usher"

Spatharokoubikoularios ()

Koubikoularios () from the Latin cubicularius, "chamberlain".

Nipsistiarios () from Greek , "to wash hands"), the nipsistiarios was tasked with holding a

gold, gem-encrusted water basin and assisting the emperor in performing the ritual ablutions before he exited the

imperial palace or performed ceremonies.

There is also a single special title reserved for women, that of zost patrikia ( , "Girded patrikia").

This title was given to the empress' ladies of honour, and, according to Philotheos, ranked very high in hierarchy,

above even the magistros and proedros and just below the kouropalates. The title is known from the early 9th

century, and disappeared in the 11th century.[10] Otherwise women bore the female forms of their husbands' titles.

Palace offices

Parakoimomenos literally, "one who sleeps nearby", was the High Chamberlain who sleeps in the Emperor's

bedchamber. Usually a eunuch, during the 9th10th centuries, the holders of this office often functioned as de

facto chief ministers of the Empire.

Protovestiarios usually a minor relative of the emperor, who took care of the emperors personal wardrobe,

especially on military campaigns. He was also sometimes responsible for other members of the imperial

household, and the emperors personal finances. The older term, from before the time of Justinian I, was

curopalata (or kouropalates in Greek). This was derived from kourator (curator), an earlier official responsiblefor financial matters. The vestiarios was a subordinate official. Theprotovestiaria and vestiaria performed the

same functions for the empress.

Papias great concierge of the imperial palaces, responsible for the opening and closing of the palace gates each

day.

Pinkernes originally the emperor's cupbearer, later a senior honorific title.

Kanikleios the keeper of the imperial inkstand, one of the senior officials of the imperial chancery. In the

Komnenian and Palaiologan period, some of its holders were de facto chief ministers of the Empire.

Epi tes trapezes Greek: , "the one in charge of the table," official responsible for attending

to the imperial table during banquets.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Epi_tes_trapezeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kanikleioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pinkerneshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Papias_%28Byzantine_office%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Curopalateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Justinian_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protovestiarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parakoimomenoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zoste_patrikiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nipsistiarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Koubikoularioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Spatharokoubikoularioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ostiarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primiceriushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Primikerioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protospatharioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Praipositoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vesteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Patrikioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vestarcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protonotarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Basil_Lekapenoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikephoros_II_Phokashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikephoros_II_Phokashttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proedros


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Military offices

Byzantine culture

Aristocracy and bureaucracy

Army Art Architecture Calendar Coinage Cuisine

Dance Diplomacy Dress Economy Gardens Law Literature Medicine Music Navy People Science

v t e[11]

Army

Exarchos The exarchs were governors of remote parts of the empire such as Italy or Africa. They enjoyed a

greater degree of independence than other provincial governors, combining both civil and military authority,

practically acting as viceroys.

Domestikos the domestikoi were originally imperial guards, who later functioned as senior staff officers in the

Late Roman army. In the Byzantine period, they were among the highest military offices, and included: Megas domestikos (Grand Domestic) the overall commander of the army.

Domestikos tn scholn (Domestic of the Schools) the commander of the Scholai, originally a number of

guards units, later a Tagma. This was a very prestigious title, and by the late 9th century, its holder functioned

as commander in chief of the army. In ca. 959, the post was divided, with one domestic for the East and one

for the West.

Domestikos tou thematos (Domestic of the Themes) the commander and organizer of the military themes;

there was one for the European themes and one for Asian themes.

Katepan The governor of a greater area combining two or more themes, such as the Catepan of Italy, a title

developed in the 9th century.

Stratgos a military and later also civil commander of a theme, who often also had the title of doux. The term isbasically equivalent to "general" or "admiral", as it was used in both branches of service.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Duxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Strategos%23Byzantine_usehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Catepanate_of_Italyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Katepanohttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tagma_%28military%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Scholaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domestikos_ton_scholonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megas_domestikoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Late_Roman_armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domestikoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Viceroyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Exarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Byzantine_culture&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template_talk:Byzantine_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Byzantine_culturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_Greekshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_navyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_musichttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_medicinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_literaturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_gardenshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_economyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_dresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_diplomacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_dancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_cuisinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_coinagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_calendarhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_architecturehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_arthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_armyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Byzantine_Eagle.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_culture


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Tourmarchs the commander of a tourma, a military unit of battalion size.

