Drungarios
Encyclopedia
A droungarios, also spelled drungarios or, in its English
form, drungary, was a military rank
of the late Roman
and Byzantine Empires
, signifying the commander of a droungos
.
(r. 582-602) in his Strategikon used droungos to refer to a specific tactical deployment, usually of cavalry
, although still in the general sense of "grouping, division".
The term droungarios (Greek: δρουγγάριος) is not documented before the early 7th century but might have been used as an informal or unofficial designation before that date. The office and the corresponding unit appear to have initially referred to ad hoc
arrangements, but during the early 7th century these were formalized, like much of the Eastern Roman army's rank structure. In the new military-administrative theme system, every major division, called a thema (Greek: θέμα), was further divided into tourmai, while each tourma was divided into moirai (Greek: μοίραι) or droungoi, which in turn were composed of several banda
. Thus each moira or droungos was the analogue of a modern regiment or brigade, initially circa 1000 men strong (and hence also referred to as a chiliarchia
), although on occasion it could rise to 3000 men, and Emperor Leo VI the Wise
is recorded as having established droungoi of only 400 men for the new smaller themes.
The rank of droungarios was one of the lowest military ranks that carried an accompanying court title, ranging from hypatos to vestētōr.
regiment (one of the tagmata
) bore the rank of droungarios tēs viglēs (Greek: ). The first mention of this office occurs in 791. The Vigla regiment was responsible for guarding the Byzantine emperor on campaign. The close proximity to the Byzantine emperor made the office extremely important, and in the 10th and 11th centuries it was held by a number of leading aristocratic families.
After circa 1030, this office also assumed significant judicial responsibilities, since its holder became the president of the imperial court of the Vēlon, housed at the "Covered Hippodrome" adjoining the imperial palace
, in which capacity it survived until the end of the Byzantine Empire. The prefix megas ("grand") was added to the title, reflecting the fact that in the Komnenian period, its holders, men like Andronikos Kamateros
, were among the Byzantine emperor's senior aides. In the Palaiologan period, this office was the tenth in the overall hierarchy, according to the list of Pseudo-Kodinos, and on campaign, its holder was responsible for setting the watch around the imperial camp.
The rank of droungarios was also used in the Byzantine navy
to designate its admirals
. The droungarios tou [basilikou] ploïmou (Greek: ) was the commander of the central Imperial Fleet, based at and around Constantinople
, while the provincial ("thematic") fleets were also commanded by a droungarios (although it was later replaced by the more exalted rank of strategos
), to whose title was added the name of the thema under his command, e.g. droungarios tōn Kibyrrhaiōtōn (Greek: , one of the subordinate admirals of the Cibyrrhaeot Theme
). The position of the droungarios tou ploïmou first occurs in the so-called Taktikon Uspensky
of circa 842, and the exact date of its establishment is unclear.
The droungarios of the Imperial Fleet was raised to the rank of megas droungarios [tou stolou] ("Grand Drungary [of the Fleet]") in the 11th century, acting as commander-in-chief of the entire Byzantine navy, until he was replaced in this task by the megas doux
in the 1090s. The office of megas droungarios of the fleet continued to exist, in a subordinate position, until the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The variant rank of droungarokomēs (Greek: δρουγγαροκόμης) also existed, signifying a count (komēs) in command of a squadron of warships.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
form, drungary, was a military rank
Military rank
Military rank is a system of hierarchical relationships in armed forces or civil institutions organized along military lines. Usually, uniforms denote the bearer's rank by particular insignia affixed to the uniforms...
of the late Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and Byzantine Empires
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, signifying the commander of a droungos
Droungos
Droungos or drungus is a late Roman and Byzantine term for a battalion-sized military unit, and later for a local command guarding mountain districts. Its commander was a droungarios or drungarius.-History and functions:...
.
Late Roman and Byzantine army
Drungus is first attested in Latin in the early 4th century, adopted either from Gaulish or a Germanic language. In the late 6th century, the Emperor MauriceMaurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(r. 582-602) in his Strategikon used droungos to refer to a specific tactical deployment, usually of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, although still in the general sense of "grouping, division".
The term droungarios (Greek: δρουγγάριος) is not documented before the early 7th century but might have been used as an informal or unofficial designation before that date. The office and the corresponding unit appear to have initially referred to ad hoc
Ad hoc
Ad hoc is a Latin phrase meaning "for this". It generally signifies a solution designed for a specific problem or task, non-generalizable, and not intended to be able to be adapted to other purposes. Compare A priori....
arrangements, but during the early 7th century these were formalized, like much of the Eastern Roman army's rank structure. In the new military-administrative theme system, every major division, called a thema (Greek: θέμα), was further divided into tourmai, while each tourma was divided into moirai (Greek: μοίραι) or droungoi, which in turn were composed of several banda
Bandon (Byzantine Empire)
The bandon was the basic military and territorial administrative unit of the middle Byzantine Empire. Its name derived from Latin bandum, "ensign, banner", which in turn had a Germanic origin. The term was used already in the 6th century as a term for a battle standard, and soon came to be applied...
