Ostiarios
Encyclopedia
Ostiarios was a Byzantine
court dignity
reserved for eunuch
palace officials.
The Patria of Constantinople
mention an ostiarios Antiochos in the 6th century at the time of Justinian I
, and a 7th-century seal records an ostiarios and koubikoularios (servant of the imperial bedchamber). As a pure dignity, to be held alongside proper offices, the ostiarios is first recorded in historical sources for the year 787. By this time the title seems to have become firmly established as a dignity, although there is still mention of it being an active function, such as in the Kletorologion
of 899 of an "imperial ostiarios" performing the duties of an usher.
The dignity was an awarded title (axia dia brabeiou), with a gold band with a jewelled handle as its characteristic insigne (brabeion). It and was the fourth-lowest dignity for eunuchs, above the spatharokoubikoularios and below the primikerios, and was reserved specifically for them. It was most frequently awarded to mid-level civil functionaries, such as protonotarioi.
The dignity is last mentioned in 1086. Nicolas Oikonomides concludes that it must have disappeared by the end of the 11th century, although another ostiarios is mentioned in 1174 and some seals have been dated to the 12th and possibly even the 13th century.
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...
court dignity
Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy
The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy, which was inherited from the Roman Empire. At the apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler and divinely ordained, but beneath him a multitude of officials and court functionaries operated the administrative...
reserved for eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
palace officials.
The Patria of Constantinople
Patria of Constantinople
The Patria of Constantinople , also known by the Latin name Scriptores originum Constantinopolitarum , is a Byzantine collection of historical works on the history and monuments of the Byzantine imperial capital of Constantinople .Although in the past attributed to the 14th-century writer George...
mention an ostiarios Antiochos in the 6th century at the time of 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...
, and a 7th-century seal records an ostiarios and koubikoularios (servant of the imperial bedchamber). As a pure dignity, to be held alongside proper offices, the ostiarios is first recorded in historical sources for the year 787. By this time the title seems to have become firmly established as a dignity, although there is still mention of it being an active function, such as in the Kletorologion
Kletorologion
The Klētorologion of Philotheos , is the longest and most important of the Byzantine lists of offices and court precedence . It was published in September of 899 during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise by the otherwise unknown prōtospatharios and atriklinēs Philotheos...
of 899 of an "imperial ostiarios" performing the duties of an usher.
The dignity was an awarded title (axia dia brabeiou), with a gold band with a jewelled handle as its characteristic insigne (brabeion). It and was the fourth-lowest dignity for eunuchs, above the spatharokoubikoularios and below the primikerios, and was reserved specifically for them. It was most frequently awarded to mid-level civil functionaries, such as protonotarioi.
The dignity is last mentioned in 1086. Nicolas Oikonomides concludes that it must have disappeared by the end of the 11th century, although another ostiarios is mentioned in 1174 and some seals have been dated to the 12th and possibly even the 13th century.