Protostrator

Prōtostratōr (Greek: πρωτοστράτωρ) was a Byzantine court office, originating as the imperial stable master, which in the last centuries of the Empire evolved into one of the senior military offices. The female form of the title, given to the wives of the prōtostratores, was prōtostratorissa (πρωτοστρατόρισσα).

History and evolution

The title means "first stratōr", reflecting the office's initial nature as chief of the imperial order (taxis) of the stratores (στράτορες, "grooms"), who formed a schola stratorum, as attested for staff of the praetorian prefect of Africa in the 6th century.[1][2] A domestikos tōn stratorōn appears under Justinian II (reigned 685–695, 705–711) and a prōtostratōr of the Opsikion named Rouphos in 712.[1][2] The first holder of the post to be mentioned as a relatively important personage, however, is the spatharios Constantine, son of the patrikios Bardanes, mentioned near the bottom of a list of victims of iconoclast persecution under Constantine V (r. 741–775) in 765. The spatharios Constantine is also the first known holder of the post of "imperial prōtostratōr" (βασιλικός πρωτοστράτωρ, basilikos prōtostratōr).[2][3]

Basil I the Macedonian, founder of the Macedonian dynasty, held the post of prōtostratōr during his rise to the throne

During the middle Byzantine period (up to the late 11th century), its official place in the hierarchy was not high, but its proximity to the emperor did facilitate a rapid rise of its holders, as exemplified by the career of Manuel the Armenian or the future emperors Michael II and Basil I the Macedonian.[3][4] In the Klētorologion of 899 he is recorded as one of the "special dignities" (axiai eidikai) and ranked 48th among the sixty most senior palace officials.[1][5] Holders of the post could aspire to some of the highest court ranks, such as anthypatos patrikios or prōtospatharios.[5] The imperial prōtostratōr had a prominent place in imperial ceremonies, riding beside the Byzantine emperor on processions (along with his superior, the Count of the Stable) or during the hunt. During campaigns, he and the Count of the Stable stood by near the imperial tent, along with three stratores with harnessed horses. In triumphal processions from the Great Palace to the Forum of Constantine he carried the emperor's banner (flammoulon), preceding the emperor from the hall of the consistorium until the forum, and placed the imperial spear on the neck of the captive Arab leaders. On certain occasions, he even had the task of introducing foreign envoys at imperial audiences.[6][7]

In the 9th–11th centuries, his subordinates included the [basilikoi] stratores ("imperial grooms"), the armophylakes (ὰρμοφύλακες, "keepers of the armaments" or possibly "of the chariots", from armatophylakes, according to Nikolaos Oikonomides), and three stablokomētes (σταβλοκόμητες, "stable counts"), one "of the City" (σταβλοκόμης τῆς πόλεως, stablokomēs tēs poleōs, i.e. of Constantinople) and two others, probably of the great imperial stables at Malagina.[3][8][9]

By the mid-11th century, however, the post seems to have risen in importance, and was now awarded as a honorific court dignity to distinguished members of the court. Thus in ca. 1042 Romanos Skleros, the brother of the favourite mistress of Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1042–54), was raised to the rank of magistros as well as the posts of prōtostratōr and doux of Antioch.[9] During the Komnenian period (1081–1185), the post rose further in the court hierarchy, so that the historian Nikephoros Bryennios the Younger was able to remark that "this office has always been important to the emperors and was conferred on the highest personages",[10] while the 12th-century historian Zonaras, influenced by current usage, writes, referring to the conferment of the post to Basil the Macedonian, that "this dignity was that of distinguished persons and relatives of the emperors".[5] Holders during the Komnenian period included the distinguished military commanders Michael Doukas, brother-in-law of Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118), and Alexios Axouch, who had married the niece of Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1043–80).[10]

Writing around 1200, Niketas Choniates equated the office with the Western marshal, and it appears to have been used interchangeably with it in the Latin Empire and the other Latin states formed after the Fourth Crusade.[3][11] The office continued to exist during the Palaiologan period until the Fall of Constantinople in 1453. It remained one of the highest dignities of state, ranking 8th overall in the hierarchy, although from the late 13th century on, multiple persons could hold it.[3][12]