Prtostratr initially the Emperor's stable master, under the Komnenian and Palaiologan emperors the term was

used for the second-ranking commander of the army.

Stratopedarchs (Master of the Camp) This official was in charge of making sure the army was stocked with

food and arms.

Hoplitarchs

orarchgts

commander of all infantry in a large army, the title first appears in the mid-10thcentury, when the infantry is reorganized and gains in importance.

Prtokentarchos andkentarchos commanders of a smaller division of the army in the field. The name was

derived from the Latin centurion.

Merarchs commander of a division (meros) of the army. Usually, each army was divided into two to three

such commands.

Taxiarchs orchiliarchs commander of an infantry regiment (taxiarchia or chiliarchia) in the army.

Kavallarios A title borrowed from the Latin caballarius, it originally meant a cavalry soldier. During the

Palaiologan period, it became a minor court title.[12]

NavyFurther information: Organization of the Byzantine navy

Megas doux The Megaduke or Grand Duke, was the basic equivalent of the modern Lord High Admiral. The

office was created by Alexios I Komnenos, when he amalgamated the remnants of the imperial and thematic

fleets into a single imperial fleet. By the end of the Palaiologos dynasty the megaduke was head of the

government and bureaucracy, not just the navy.

Amirales The Greek version of "Admiral", introduced via Sicilian practice. An office founded in the late

Palaiologan era for Western mercenary leaders and rarely held, the amirales was the deputy of the megas doux.

Megas droungarios Initially the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy, after the creation of the megas

doux his lieutenant, in charge of the naval officers.

Droungarios The title existed both in the army and the navy. In the navy of the 8th11th centuries, a

droungarios headed a fleet, either the central imperial fleet or one of the thematic fleets; in the army he headed a

Droungos, roughly a battalion-sized grouping.

Koms ordroungarokoms The commander of a squadron of dromons.

Kentarchos ornauarchos the captain of a ship.

Other military titles

Ethnarchs the ethnarch, commander of foreign troops.

Konostaulos Greek form of Latin Comes stabuli 'count of the stable' and various European feudal titles such as

English "constable"

the chief of the Frankish mercenaries. Hetaireiarchs the chief of the barbarian mercenaries, theHetaireia, successor to theFoederati. Initially

subdivided into Greater (Megal), Middle (Mes) and Little (Mikra)Hetaireia.

Akolouthos "Acolyte," the chief of the Varangian Guard from the Komnenian era onwards.

Manglavitai A category of palace guards, armed with sword and cudgel (manglavion). Under the command of a

Prtomanglavits.

Topotrts meaning "place-holder", "lieutenant". Found at various levels of the hierarchy, as deputies to

commanders of the imperial tagmata, deputy to a drungarios.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Topotereteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manglavitaihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Varangianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Akolouthoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Foederatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hetaireiahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Barbarianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hetaireiarcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mercenaryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Frankshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Comes_stabulihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Konostauloshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethnarcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Navarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dromonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Droungarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Droungarios%23Byzantine_navyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palaiologoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexios_I_Komnenoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Admiraltyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megas_douxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_navy%23Organizationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palaiologan_periodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chiliarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taxiarchhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Merarcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Centurionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stratopedarcheshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stable_Masterhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protostratorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tourmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tourmarches


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Administrative offices

Emperor Theophilos flanked by courtiers. From

the Skylitzes Chronicle.

The vast Byzantine bureaucracy had many titles, and varied more than

aristocratic and military titles. In Constantinople there were normally

hundreds, if not thousands, of bureaucrats at any time. Like the Church

and the military, they wore elaborately differentiated dress, often

including huge hats. These are some of the more common ones,including non-nobles who also directly served the emperor.

