Curopalates

The Kuropalat or Kuropalates (Greek κουροπαλάτης of Latin curopalatus, German: " Head of the Palace ", from the Latin cura palatii, " concern for the palace " ) was a high Byzantine title. In the period of Emperor Justin II to the Komnenen it was even one of the highest titles on the farm.

The Office of curopalatus came on in the late Roman antiquity. The owner of the cura palatii had initially to the imperial courts in East and West and simple everyday tasks and organization can be compared to the early house Meiern in Western Europe. He was initially subordinate to the magister officiorum. From the 5th century, the sign of a gradual increase in the importance of the office, there are increasing; the rank of the curopalatus has now been awarded as an additional title of important men who were patricius ( Whitby 1987) already. Since Emperor Justinian I had his nephew Justin II 552 for curopalatus, hellenized " Kuropalates " appointed, the Board received after 565 Justin himself had ascended the throne, even more important, which soon gained enormous prestige, and at last according to the same the rank of Caesar and the Nobilissimus. As this was usually reserved for members of the imperial family of the title curopalatus or Kuropalates, but also other important rulers abroad, especially the kings in the Caucasus was awarded. So there was 580-1060 sixteen Iberian and since some 635 Armenian kings and princes with the title of Kuropalates.

According to the work of the Kletorologion Philotheos from the year 899 the insignia of Kuropalates were a red tunic, jacket and belt. The emperor gave the insignia personally and showed the importance of the rank. In the 11th and 12th century the rank lost its former importance and was given to major generals as honorary titles. The functions of the Kuropalates were taken over gradually by the Protovestiarioi. These were actually responsible for the personal wardrobe of the emperor. The title Kuropalates survived until the time of the Palaiologos, but was only rarely awarded.