The title is also attested in the medieval Kingdom of Georgia, where it was held by the duke (eristavi) of Svaneti, Iovane Vardanisdze, under King David IV (r. 1089–1125).[13] A variant of the title, stratoros, was also used in the Kingdom of Cyprus in the 15th century.[14]

List of known holders

Note: the list does not include holders known only through their seals but otherwise unidentified.
Name Tenure Appointed by Notes Refs
Rouphos ca. 712 Philippikos Bardanes Recorded as "prōtostratōr of the Opsikion" by Theophanes the Confessor, he led his troops to depose and blind Philippikos Bardanes, raising Anastasios II on the throne. [2][15]
Constantine ca. 766 Son of the Armenian patrikios Bardanes, recorded as "spatharios and imperial prōtostratōr" by Theophanes the Confessor and as one of the conspirators executed for plotting against Emperor Constantine V on 25 August 766. [2][16]
Bardanes Tourkos before 803 unknown Attested as stratēgos of the Anatolic Theme and prōtostratōr in the Acts of Saints David, Symeon and George. He led an unsuccessful rebellion against Emperor Nikephoros I in 803, and was killed soon after. [17]
Leo the Armenian ca. 803 Bardanes Tourkos The future emperor Leo V the Armenian (r. 813–820) served as prōtostratōr to the general Bardanes Tourkos until the latter's failed revolt. [5][18]
Manuel the Armenian ca. 811–813 Michael I Rhangabe Appointed by Michael I as imperial prōtostratōr, he later advanced to stratēgos of the Armeniac Theme and eventually Domestic of the Schools under emperor Theophilos. [2]
Michael the Amorian ca. 811–813 Leo the Armenian During Michael I's rule, Leo the Armenian appointed his old comrade-in-arms Michael the Amorian as his own prōtostratōr. When Leo became emperor in 813, Michael advanced further in rank and became emperor himself when his supporters murdered Leo in 820. [5][19]
Anonymous ca. 858 Michael III Unnamed basilikos prōtostratōr, at the instigation of the Empress-dowager Theodora, who had been deposed and confined to a convent, he plotted the assassination of the regent Bardas. Discovered, he and his co-conspirators were executed in the Hippodrome of Constantinople. He was succeeded by Basil the Macedonian. [20]
Basil the Macedonian ca. 850s Theophilitzes, Michael III The peasant-born future emperor Basil I (r. 867–886) became prōtostratōr first of a wealthy magnate, Theophilitzes, before entering imperial service as a stratōr. Winning the favour of Emperor Michael III, he quickly became prōtostratōr after his predecessor was executed for participating in a conspiracy, and then progressively advanced to higher and higher office, being eventually named co-emperor in 866, and assassinating Michael in 867, becoming sole emperor and founding the Macedonian dynasty. [5][21]
Eustathios Argyros ca. 866 Bardas An Eustathios Argyros was prōtostratōr and supporter of the Caesar Bardas at the time of the latter's assassination in 866. He is likely identical with the later general of the same name, who had a distinguished career underLeo VI the Wise in the early 10th century. [22]
Nikephoros Phokas the Elder ca. 870s/880s Basil I the Macedonian Taken into the emperor's retinue as a youngster, he was soon raised to prōtostratōr. Became a successful general, his career culminating as Domestic of the Schools in the 890s. Effective founder of the fortunes of the Phokas family. [23]
Baïanos ca. 880 Leo Apostyppes Prōtostratōr of Apostyppes, after his master's disgrace, he revealed his crimes in a letter to Emperor Basil I, but was murdered by Apostyppes' sons in retaliation. [24]
