Protospatharios

''Prōtospatharios'' () was one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period (8th to 12th centuries), awarded to senior generals and provincial governors, as well as to foreign princes.

History

The meaning of the title, "first ''spatharios''", indicates its original role as leader of the order (''taxis'') of the ''spatharioi'', the imperial bodyguards, was already attested in the 6th century. Probably under the Heraclians, the rank became an honorary dignity (Greek: δια βραβείου ἀξία, ''dia brabeiou axia''), and was henceforth bestowed to high-ranking theme commanders, senior court officials, and allied rulers.. The first concrete reference to a ''prōtospatharios'' occurs in the ''Chronicle'' of Theophanes the Confessor, who records "Sergios, ''prōtospatharios'' and '' stratēgos'' of Sicily" in 718. In the late 9th century, the ''prōtospatharios'' is recorded as ranking below the ''patrikios'' and above the '' dishypatos''. The award of the dignity also meant the entry of its holder in the Byzantine Senate. Its prestige was consequently very high, as illustrated by a well-known story related by Emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos () in his ''De Administrando Imperio'': during the reign of his father, Emperor Leo VI the Wise (), an aged cleric of the '' Nea Ekklesia'', Ktenas by name, paid 60 litras of gold (circa 19.4 kg), i.e. sixty times the annual stipend of 72 '' nomismata'' to which ''prōtospatharioi'' were entitled, to acquire the title. He did not live long to enjoy his new status, however, dying two years later. Like other titles of the middle Byzantine period, its importance declined sharply in the 11th century. The last attested occurrence is in 1115, although the title is still recorded by pseudo-Kodinos in the mid-14th century in the 34th place of the court hierarchy, between the '' primmikerios'' of the court and the ''megas archōn''.

According to the ''Klētorologion'' of Philotheos, the holders of the dignity were distinguished between eunuchs (''ektomiai'') and non-eunuchs (''barbatoi'', "bearded ones"). In addition to the insigne of their rank, a gold necklet (''maniakion'') adorned with pearls, the former had a special dress, a white, gold-adorned tunic and a red doublet with gold facings. The non-eunuchs were distinguished only by their golden collar (''kloios''), decorated with precious stones. Pictorial evidence of the dress of ''prōtospatharioi'' in illuminated manuscripts, however, varies considerably over time. In the ''Book of Offices'' of pseudo-Kodinos, the garb of this rank is defined as a gold wire-embroidered ''skaranikon'' (a tubular headdress), with the image of the reigning emperor enthroned in front and riding a horse behind, a gold '' kabbadion'' (caftan) and a ''skiadion'' (brimmed hat) of the ''klapōton'' type,The ''klapōton'' type involves something being "decorated with small golden squares in the shape of a nailhead". . while bearing no distinctive ''dikanikion'' (staff of office).

In the Empire of Trebizond, an equivalent title of Turkish origin, ''amytzantarios'', was used.

Functions

Aside from being a court rank, there were several ''prōtospatharioi'' who had specific duties:

*The ''prōtospatharios'' in charge of the ''Chrysotriklinos'' (), the main reception hall of the Great Palace.
*The ''prōtospatharios'' in charge of the ''Lausiakos'' (), one of the main halls adjacent to the ''Chrysotriklinos'', serving as a meeting hall. The personnel (''oikeiakoi'') of the ''Lausiakos'' most likely also had functions related to the preparation of imperial banquets.
*The ''prōtospatharios'', or '' katepanō'', of the '' basilikoi anthrōpoi'' (), a corps of low-level imperial servants, including foreigners. He is listed as one of the '' stratarchai'', thereby denoting an unspecified military role. His subordinate staff included lower-ranking officials (those of ''spatharioi'' and ''kandidatoi'' rank), with a ''domestikos'' as chief aide.

*The ''prōtospatharios tēs Phialēs'' (), an official acting as judge for the oarsmen of the Byzantine navy stationed around the capital, Constantinople. Like the exact functions of the office, the term ''phialē'' ("water-basin") is obscure; it could possibly refer to a location in the harbour of the imperial palace of Boukoleon.

Notable foreign ''prōtospatharioi''

* Ivan the Russian
* Mihailo I Vojislavljević of Duklja

References

Sources

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{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos
Byzantine court titles