Apocrisiarius
Encyclopedia
An apocrisiarius, the Latinized form of apokrisiarios , sometimes Anglicized as apocrisiary, was a high diplomatic
representative during Late Antiquity
and the early medieval period
. The corresponding (purist) Latin term was responsalis ("he who answers"). The title was used by Byzantine
ambassadors
as well as by the representatives of bishops to the secular authorities. The closest modern equivalent is a papal nuncio
; the title apocrisiarius is also still employed by the Anglican church.
, a less precise term) of a patriarch
or other bishop to the Byzantine
imperial court of Constantinople
. The office existed since the 5th century, but was institutionalized by law only under Justinian I
. Several of the more important ecclesiastical sees maintained permanent apocrisiarii in the imperial capital. The most important of these were the papal apocrisiarii
(circa 452 till 743). The title was also used for the representative of a metropolitan archbishop at the court of his 'territorial' patriarch in either Constantinople
, Alexandria
, Antioch
or Jerusalem and for secular officials carrying correspondence of the Byzantine Emperor.
, the court of the Frankish
king/emperor had clerical members styled apocrisiarii. However, they were only royal archchaplain
s decorated with the title of the ancient papal envoys, since they did not perform any diplomatic duties.
, representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury
to various churches are styled apocrisiarioi.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
representative during Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity
Late Antiquity is a periodization used by historians to describe the time of transition from Classical Antiquity to the Middle Ages, in both mainland Europe and the Mediterranean world. Precise boundaries for the period are a matter of debate, but noted historian of the period Peter Brown proposed...
and the early medieval period
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The corresponding (purist) Latin term was responsalis ("he who answers"). The title was used by Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
ambassadors
Byzantine diplomacy
Byzantine diplomacy concerns the principles, methods, mechanisms, ideals, and techniques that the Byzantine Empire espoused and used in order to negotiate with other states and to promote the goals of its foreign policy...
as well as by the representatives of bishops to the secular authorities. The closest modern equivalent is a papal nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
; the title apocrisiarius is also still employed by the Anglican church.
Byzantine apocrisiarii
An apocrisiarius was a cleric who served as the representative (also described as legatePapal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
, a less precise term) of a patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
or other bishop to the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
imperial court of Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. The office existed since the 5th century, but was institutionalized by law only under Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
. Several of the more important ecclesiastical sees maintained permanent apocrisiarii in the imperial capital. The most important of these were the papal apocrisiarii
Papal apocrisiarius
The apocrisiarius or apocrisiary was the legate from the Pope to the Patriarch of Constantinople, circa 452-743, equivalent to the modern nunciature.-Nomenclature:...
(circa 452 till 743). The title was also used for the representative of a metropolitan archbishop at the court of his 'territorial' patriarch in either Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
, Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
or Jerusalem and for secular officials carrying correspondence of the Byzantine Emperor.
Frankish apocrisiarii
From the reign of CharlemagneCharlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, the court of the Frankish
Franks
The Franks were a confederation of Germanic tribes first attested in the third century AD as living north and east of the Lower Rhine River. From the third to fifth centuries some Franks raided Roman territory while other Franks joined the Roman troops in Gaul. Only the Salian Franks formed a...
king/emperor had clerical members styled apocrisiarii. However, they were only royal archchaplain
Archchaplain
An Archchaplain is a cleric with a senior position in a royal court. The title was used in the Frankish kingdom in the Carolingian period....
s decorated with the title of the ancient papal envoys, since they did not perform any diplomatic duties.
Anglican Church
In the modern Anglican CommunionAnglican Communion
The Anglican Communion is an international association of national and regional Anglican churches in full communion with the Church of England and specifically with its principal primate, the Archbishop of Canterbury...
, representatives of the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
to various churches are styled apocrisiarioi.
Further reading
- Various articles in the Catholic Encyclopaedia
- Nouveau petit Larousse illustré (1952, encyclopaedic dictionary in French)