Leo Sarakenopoulos ca. 980 Basil II A general active on the Danube frontier after 971, whose career is mostly known through his seals. In the latest, he held the posts of patrikios, Count of the Stable and prōtostratōr [25]
Romanos Skleros ca. 1042–54 Constantine IX Monomachos A distinguished general and brother of the emperor's powerful mistress, he was named magistros and prōtostratōr ca. 1042, as well as governor (doux) of Antioch. He remained prōtostratōr until 1054, when he was promoted to proedros. [9]
Constantine Doukas ca. 1071 Michael VII Doukas A son of the influential Caesar John Doukas and cousin of Emperor Michael VII. [10]
Michael Doukas 1081 – unknown Alexios I Komnenos Grandson of the Caaesar John Doukas, brother of Alexios' wife, Empress Irene Doukaina. He distinguished himself as a commander, often accompanying the emperor on campaign. [10]
Alexios Axouch before 1157 – ca. 1170 Manuel I Komnenos A son of the Grand Domestic John Axouch, he married Maria Komnene, daughter of Manuel I's deceased elder brother Alexios. A capable general, he fought in Manuel's wars in southern Italy, Cilicia and Hungary before falling foul of the emperor and being confined to a monastery ca. 1170. [10]
Alexios Komnenos ca. 1170 Manuel I Komnenos Attested as prōtostratōr in a synod in 1170, he later became prōtovestiarios, and was the lover and de facto co-regent of Empress-dowager Maria of Antioch in 1180–82. [10]
Manuel Kamytzes ca. 1185 – 1201 Isaac II Angelos, Alexios III Angelos First cousin of Isaac II and Alexios III, he served as commander against the rebel general Alexios Branas, during the passage of Frederick Barbarossa's army for the Third Crusade, and against the Vlach–Bulgarian rebellion. Captured later by the rebel Ivanko, he rebelled against Alexios III when the latter refused to ransom him and imprisoned his family. He was eventually defeated when his son-in-law, Dobromir Chrysos, defected to the emperor. [26]
Theodore Doukas ca. 1180s/1200s Isaac II Angelos or Alexios III Angelos Prōtostratōr and sebastos, known only through his seal. Guilland places him tentatively during the Angelos dynasty. [26]
John Ises ca. 1221–1236 Theodore I Laskaris, John III Doukas Vatatzes Attested as prōtostratōr in documents from 1221 and as late as 1236, he briefly occupied Adrianople in 1224, taking it from the Latin Empire, but was forced to abandon the city to Theodore Komnenos Doukas soon after. [27][28]
John Angelos 1255–1258 Theodore II Laskaris One of the favourites of Theodore II, he was promoted to prōtostratōr in 1255, from the rank of megas primikērios. He died soon after the emperor's death, possibly committing suicide when the nobles under Michael Palaiologos took power. [12][29]
Alexios Doukas Philanthropenos 1259–1273/4 Michael VIII Palaiologos Raised to prōtostratōr shortly after Michael VIII's coronation as emperor, he led the Byzantine navy on campaign in the 1260s and the 1270s in the place of the elderly megas doux Michael Laskaris. He succeeded the latter after his death and the Byzantine victory at the Battle of Demetrias, but died soon after. [30][31]
Andronikos Doukas Aprenos ca. 1266 Michael VIII Palaiologos Known only as the father-in-law of the Grand Domestic Nikephoros Tarchaneiotes. [32]
Theodore Tzimiskes ca. 1268/1290 Nikephoros I Komnenos Doukas Prōtostratōr of the Despotate of Epirus, ktetor of the Church of Panagia Bellas, where he is depicted with his wife, and his brother John and his wife. [33]