. Thus each moira or droungos was the analogue of a modern regiment or brigade, initially circa 1000 men strong (and hence also referred to as a chiliarchia
Chiliarch
Chiliarch , in the Greek army of the Hellenistic period, was a commander of a 1,000 men unit, roughly equivalent to a modern battalion. The office was an adaptation by Alexander the Great of the Persian Achaemenid empire's hazarapatish. A chiliarch held duties both martial and civil...
), although on occasion it could rise to 3000 men, and Emperor Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
is recorded as having established droungoi of only 400 men for the new smaller themes.
The rank of droungarios was one of the lowest military ranks that carried an accompanying court title, ranging from hypatos to vestētōr.
Droungarios of the Vigla
The commander of the elite ViglaVigla (tagma)
The Vigla , also known as the Arithmos and in English as the Watch, was one of the elite tagmata of the Byzantine army. It was established in the latter half of the 8th century, and survived until the late 11th century...
regiment (one of the tagmata
Tagma (military)
The tagma is a term for a military unit of battalion or regiment size. The best-known and most technical use of the term however refers to the elite regiments formed by Byzantine emperor Constantine V and comprising the central army of the Byzantine Empire in the 8th–11th centuries.-History and...
) bore the rank of droungarios tēs viglēs (Greek: ). The first mention of this office occurs in 791. The Vigla regiment was responsible for guarding the Byzantine emperor on campaign. The close proximity to the Byzantine emperor made the office extremely important, and in the 10th and 11th centuries it was held by a number of leading aristocratic families.
After circa 1030, this office also assumed significant judicial responsibilities, since its holder became the president of the imperial court of the Vēlon, housed at the "Covered Hippodrome" adjoining the imperial palace
Great Palace of Constantinople
The Great Palace of Constantinople — also known as the Sacred Palace — was the large Imperial Byzantine palace complex located in the south-eastern end of the peninsula now known as "Old Istanbul", modern Turkey...
, in which capacity it survived until the end of the Byzantine Empire. The prefix megas ("grand") was added to the title, reflecting the fact that in the Komnenian period, its holders, men like Andronikos Kamateros
Andronikos Kamateros
Andronikos Kamateros , Latinized as Andronicus Camaterus, was Eparch of Constantinople about 1156, and a relative of the Emperor Manuel I Komnenos , who raised him to the rank of sebastos and made him megas droungarios of the Vigla, one of the highest judicial offices in the Empire.Joannes Veccus,...
, were among the Byzantine emperor's senior aides. In the Palaiologan period, this office was the tenth in the overall hierarchy, according to the list of Pseudo-Kodinos, and on campaign, its holder was responsible for setting the watch around the imperial camp.
Byzantine navy
- For more details, see Organization of the Byzantine navy.
The rank of droungarios was also used in the Byzantine navy
Byzantine navy
The Byzantine navy was the naval force of the East Roman or Byzantine Empire. Like the empire it served, it was a direct continuation from its imperial Roman predecessor, but played a far greater role in the defense and survival of the state then its earlier iterations...
to designate its admirals
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
. The droungarios tou [basilikou] ploïmou (Greek: ) was the commander of the central Imperial Fleet, based at and around 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:...
, while the provincial ("thematic") fleets were also commanded by a droungarios (although it was later replaced by the more exalted rank of strategos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
), to whose title was added the name of the thema under his command, e.g. droungarios tōn Kibyrrhaiōtōn (Greek: , one of the subordinate admirals of the Cibyrrhaeot Theme
Cibyrrhaeot Theme
The Cibyrrhaeot Theme, more properly the Theme of the Cibyrrhaeots , was a Byzantine theme encompassing the southern coast of Asia Minor from the early 8th to the late 12th centuries...
). The position of the droungarios tou ploïmou first occurs in the so-called Taktikon Uspensky
Taktikon Uspensky
The Taktikon Uspensky or Uspenskij is the conventional name of a mid-9th century Greek list of the civil, military and ecclesiastical offices of the Byzantine Empire and their precedence at the imperial court. Nicolas Oikonomides has dated it to 842/843, making it the first of a series of such...
of circa 842, and the exact date of its establishment is unclear.
The droungarios of the Imperial Fleet was raised to the rank of megas droungarios [tou stolou] ("Grand Drungary [of the Fleet]") in the 11th century, acting as commander-in-chief of the entire Byzantine navy, until he was replaced in this task by the megas doux
Megas Doux
The megas doux was one of the highest positions in the hierarchy of the later Byzantine Empire, denoting the commander-in-chief of the Byzantine navy. It is sometimes also given by the half-Latinizations megaduke or megadux...
in the 1090s. The office of megas droungarios of the fleet continued to exist, in a subordinate position, until the fall of the Byzantine Empire. The variant rank of droungarokomēs (Greek: δρουγγαροκόμης) also existed, signifying a count (komēs) in command of a squadron of warships.