''Kouropalatēs'',
Latinized as ''curopalates'' or ''curopalata'' (, from "
he one incharge of the palace")
[.] and
anglicized as curopalate, was a
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived the events that caused the fall of the Western Roman E ...
court title, one of the highest from the time of Emperor
Justinian I
Justinian I (, ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 527 to 565.
His reign was marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovatio imperii'', or "restoration of the Empire". This ambition was ...
to the
Komnenian period in the 12th century.
[.] The female variant, held by the spouses of the ''kouropalatai'', was ''kouropalatissa''.
History and nature of the title
The title is first attested (as ''curapalati'') in the early 5th century, as an official of ''
vir spectabilis'' rank under the ''castrensis palatii'', charged with the maintenance of the imperial palace (cf.
Western European "
majordomo"). When Emperor
Justinian I
Justinian I (, ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 527 to 565.
His reign was marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovatio imperii'', or "restoration of the Empire". This ambition was ...
() made his nephew and heir
Justin II ''curopalates'' in 552, however, the office took on new significance, and became one of the most exalted dignities, ranking next to ''
Caesar'' and ''
nobilissimus'' and, like them, reserved initially for members of the imperial family. Unlike them, however, it later came to be granted to important foreign rulers, mostly in the
Caucasus
The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...
. Thus, from the 580s to the 1060s, sixteen
Georgian ruling princes and kings held that honorific title, as well as, after 635, several
Armenian
Armenian may refer to:
* Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia
* Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent
** Armenian diaspora, Armenian communities around the ...
dynasts.
[.]
According to the ''
Klētorologion'' of Philotheos, written in 899, the insignia of the rank were a red
tunic
A tunic is a garment for the torso, usually simple in style, reaching from the shoulders to a length somewhere between the hips and the ankles. It might have arm-sleeves, either short or full-length. Most forms have no fastenings. The name deri ...
,
mantle and
belt. Their award by the Byzantine emperor signified the elevation of the recipient to the office. By the 11th–12th century, the dignity had lost its earlier significance:
[.] it was granted as an honorary title to generals outside the imperial family,
and its functions were gradually being supplanted by the ''
protovestiarios'', whose original role was limited to the custody of the imperial wardrobe. The title survived into the
Palaiologan period, but was rarely used.
List of prominent Byzantine holders
*
Justin II, under his uncle, Emperor
Justinian I
Justinian I (, ; 48214 November 565), also known as Justinian the Great, was Roman emperor from 527 to 565.
His reign was marked by the ambitious but only partly realized ''renovatio imperii'', or "restoration of the Empire". This ambition was ...
().
[.]
*
Baduarius, under his father-in-law Emperor
Justin II ().
[.]
*
Peter, the brother of Emperor
Maurice ().
*
Domentziolus, the nephew of Emperor
Phocas ().
*
Theodore, brother of Emperor
Heraclius ().
*
Artabasdos, under Emperor
Leo III the Isaurian ().
*
Michael I Rangabe, the son-in-law of Emperor
Nikephoros I ().
*
Bardas, uncle and effective regent for Emperor
Michael III ().
*
Leo Phokas, general and brother of Emperor
Nikephoros II Phokas ().
*
Guaram I, Prince of Iberia
*
Guaram II, Prince of Iberia and hereditary duke (''
eristavi'') of
Klarjeti and
Javakheti
*
Guaram III, Prince of
Kartli
See also
*
Darigbed – the Sassanian equivalent
References
Sources
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{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos
Byzantine court titles
Byzantine palace offices
Historical management occupations