Andronikos Palaiologos by 1277–1279/80 Michael VIII Palaiologos A cousin or nephew and ally of Michael VIII during his ascent to the throne, he was raised to prōtostratōr, possibly as successor of Alexios Philanthropenos. He refused to recognize the Union of the Orthodox Church with the Papacy promoted by Michael, however, and was imprisoned, dying in prison ca. 1279/80. [30][34]
Tzasimpaxis ca. 1279/80 Michael VIII Palaiologos His name derives from the Turkish title chavush-bashi. He originally fought for the Byzantine candidate for the Bulgarian throne, Ivan Asen III, and was named prōtostratōr by Michael VIII. Later joined Ivaylo. [30][35]
Michael Strategopoulos ca. 1280, 1283–93 Michael VIII Palaiologos, Andronikos II Palaiologos Deposed for the first time in 1280 for consulting prophetic books on Michael VIII's fate, re-instated by Andronikos II and deposed again and imprisoned in 1293 for accusations of conspiracy. [36][37]
Michael Doukas Glabas Tarchaneiotes between 1297 and 1302/3 – after 1304 Andronikos II Palaiologos A distinguished general, he fought with success against the Serbs, Bulgarians and Angevins. Appointed prōtostratōr sometime between 1297 and 1304 (likely by 1302/3), he retired from service to a monastery and died soon after (between 1305 and 1308). [38][39]
Michael Zorianos ca. 1300 Thomas I Komnenos Doukas Prōtostratōr and epi tēs trapezēs of the Despotate of Epirus. [33][40]
John Philes ca. 1315 Andronikos II Palaiologos Nephew and friend of Andronikos II, despite having no military experience he destroyed a Turkish raid in Thrace, and was named prōtostratōr as a reward. [38][41]
Theodore Synadenos 1321/29–1343 Andronikos III Palaiologos Friend and staunch supporter of Andronikos III in the struggle against Andronikos II, he was promoted prōtostratōr by 1329, perhaps as early as 1321. Held a succession of governorships under Andronikos III, and initially supported John VI Kantakouzenos in the civil war of 1341–47, before being forced to submit to the regency. Named prōtovestiarios, he was imprisoned shortly after, he died in 1345/6. [42][43]
Andronikos Palaiologos 1342–1344 John VI Kantakouzenos Named prōtostratōr and governor of the Rhodope by John VI, but immediately defected to the regency. He drowned in July 1344 in the Hebros river. [44][45]
Andrew Phakiolatos 1347–1354 John VI Kantakouzenos Of Genoese origin, he fought on behalf of the regency during the civil war, but in February 1347 allowed the entrance of Kantakouzenos into Constantinople. Named prōtostratōr by Kantakouzenos, he led the effort to rebuild the Byzantine navy in the unsuccessful war against the Genoese. [46][47]
George Phakrases ca. 1346 – after 1351 John VI Kantakouzenos Supporter of Kantakouzenos, raised to prōtostratōr by 1346, when he defeated Dobrotitsa. He also took part in the unsuccessful assault on Galata in 1351. [48][49]
Constantine Tarchaneiotes ca. 1351 John VI Kantakouzenos As prōtostratōr he led the Byzantine fleet in the unsuccessful assault on Galata in 1351. In 1352 he probably defected to John V Palaiologos. [48][50]
Manasses Tarchaneiotes ca. 1364 John V Palaiologos Mentioned only in a chrysobull in August 1364 as the owner of the monastery of Christ the Saviour in Thessalonica. after his death, it was to pass to the Vatopedi Monastery of Mount Athos. [51][52]
Michael Astras Synadenos ca. 1378 John V Palaiologos Mentioned only in an imperial prostagma regarding a dispute between the Hilandar and Zographou monasteries. [51]
