Parathalassites
Encyclopedia
The parathalassitēs was a Byzantine
judicial and administrative office which, as its name implies, exercised control over maritime traffic and the imports and tolls on goods conveyed thereby.
Although there were several parathalassitai in the provinces, the most important holder of the office was the parathalassitēs of Constantinople
, the imperial capital. The origins of the office are obscure: an anonymous chronicle attributes its creation to Emperor Justinian I
(r. 527–565). He may be regarded as the rough equivalent of the comes riparum ("count of the river") and comes portus ("count of the port") of Old Rome
. Like him, he was a subordinate official of the urban prefect; in the Klētorologion
of 899, he is indeed shown as being of relatively lowly rank. The office however evidently rose in importance later, during the 11th and 12th centuries, as attested by their senior dignities (up to prōtoproedros and kouropalatēs) in surviving seals of office. It is possible, as surmised by Helene Ahrweiler
, that at about the same time the office was removed from the urban prefect's purview and made an independent government department, putting the parathalassitēs on the same footing as the urban prefect and the logothetēs tou genikou
. In the 12th century, multiple holders of the office are attested at the same time. It is not known when the office was abolished, but it does not appear in sources from the 13th century onwards.
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...
judicial and administrative office which, as its name implies, exercised control over maritime traffic and the imports and tolls on goods conveyed thereby.
Although there were several parathalassitai in the provinces, the most important holder of the office was the parathalassitēs 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 imperial capital. The origins of the office are obscure: an anonymous chronicle attributes its creation to Emperor 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...
(r. 527–565). He may be regarded as the rough equivalent of the comes riparum ("count of the river") and comes portus ("count of the port") of Old Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. Like him, he was a subordinate official of the urban prefect; in the Klētorologion
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, he is indeed shown as being of relatively lowly rank. The office however evidently rose in importance later, during the 11th and 12th centuries, as attested by their senior dignities (up to prōtoproedros and kouropalatēs) in surviving seals of office. It is possible, as surmised by Helene Ahrweiler
Helene Ahrweiler
Helene Ahrweiler, née Glykatzi is an eminent Greek university professor and Byzantinologist. She is also a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Greece. In the 2008 show Great Greeks, she was named amongst the 100 greatest Greeks of all time.- Life :...
, that at about the same time the office was removed from the urban prefect's purview and made an independent government department, putting the parathalassitēs on the same footing as the urban prefect and the logothetēs tou genikou
Logothetes tou genikou
The logothetēs tou genikou , often called genikos logothetēs or simply ho genikos , and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete, was in charge of the "general financial ministry", the genikon [logothesion] of the middle Byzantine Empire.-History and functions:The genikon was...
. In the 12th century, multiple holders of the office are attested at the same time. It is not known when the office was abolished, but it does not appear in sources from the 13th century onwards.