Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy

The Byzantine Empire had a complex aristocratic and bureaucratic system in which, however, many offices and titles were only voluntary, since the emperor was ultimately the sole ruler. In the more than thousand-year history of the kingdom, a number of titles has been accepted or rejected, many won or lost prestige. Initially, the Byzantine titles were the same as in the late Roman Empire, especially as Byzantium had its roots even in the Roman Late Antiquity. This changed in the time of Emperor Heraclius (reigned 610-641 ); then, many of these titles had become obsolete due to the internal and external crisis of the late Roman state. Since the 7th century, the state-building therefore changed fundamentally, and in the time of Emperor Alexius I (reigned 1081-1118 ), most positions were newly created or changed drastically, but thereafter remained in the ground the same until the fall of Constantinople in year in 1453. Some of the tracks was taken over by the neighboring Bulgarians and Serbs.

For the middle Byzantine period the work of the Philotheos conveys important information.

  • 2.1 Army
  • 2.2 Marine
  • 2.3 Other military title

Aristocratic Title

Higher aristocratic title

  • Basileus - the Greek word for king already in Mycenaean times ( see main article Basileus ), described the birth of Christ 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 Heraclius used him 629 to the old Latin title Augustus to replace ( gr Sebastos ) or Imperator - the title Emperor beyond ( autocrat ) and Kyrios (Lord) - it was then the Greek word for emperor. Among the Christian rulers of the Byzantines, the word Basileus turned exclusively to the emperor in Constantinople Opel, and designated the Western European kings with Rigas, a Hellenized form of the Latin word Rex (king). Emperor, who wanted to emphasize the legitimacy of their accession to the throne, appended to their names on the title Porphyrogenitus ( purple born ), to indicate that they had come in the delivery room of the Imperial Palace to the world, which was called because of its purple-colored marble paneling Porphyra. The female form Basilissa refers to the Empress, who as Eusebestati Augousta ( most pious Augusta), Kyria ( mistress ) or Despoina ( the feminine form of despotes, see below) were called. Basileopator was the honorary title of (not necessarily physical ) " father " of an emperor. The first Basileopator was Zautzes, a nobleman at the time of the Emperor Leo VI. (reigned 886-912 ); Romanus I Lekapenos used the term for when he was regent for Constantine VII.
  • Despotes - The title of despot was created as the highest title after the emperor Manuel I Comnenus (reigned 1143-1180 ). A despot could be the owner of a despotism, but was also from 1261 the title of the heir apparent, who was the ruler of the Despotate of Morea simultaneously. The female form Despoina denotes a female despot or the wife of a despot.
  • Sebastocrator - The " Venerable Regent " was a title that was created by Alexius I as a combination of Emperor and Sebastos. The first Sebastocrator was Alexios ' brother Isaac; the title was meaningless and merely drew attention to the close relationship to the emperor. The female form was Sebastokratorissa.
  • Kaisar - Caesar had since the late Principate, and until well into late antiquity the title of a subordinate Mitkaisers and apparent heir. As Alexius I invented the Sebastocrator, Kaisar fell back to the third position, and then even to the fourth, as Manuel I the Despotes created. The female form was Kaisarissa.
  • Nobelissimos - Nobilissimus was from late antiquity to the 11th century, the title of the heir to the throne directly subordinate members of the imperial family or the direct precursor to the elevation to Caesar. The female form was Nobelissima.
  • Panhypersebastos and Protosebastos - developed from Sebastos: Alexios and later Emperor created a large number of titles by Pan ( "All" ), Hyper added ( " About " ), Proto ( " First" ) and other prefixes to the actual item.

Despotes, Sebastocrator, Kaisar, Panhypersebastos and Protosebastos were usually reserved for members of the imperial family title. They differed visually by different clothing and crowns each other. However, these titles could also be given to strangers. The first Despotes was Béla III. of Hungary (reigned 1172-1196 ), but this should only clarify that Hungary was considered a Byzantine vassal. The first stranger who Sebastocrator was called, was Stefan Nemanjić of Serbia (reigned 1196-1227 ), who received the title in 1191. Justinian II (reigned 685-695 and 705-711 ) called Tervel, khan of the Bulgars (reigned about 700-720 ), 705 Kaisar, which has been in the Slavic languages ​​Tsar. Andronikos II (reigned 1282-1328 ), named in 1304 by Roger de Flor, leader of the Catalan Company, also Kaisar. Protosebastos was awarded to Enrico Dandolo, the Doge of Venice, before he was involved in the Fourth Crusade.

In the later centuries of the empire Byzantine emperors were dubbed as Chronokrator and Kosmokrator, in literal translation " Regent of the time" and " ruler of the world".

Low aristocratic title

  • Sebastos - " Majesty ", a title of Augustus or Augoustos was originally equivalent, and was worn by the emperors. Under Alexius I, he became less important after the creation of Protosebastos. The female form was Sebaste.
  • Pansebastohypertatos, Panoikeiotatos and Protoproedros are examples of the extension of titles by attaching prefixes. These titles enlisted members of the imperial family from Alexius I and shown only to indicate the close relationship to the emperor, to include, without real power.
  • Protovestiarios - usually a smaller relative of the emperor, who took care of the emperor's personal wardrobe, and in particular campaigns. Sometimes he was also responsible for the other members of the imperial household, and for the personal finances of the emperor. The older term with the same content from the time of Justinian I (reigned 527-565 ) was Curopalata (or Kuropalates in Greek ) derived from Kourator ( Curator ), which is responsible for the Finance officials. The Vestiarios was a subordinate official. The Protovestiaria and Vestiaria there were in the same way for the Empress.