John Palaiologos ca. 1375/6–77 John V Palaiologos Son of the Grand Domestic Demetrios Palaiologos, mentioned in one of the letters of Demetrios Kydones due to a financial dispute. [53]
Chrysos ca. 1376–79 Andronikos IV Palaiologos Mentioned only in a chrysobull as having illegally seized property of the Vatopedi Monastery in Thessalonica. [51][54]
Manuel Phrangopoulos ca. 1394 – after 1407 Manuel II Palaiologos (?) Active in the Despotate of the Morea, he signed a treaty with Venice in 1394. According to Karl Hopf, who does not provide a source, he and acted as regent for the underage Theodore II Palaiologos in 1407. Based on a Venetian document from 1429, he had been promoted to megas doux. [51][55]
Sarakenopoulos ca. 1395 Manuel II Palaiologos (?) Mentioned only as leading a revolt from the fortress of Greveno in 1395 against Theodore I Palaiologos. [51][56]
Kantakouzenos ca. 1395 (?) Known only as the father of Theodora Kantakouzene, wife of Alexios IV of Trebizond. [57]
Joseph Vyzas ca. 1402 Stratoros of the Kingdom of Cyprus at the time of his death in Nicosia in 1402. [58]
Stephen Bouisavos 1411–1430 Carlo I Tocco Albanian, leader of the Malakasioi clan, submitted to Carlo Tocco in 1411 and was named prōtostratōr of Ioannina. [59]
Andronikopoulos unknown, died before 1432 Mentioned only in a document, he was prōtostratōr of the Empire of Trebizond. [60]
Manuel Kantakouzenos 1420–1429 Manuel II Palaiologos Manuel II sent him as an envoy to Mehmed I in 1420, and is still attested in the post in 1429. [51][61]
Nikephoros Melissenos Falsely recorded as megas prōtostratōr (a non-existent title) by Makarios Melissenos, who sought to promote the family's prestige. Nikephoros was actually a magnate in Messenia, became metropolitan of Adrianople and died soon after (1429). [62]
Markos Palaiologos Iagaris ca. 1430 John VIII Palaiologos High-ranking official and frequent diplomatic envoy, he was briefly prōtostratōr sometime around 1430, before being promoted further to megas stratopedarchēs. [63][64]
Nicholas Phrangopoulos ca. 1430 John VIII Palaiologos Recorded as an envoy of John VIII to Sultan Murad II during the Siege of Thessalonica. He latter sided with Thomas Palaiologos against his Demetrios Palaiologos in their quarrels over control of the Morea. [64]
John Phrangopoulos ca. 1428 John VIII Palaiologos Prōtostratōr, katholikos mesazōn, and generalis of Constantine XI Palaiologos during the latter's tenure as Despot of the Morea. Founder of the Pantanassa Monastery in Mystras. [64][65][66]
Kantakouzenos ca. 1430s/1440s–1453 Unnamed son of the mesazōn Demetrios Palaiologos Kantakouzenos, executed by Mehmed II after the Fall of Constantinople. [64][67]
Leo Phrangopoulos ca. 1443 John VIII Palaiologos Attested as travelling to Constantinople in 1443, a nephew of the Nikephoros Melissenos mentioned above. [64]
Palaiologos 1453 Constantine XI Palaiologos Killed with his two sons during the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans. It has been suggested that he may be identified with Theophilos Palaiologos. [64][68]
Giovanni Giustiniani Longo 1453 Constantine XI Palaiologos Commander of the Genoese troops during the Fall of Constantinople. Heavily wounded, he escaped the city, but died on his way to Chios. [33][69]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bury 1911, p. 117.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guilland 1967, p. 478.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 ODB, "Protostrator" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 1748–1749.
