''Konostaulos'' or ''konostablos'' ("constable", in Greek variously ), later corrupted to ''kontostaulos''/''kontostablos'' (κοντόσταυλος), was a late

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 ...

title, adopted from the

Normans The Normans (Norman language, Norman: ''Normaunds''; ; ) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norsemen, Norse Viking settlers and locals of West Francia. The Norse settlements in West Franc ...

. The derivative dignity of ''megas konostaulos'' (μέγας κονόσταυλος, "Grand Constable") became one of the highest court posts in the Palaiologan period (1261–1453) and was awarded to high-ranking generals.

History

It was adopted in the 11th century, under influence from the

Sicily Sicily (Italian language, Italian and ), officially the Sicilian Region (), is an island in the central Mediterranean Sea, south of the Italian Peninsula in continental Europe and is one of the 20 regions of Italy, regions of Italy. With 4. ...

, from the French ''connétable'' (cf. English " constable"), which in turn derived from the

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

comes stabuli ''Comes'' (plural ''comites''), translated as count, was a Roman title, generally linked to a comitatus or comital office. The word ''comes'' originally meant "companion" or "follower", deriving from "''com-''" ("with") and "''ire''" ("go"). Th ...

'' ("count of the stable").. In the 11th–12th centuries, the ''konostaulos'' appears to have been a purely honorary title, although it may also have replaced the middle Byzantine ''komēs tou staulou'', the direct descendant of the late Roman ''comes stabuli'', in his functions. In the last years of the reign of the Nicaean emperor John III Vatatzes (), the post of ''megas konostaulos'' was created, being the chief of the " Frankish" (i.e. Western European) mercenaries. Its first holder was the future emperor Michael Palaiologos. Thereafter, however, the title appears to have become separated from any particular office and to have become a purely honorary dignity. It ranked quite high in the Palaiologan-era hierarchy, coming ninth in the overall precedence, after the '' megas primmikerios'', and was therefore conferred upon the members of several Byzantine noble families, as well as minor foreign rulers allied to the Byzantine Empire, such as Licario and Leonardo II Tocco. Its distinctive costume is described in the mid-14th century ''Book of Offices'' of pseudo-Kodinos: a gold-brocaded brimmed hat (''skiadion''), a plain silk '' kabbadion'' tunic, but without the usual staff of office (''dikanikion''). For ceremonies and festivities, he bore the domed ''skaranikon'' hat, of orange silk and decorated with gold wire embroidery, and with an enameled portrait of the emperor standing in front and another of the emperor enthroned on the rear. The simple title ''konostaulos'' continued in use, at least in the Despotate of the Morea, but its functions are unclear.

List of known ''megaloi konostauloi''

References

Sources

* * * * * * * {{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos Byzantine court titles Byzantine military offices