Praetorian prefect The Praetorian prefect was originally an old

Roman office used for the commander of the army in the Eastern

and Western portions of the Empire. It was abolished in the 7th

century owing to wide reaching civil and military reforms. The title

evolved into the domestikos. After Diocletian's reforms, the

functions of the Prefect embraced a wide sphere; they were

administrative, financial, judicial, and even legislative. The

provincial governors were appointed at his recommendation, and with him rested their dismissal, subject to theEmperor's approval. He received regular reports of the administration from the governors of the provinces. He had

treasuries of his own, and the payment and the food supplies of the army devolved upon him. He was also a

supreme judge of appeal; in cases which were brought before his court from a lower tribunal there was no further

appeal to the Emperor. He could issue, on his own authority, praetorian edicts, but they concerned only matters of

detail.

Basileopatr () "Father of the Emperor": an exceptional title, granted only twice in Byzantine

history. Although a basileopatr was not the emperor's actual father, and the title did not necessarily denote any

familial relationship at all, both awardees were father-in-laws to the emperor: Stylianos Zaoutzes under Leo VI

the Wise and Romanos I Lekapenos briefly as regent for Constantine VII, before he raised himself to co-emperor.

It ranked first among the "decreed" offices, and entailed wide-ranging administrative duties. Protasekretis "First Secretary" an earlier title for the head of the chancery, responsible for keeping official

government records. The asekretis was a subordinate. Other subordinates included the chartoularios (in charge of

imperial documents), the kastrensios (a chamberlain in the palace), the mystikos (a private secretary), and the

eidikos (a treasury official).

Logothetes "one who accounts, calculates or ratiocinates", literally "one who sets the word;" a secretary in the

extensive bureaucracy, who did various jobs depending on the exact position. Logothetes were some of the most

important bureaucrats. They included:

Megas logothetes (Grand Logothete) the head of the logothetes, personally responsible for the legal system

and treasury, somewhat like a chancellor in western Europe.

Logothetes tou dromou (Drome Logothete) the head of diplomacy and the postal service.

Logothetes ton oikeiakon (Logothete of the oikeiakoi)

Logothetes tou genikou (General Logothete) responsible for taxation. Also acts as a secretary in later cases.

Logothetes tou stratiotikou (Military Logothete) a civilian, in charge of distributing pay to the army.

Chartoularios tou vestiariou Literally "keeper of documents for the Public Wardrobe" (see Vestiarion);

responsible for minting gold and silver coins and equipping the fleet.

Logothetes originally had some influence on the emperor, but they eventually became honorary posts. In the later

empire the Grand Logothete was replaced by the mesazn ("mediator").

Other administrators included:

Eparch of Constantinople Governor of the urban prefect of Constantinople. Quaestor Originally an accountant or auditor, the office eventually became a judicial one for Constantinople.
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Quaestor_sacri_palatiihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Urban_prefecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Eparch_of_Constantinoplehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mesazonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vestiarionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chartoularios_tou_vestiariouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logothetes_tou_stratiotikouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logothetes_tou_genikouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logothetes_ton_oikeiakonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mailhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diplomacyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logothetes_tou_dromouhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chancellorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Megas_logotheteshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Logothetehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chartoularioshttp://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/chanceryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Protasekretishttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constantine_VIIhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Romanos_I_Lekapenoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leo_VI_the_Wisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leo_VI_the_Wisehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stylianos_Zaoutzeshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Basileopatorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Diocletianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Praetorian_prefecthttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_dresshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3AEmperor_Theophilos_Chronicle_of_John_Skylitzes.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Skylitzes_Chroniclehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theophilos_%28emperor%29


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Tribounos translation of Latin tribune; responsible for maintenance of roads, monuments, and buildings in

Constantinople (which were the responsibility of the Aedile, not the Tribunes in earlier Latin speaking times.)

Magister (magister officiorum, magister militum, "maistor" in Greek) an old Roman term, master of offices and

master of the army; by the time of Leo III, these had become honorary titles and were eventually discarded.[13]

Sakellarios "Treasurer; purse-bearer." Under Heraclius, an honorary supervisor of the other palace

administrators, logothetes, etc. Later, the chief financial comptroller of the Empire. Praetor Latin for "Man who goes before; first man." One of the oldest of Roman titles, predating the Roman

Republic, the title's use morphed considerably through the years. By the time of Theodosius I (379-395) it meant

the leading municipal magistrate (like a modern Mayor) but from late 10th century until 1204, a civil governor of

a theme.