  4. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 478–479.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guilland 1967, p. 479.
  6. ↑ Bury 1911, pp. 117–118.
  7. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 479–480.
  8. ↑ Bury 1911, p. 118.
  9. 1 2 3 Guilland 1967, p. 480.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guilland 1967, p. 481.
  11. ↑ Van Tricht 2011, p. 180.
  12. 1 2 Guilland 1967, p. 483.
  13. ↑ Suny 1994, p. 35: "In the formation of his ruling apparatus, David employed the great eristavni, thus making them dependent on him. The eristavi of Svaneti, Iovane Vardanisdze, became the protostratori (later called amirakhori), the second-in-command of the army, and later was given the post of mechurchletukhutsesi, the director of finances."
  14. ↑ Kyrris 1968, pp. 119–138.
  15. ↑ PmbZ, Ruphos (#6435).
  16. ↑ PmbZ, Konstantinos (#3825/corr.).
  17. ↑ PmbZ, Bardanes Turkos (#766).
  18. ↑ ODB, "Leo V the Armenian" (P. A. Hollingsworth, A. Cutler), pp. 1209–1210.
  19. ↑ ODB, "Michael II" (P. A. Hollingsworth), p. 1363.
  20. ↑ PmbZ, Anonymus (#12085).
  21. ↑ ODB, "Basil I" (A. Kazhdan, A. Cutler), p. 260.
  22. ↑ PmbZ, Eustathios Argyros (#21828).
  23. ↑ PmbZ, Nikephoros Phokas (“der Ältere”) (#25545).
  24. ↑ PmbZ, Baïanos (#20745).
  25. ↑ PmbZ, Leon Sarakenopulos (#24520).
  26. 1 2 Guilland 1967, p. 482.
  27. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 482–483.
  28. ↑ Macrides 2007, pp. 171–174.
  29. ↑ Macrides 2007, pp. 290 (note 4), 298, 347, 349 (note 8).
  30. 1 2 3 Guilland 1967, p. 484.
  31. ↑ PLP, 29751. Φιλανθρωπηνός, Ἀλέξιος Δούκας.
  32. ↑ PLP, 1207. Ἀπρηνός, Ἀνδρόνικος Δούκας.
  33. 1 2 3 Guilland 1967, p. 490.
  34. ↑ PLP, 21432. Παλαιολόγος, Ἀνδρόνικος.
  35. ↑ PLP, 27813. Τζασίμπαξις.
  36. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 484–485.
  37. ↑ PLP, 26898. Στρατηγόπουλος, Μιχαήλ.
  38. 1 2 Guilland 1967, p. 485.
  39. ↑ PLP, 27504. Ταρχανειώτης, Μιχαὴλ Δοῦκας Γλαβᾶς.
  40. ↑ PLP, 6666. Ζωριᾶνος, Μιχαήλ.
  41. ↑ PLP, 29815. Φιλῆς, Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος.
  42. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 485–486.
  43. ↑ PLP, 27120. Συναδηνός, Θεόδωρος Κομνηνός Δούκας Παλαιολόγος.
  44. ↑ Guilland 1967, p. 486.
  45. ↑ PLP, 21433. Παλαιολόγος, Ἀνδρόνικος.
  46. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 486–487.
  47. ↑ PLP, 29599. Φακιολᾶτος, Ἀνδρέας.
  48. 1 2 Guilland 1967, p. 487.
  49. ↑ PLP, 29575. Φακρασῆς, Γεώργιος.
  50. ↑ PLP, 27494. Ταρχανειώτης, Κωνσταντῖνος.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guilland 1967, p. 488.
  52. ↑ PLP, 27498. Ταρχανειώτης, Μανασσῆς.
  53. ↑ PLP, 21484. Παλαιολόγος, Ἰωάννης.
  54. ↑ PLP, 31190. Χρυσός.
  55. ↑ PLP, 30139. Φραγκόπουλος <Μανουήλ>.
  56. ↑ PLP, 24855. Σαρακηνόπουλος.
  57. ↑ PLP, 10948. Καντακουζηνός.
  58. ↑ PLP, 3269. <Βύζας> Ἰωσήφ.
  59. ↑ PLP, 19769. Μπουΐσαβος, Στέφανος.
  60. ↑ PLP, 949. Ἀνδρονικόπουλος.
  61. ↑ PLP, 10979. Καντακουζηνός, Μανουήλ.
  62. ↑ Guilland 1967, pp. 488–489.
  63. ↑ PLP, 7811. Ἰάγαρης, Μάρκος Παλαιολόγος.
  64. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Guilland 1967, p. 489.
  65. ↑ ODB, "Phrangopoulos" (A. Kazhdan, A. Cutler), p. 1671.
  66. ↑ PLP, 30100. Φραγγόπουλος ̓Ἰωάννης.
  67. ↑ PLP, 10962. Καντακουζηνός, Δημήτριος Παλαιολόγος.
  68. ↑ PLP, 21416. Παλαιολόγος.
  69. ↑ PLP, 8227. Ἰουστινιανός, Ἰωάννης Λόγγος.

Sources

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