The Byzantines also had aristocratic titles for the lower members of the imperial family and the gentry, which they had derived from Latin terms and that were derived from the same source common in Western Europe: Prinkeps (Prince, Principe - Prince ), doux ( Duc, Duca, Duke - Duke ) and komes ( Comte, Conte, Count - Count ). Also, there were titles like Kleisourarka, Apokomes and Akrita what are close to the Margrave ( Marquis ), Viscount ( Viscount ) and Freiherr (Baron ) corresponds.

Various lower nobles wore in the imperial residence titles such Parakoimomenos ( a bodyguard ), Pankernes ( a butler ) and Megas konostaulos ( " Big constable " ), who was responsible for the Imperial Stables.

Military titles

Army

  • Domestikos - as Domestikoi were numerous high military called (about the respective commanders of the tagmata ), civil and ecclesiastical dignitaries, including among others: Megas domestikos - the commander in chief of the army (since the Komnenenzeit ).
  • Domestikos ton scholon - the commander of the Tagma Scholai, a powerful elite Association, occupied since the 8th century. Since the late 10th century two Domestikoi were appointed, one for the West, another one for the east of the empire, which later each one in turn rose to Megas domestikos. A respected title with great abundance of power.

Marine

  • Megas doux - since the Komnenenzeit supreme commander of the Byzantine navy. He was probably one of the few who knew the secret of the Greek fire. At the end of the reign of the Palaiologos he was the head of government and administration. Megas drungarius - a subordinate of Megas doux, who was responsible for the naval officers.
  • Drungarius - a lower ranking officer in the Navy. A higher drungarius was the Drungarokomes.

Other military title

  • Konostaulos - the Greek form of the constable, the commander of the Frankish mercenaries
  • Hetairiarch - the commander of the barbarian mercenaries
  • Akolouthos - the commander of the Varangian Guard
  • Spatharokandidatos and Manglavites - more titles in the Varangian Guard

Administrative Title

The extensive Byzantine bureaucracy generated a lot of titles that varied even more than the aristocratic or military. In Constantinople Opel which there were hundreds, if not thousands, at any time. Here the most important:

  • Protoasekretes - an early title of the head of the firm, who was responsible for the government files. The Asekretai were his subordinates. Other employees of the Chancellor were the Chartoularios ( the charge of the imperial documents ) and the United Eidikos ( an official of the Treasury ).
  • Praetorian prefect - an old Roman title that initially the head of the Praetorian Guard designated, from 312 - after his military disempowerment - the top officials of the prefectures. The title was abolished, when the Byzantine Empire was re-organized into topics.
  • Logothetes - a secretary within the bureaucracy, responsible for different tasks depending on the exact description. The Logothetai were among the most important bureaucrats. Among them are: Megas Logothetes - the head of the Logothetai, who was personally responsible for the legal system and the state treasury, as a Chancellor comparable.
  • Logothetes tou dromou - the head of the diplomacy and the post office.
  • Logothetes ton oikeiakon - responsible for internal affairs, such as the security of the capital and the local economy.
  • Logothetes tou genikou - responsible for tax collection.
  • Logothetes tou stratiotikou - a civilian who organized the pay of the army.

The Logothetai initially had influence on the emperor, but were soon to honorary office holders. In the late empire was from the Megas Logothetes the Mesazon (literally "middle man ", now a "Manager").

Other offices in the administration are:

  • Archon - Archon was an official title throughout the Byzantine period, the importance and skills, however, was very different. Were generally regarded as Archon among other holders of certain secular and ecclesiastical administrative offices, high dignitaries and governors called.
  • Prefect - a lower office in Constantinople Opel in the urban authority.
  • Quaestor - originally a legal officer or finance officer who lost his power with the introduction of the Logothetes.
  • Tribounos - corresponds to the Roman tribune; he was responsible for the condition of the roads, monuments and buildings in Constantinople Opel.
  • Magister ( Master officiorum, Magister Militum, " Maistor " in Greek) - an old Roman concept in the administration and the army; the time of Emperor Heraclius these titles were honorary and probably even abolished.
  • Sakellarios - under Heraclius a volunteer overseer of the other officers of the palace, Logothetes, etc.
  • Praetor - originally a tax official in Constantinople Opel, after Alexios civil governor of a theme.
  • Kephale - "head", the civil governor of a Byzantine city
  • Horeiarios - responsible for the distribution of the grain from the state granaries.

The Protoasekretes, Logothetes prefect, praetor, quaestor, master and Sakellarios, they were all members of the Byzantine Senate, until that - came in the kingdom more and more into the background - after Heraclius.

Swell

  • Alexiade written by Anna Comnena, Paul Halsall in the Medieval Sourcebook English translation
Alexios I Komnenos Leo VI the Wise Romanos I Lekapenos Despotate of the Morea Caesar (title) Justinian II. Andronikos II Palaiologos Tagma (military) Protospatharios Centurion Cavalry Franks Chancery (medieval office) Magister officiorum Anna Komnene Byzantinische Zeitschrift
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