Kephale "head", the governor of a small province, usually a town and its surrounding territory, in the

Palaiologan period

Horeiarios in charge of distributing food from the state granaries.

Theprotasekretis, logothetes, prefect, praetor, quaestor, magister, and sakellarios, among others, were members of

the senate.

Court life

At the peaceful height of Middle Byzantium, court life "passed in a sort of ballet",[14] with precise ceremonies

prescribed for every occasion, to show that "Imperial power could be exercised in harmony and order", and "the

Empire could thus reflect the motion of the Universe as it was made by the Creator", according to the Emperor

Constantine Porphyrogenitus, who wrote a Book of Ceremonies describing in enormous detail the annual round of

the Court. Special forms of dress for many classes of people on particular occasions are set down; at the name-day

dinner for the Emperor or Empress various groups of high officials performed ceremonial "dances", one group

wearing " a blue and white garment, with short sleeves, and gold bands, and rings on their ankles. In their hands they

hold what are called phengia". The second group do just the same, but wearing "a garment of green and red, split,

with gold bands". These colours were the marks of the old chariot-racing factions, the four now merged to just the

Blues and the Greens, and incorporated into the official hierarchy. As in the Versailles of Louis XIV, elaborate dress

and court ritual probably were at least partly an attempt to smother and distract from political

tensions.Wikipedia:Citation needed

However, even by the time of Anna Comnena, with the Emperor away on military campaigns for much of the time,

this way of life had changed considerably, and after the Crusader occupation it virtually vanished. A French

visitorWikipedia:Manual of Style/Words to watch#Unsupported attributions was shocked to see the Empress going

to church far less well attended than the Queen of France would have been.Wikipedia:Citation needed The Imperial

family largely abandoned the Great Palace for the relatively compact Palace of Blachernae.

References

[1][1] Kazhdan (1991), p. 623

[2][2] Robin Cormack, "Writing in Gold, Byzantine Society and its Icons", 1985, George Philip, London, p180, using Kazhdan A.P. , 1974 (in

Russian) ISBN 0-540-01085-5

[3][3] Bury (1911), p. 21

[4][4] Kazhdan (1991), p. 1267

[5][5] Kazhdan (1991), p. 2162

[6][6] Kazhdan (1991), p. 1600

[7][7] Bury (1911), p. 26

[8][8] Bury (1911), p. 25

[9] Bury (1911), pp. 21, 2324

[10][10] Kazhdan (1991), p. 2231[11] http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Byzantine_culture&action=edit

[12] Mark C. Bartusis, "The Kavallarioi of Byzantium" in Speculum, Vol. 63, No. 2 (Apr., 1988), pp. 343350
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Byzantine_culture&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Byzantine_culture&action=edithttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palace_of_Blachernaehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch#Unsupported_attributionshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Anna_Comnenahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louis_XIVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constantine_Porphyrogenitushttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Byzantine_Senatehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Palaiologan_periodhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kephale_%28Byzantine_Empire%29http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theodosius_Ihttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Praetorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sakellarioshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leo_III_the_Isaurianhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magister_militumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Magister_officiorumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tribune


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[13][13] Bury (1911), p. 32

[14][14] Steven Runciman, Byzantine Style and Civilization, 1975, Penguin

Sources

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Press. ISBN 0-8122-1620-2. (French)Brhier, Louis (2000) [1949].Les institutions de l'empire byzantin. Paris: Albin Michel.

ISBN 978-2-226-04722-9.

Bury, John B. (1911). The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century With a Revised Text of the

Kletorologion of Philotheos. Oxford University Publishing.

Angold, Michael (1984). The Byzantine Aristocracy: IX to XIII Centuries. BAR International Series.

ISBN 0-86054-283-1.

