Protovestiarius

''Protovestiarios'' ( el, πρωτοβεστιάριος, "first ''vestiarios''") was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs. In the late Byzantine period (12th–15th centuries), it denoted the Empire's senior-most financial official, and was also adopted by the medieval Serbian state as protovestiyar (прото-вестијар).

History and functions

The title is first attested in 412, as the ''comes sacrae vestis'', an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" ( la, sacra vestis), coming under the ''praepositus sacri cubiculi''. In Greek, the term used was ''oikeiakon vestiarion'' (, "private wardrobe"), and by this name it remained known from the 7th century onward. As such, the office was distinct from the public or imperial wardrobe, the '' basilikon vestiarion'', which was entrusted to a state official, the ''chartoularios tou vestiariou''. The private wardrobe also included part of the Byzantine emperor's private treasury, and controlled an extensive staff.

Consequently, the holders of this office came second only to the ''parakoimomenos'' in court hierarchy, functioning as the latter's aides. Until the 11th century, it was reserved for eunuchs, but in the 9th–11th centuries, several ''protovestiarioi'' were appointed as generals and ambassadors. In the 11th century, the title rose further in importance, eclipsing the ''kouropalates''; transformed into an honorary title, it also began being given to non-eunuchs, including members of the imperial family. As such, the title survived until the late Palaiologan period, its holders including high-ranking ministers and future emperors. The mid-14th century ''Book of Offices'' of Pseudo-Kodinos lists the rank in the sixth place in the palace hierarchy, between the ''panhypersebastos'' and the '' megas doux''. The insignia of the ''protovestiarios'' as a golden and green staff of office (''dikanikion'') with gold and coloured glass, green shoes and a green mantle (''tamparion''), and a green saddle with gold braid similar to the ''panhypersebastos''.

The female equivalent was the ''protovestiaria'' ( el, πρωτοβεστιαρία), the head of the empress' servants. ''Protovestiarioi'' are also attested for private citizens, in which case again the title refers to their head servant and treasurer.

Notable ''protovestiarioi''

* Constantine Leichoudes, later patriarch 1059–63, as Constantine III
* Andronikos Doukas (fl. 1071–77), served Romanos IV and Michael VII
* Alexios Raoul, under John III Vatatzes
* George Mouzalon, chief minister of Theodore II Laskaris and short-lived regent
* Alexios V Doukas, briefly emperor in 1204
* John III Vatatzes, Emperor of Nicaea 1222–54
* Michael Tarchaneiotes, nephew of Michael VIII Palaiologos and general
* Michael Apsaras, chief minister of Despot of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović

In Serbia

The title was also adopted in the medieval Serbian states as ''protovestijar'' ( sr-cyr, протовестијар/протовистијар, archaic: протовистіар), and likewise entailed fiscal responsibilities, being the equivalent to a "finance minister".: "тако је царев протовистијар (по данашњој терминологији: министар финансија), Никола Бућа, по рођењу Которанин" According to historian John V. A. Fine, Jr., "The chief financial official responsible for the state treasury and its income was the ''protovestijar''. This position was regularly held by a merchant from Kotor who understood financial management and bookkeeping. Both protovestijars and logothetes were used as diplomats, the protovestijars in particular being sent west, for as citizens of Kotor they knew Italian and Latin."

It was mentioned during the rule of King Stefan Uroš I (r. 1243–1276). Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) elevated the nobility and clergy when crowned Emperor; ''komornik'' Nikola Buća from Kotor was appointed protovestijar. The power of the protovestijar is best testified by the proverb derived from Nikola Buća: "Car da – al Buća ne da" (''The Emperor gives, but Buća does not''). The Buća family produced several protovestijars, including Nikola's nephew Trifun Mihajlov Buća (fl. 1357), one of the most important people in his time, who served Emperor Dušan's successor Uroš V.

Tvrtko I (Ban of Bosnia, 1353–77, King 1377—1391) added the ranks ''logotet'' and ''protovestijar'' after the Serbian model after crowning himself King. Tvrtko's first protovestijar was a Ragusan, ''kapedan'' Ratko, elevated in 1378.

Balša II (Lord of Zeta, 1378–85), added the rank into service after taking Durrazzo in spring 1385, appointing Filip Bareli.

Principality of Achaea

The title of ''protovestiarios'' was also adopted in the Frankish Principality of Achaea, where it designated an office equivalent to a Western chamberlain and charged with keeping the list of fief-holders. This office was often given to native Greeks.

See also

*Vestararius, papal office derivative of the ''protovestiarios''
*Logothetes ton oikeiakon

References

Sources

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{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos

Byzantine palace offices
Byzantine fiscal offices
Protovestiarioi