(French) Guilland, Rodolphe (1967).Recherches sur les institutions byzantines, Tomes I & II. Berlin:

Akademie-Verlag

(French) Guilland, Rodolphe (1971). "Les Logothtes: Etudes sur l'histoire administrative de l'Empire byzantin"

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1441). Retrieved 28 May 2011

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google.com/?id=pSHmT1G_5T0C). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-31917-1.

Haldon, John F. (1999). Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 5651204. London: UCL Press.

ISBN 1-85728-495-X.

Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991). Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford University Press.

ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6.

Kelly, Christopher (2004).Ruling the later Roman Empire(http://books.google.com/?id=HhXx67fX7hoC).

Harvard University Press. ISBN 978-0-674-01564-7. (French)Oikonomides, Nicolas (1972).Les listes de prsance byzantines des IXe et Xe sicles. Paris: ditions

CNRS.

(French)Oikonomides, Nicolas (1985). "La chancellerie impriale de Byzance du 13e au 15e sicle" (http://

www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rebyz_0766-5598_1985_num_43_1_2171).Revue des

tudes byzantines43: 167195. doi: 10.3406/rebyz.1985.2171 (http://dx.doi. org/10.3406/rebyz.1985.2171).

Retrieved 28 May 2011.

Treadgold, Warren (1997).A History of the Byzantine State and Society. Stanford University Press.

ISBN 978-0-8047-2630-6.
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Article Sources and ContributorsByzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=610820559 Contributors: Adam Bishop, Aim Here, Alex S, Alexander VIII, Algri, Andrew Dalby,Angusmclellan, AnonMoos, Astynax, Binabik80, BlaiseMuhaddib, Brstahl, Caerwine, Chris the speller, Common Man, CommonsDelinker, Cplakidas, CrniBombarder!!!, Davidiad, Delirium,Dimadick, Dojarca, Dryzen, Edward, Ekotkie, Esrever, Evangeline.a, Fastifex, Galloglass, Hectorian, Hemlock Martinis, Hiberniantears, J04n, Jaqeli, Jfdwolff, Jniemenmaa, Johnbod, Jowfair,Kimon, Kober, Ktsquare, Lapaz, Leandrod, LilHelpa, Llywrch, Magioladitis, Man vyi, Michael Hardy, MishaPan, Moshe Constantine Hassan Al-Silverburg, Naddy, Narfil Palrfalas, NeuCeu,NickOfCyprus, ObserverFromAbove, Oxonian2006, PRiis, Panairjdde, Papafox, Piotrus, Pm67nz, Pmanderson, R'n'B, RafaAzevedo, Robina Fox, Senjuto, ShelfSkewed, Shirulashem,Snowmanradio, Srnec, StarryGrandma, TRAJAN 117, The Emperor's New Spy, The Gonz, TheCormac, TodorBozhinov, Tom harrison, Tomtom9041, Urselius, Varangian, Wik, Woohookitty, 71

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Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:Basilios II.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Basilios_II.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: from the Middle Ages, unknown

Image:Hyperryron-Manuel I-sb1965.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hyperryron-Manuel_I-sb1965.jpgLicense: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors:AnRo0002, Cristiano64, G.dallorto, Leoboudv, NeverDoING, Paradoctor, Sailko, Saperaud, 1 anonymous edits

File:Manuel II Helena sons.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Manuel_II_Helena_sons.JPGLicense: Public Domain Contributors: Cplakidas, Mel22, Mhmrodrigues,Nauka, Shakko

File:Nicephorus III and officers BnF Coislin79 fol2.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Nicephorus_III_and_officers_BnF_Coislin79_fol2.jpgLicense: Public DomainContributors: in Homlies de Jean Chrysostome (John Chrysostom Homilies)

File:Byzantine Eagle.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Byzantine_Eagle.svgLicense: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Goran tek-en

File:Emperor Theophilos Chronicle of John Skylitzes.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Emperor_Theophilos_Chronicle_of_John_Skylitzes.jpgLicense: PublicDomain Contributors: Alexandar.R., Cplakidas, Shakko, Zuckerfrei

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byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy

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