Stratopedarches
Encyclopedia
Stratopedarchēs sometimes Anglicized as stratopedarch, was a Greek
term used with regard to high-ranking military commanders from the 1st century BC on, becoming a proper office and later an honorary title during the Byzantine Empire
.
. Its origin is unclear, as is its correspondence to the contemporary Roman legionary
post of praefectus castrorum
("camp prefect"), for which it is used as a translation in some inscriptions. At any rate, from the 1st century AD, it was used (albeit infrequently) in a broader sense as a literary term to refer to generals, i.e. as a synonym of the older title stratēgos
. Thus in the Bible
it is used for the praetorian prefect
, the commander of the camp and garrison
of the Praetorian Guard
in Rome
, while in the 4th century, the historian Eusebius writes of the "stratopedarchēs, whom the Romans call dux
".
The term acquired a technical meaning in 967, when Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969) named the eunuch Peter Phokas
as stratopedarchēs before sending him with an army to Cilicia
. The Escorial Taktikon
, written a few years later, shows the existence of two stratopedarchai, one of the East (Anatolia
) and one of the West (the Balkans
). This arrangement parallels that of the two domestikoi tōn scholōn, a fact that led Nicolas Oikonomides to suggest that the post was created as a substitute of the latter office, which was barred to eunuchs. During the 11th and 12th centuries, this precise arrangement is no longer in evidence; instead, stratopedarchēs was one of the official titles of the commanders-in-chief of the Byzantine army
, and is amply attested in seals.
The title megas stratopedarchēs ("grand master of the camp") was instituted circa 1255 by the Emperor Theodore II Laskaris
(r. 1254–1258) for his chief minister and confidante, George Mouzalon
. The mid-14th century Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos places the megas stratopedarchēs as the seventh-most senior official of the state below the Byzantine emperor, ranking between the prōtostratōr
and the megas primmikērios. Kodinos claims that he was in charge of provisioning the army, and places four subordinate stratopedarchai under his command: those of the monokaballoi (Greek: μονοκάβαλλοι, "single-horsemen"), a cavalry unit; the tzangratores (Greek: τζαγγράτορες, "crossbow
-men"); the tzakōnes (Greek: τζάκωνες, "Tsakonians
"), a palace guard originally composed of marines; and the mourtatoi (Greek: μουρτάτοι), whom Kodinos presents as palace guards, but whose real nature remains obscure. In reality, however, in the Palaiologan period the [megas] stratopedarchēs was most likely a mere court title, and did not necessarily entail a military command.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
term used with regard to high-ranking military commanders from the 1st century BC on, becoming a proper office and later an honorary title during the Byzantine Empire
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...
.
History
The term first appears in the late 1st century BC in the Hellenistic Near EastNear East
The Near East is a geographical term that covers different countries for geographers, archeologists, and historians, on the one hand, and for political scientists, economists, and journalists, on the other...
. Its origin is unclear, as is its correspondence to the contemporary Roman legionary
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
post of praefectus castrorum
Praefectus Castrorum
The praefectus castrorum was, in the Roman army of the early Empire, the third-most senior commander of the Roman legion, after the legate and the senior military tribune . His responsibility was looking after equipment and building works but could command the legion when his seniors were absent...
("camp prefect"), for which it is used as a translation in some inscriptions. At any rate, from the 1st century AD, it was used (albeit infrequently) in a broader sense as a literary term to refer to generals, i.e. as a synonym of the older title stratēgos
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...
. Thus in the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
it is used for the praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
, the commander of the camp and garrison
Garrison
Garrison is the collective term for a body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it, but now often simply using it as a home base....
of the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
in 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...
, while in the 4th century, the historian Eusebius writes of the "stratopedarchēs, whom the Romans call dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
".
The term acquired a technical meaning in 967, when Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969) named the eunuch Peter Phokas
Peter Phokas
Peter Phokas was a Byzantine eunuch general. Originally a slave of the powerful Cappadocian Phokas family, he was raised to high military office and the rank of patrikios by the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas ....
as stratopedarchēs before sending him with an army to Cilicia
Cilicia
In antiquity, Cilicia was the south coastal region of Asia Minor, south of the central Anatolian plateau. It existed as a political entity from Hittite times into the Byzantine empire...
. The Escorial Taktikon
Escorial Taktikon
The Escorial Taktikon , also known as the Taktikon Oikonomides after Nicolas Oikonomides who first edited it, is a list of Byzantine offices, dignities, and titles composed in Constantinople during the 970s...
, written a few years later, shows the existence of two stratopedarchai, one of the East (Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
) and one of the West (the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
). This arrangement parallels that of the two domestikoi tōn scholōn, a fact that led Nicolas Oikonomides to suggest that the post was created as a substitute of the latter office, which was barred to eunuchs. During the 11th and 12th centuries, this precise arrangement is no longer in evidence; instead, stratopedarchēs was one of the official titles of the commanders-in-chief of the Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
, and is amply attested in seals.
The title megas stratopedarchēs ("grand master of the camp") was instituted circa 1255 by the Emperor Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris was emperor of Nicaea, 1254–1258.-Life:Theodore II Doukas Laskaris was the only son of Emperor John III Doukas Vatatzes and Eirene Laskarina, the daughter of Emperor Theodore I Laskaris and Anna Angelina, a daughter of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and...
(r. 1254–1258) for his chief minister and confidante, George Mouzalon
George Mouzalon
George Mouzalon was a high official of the Empire of Nicaea under Theodore II Laskaris . Of humble origin, he became Theodore's companion in childhood and was raised to high state office upon the latter's assumption of power. This caused great resentment from the aristocracy, which had monopolized...
. The mid-14th century Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos places the megas stratopedarchēs as the seventh-most senior official of the state below the Byzantine emperor, ranking between the prōtostratōr
Protostrator
Prōtostratōr 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...
and the megas primmikērios. Kodinos claims that he was in charge of provisioning the army, and places four subordinate stratopedarchai under his command: those of the monokaballoi (Greek: μονοκάβαλλοι, "single-horsemen"), a cavalry unit; the tzangratores (Greek: τζαγγράτορες, "crossbow
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
-men"); the tzakōnes (Greek: τζάκωνες, "Tsakonians
Tsakonians
Tsakonians ; are a native Greek population group, speakers of the Tsakonian dialect, or more broadly, inhabitants of Tsakonia in the eastern Peloponnese and followers of certain Tsakonian cultural traditions, such as the Tsakonian dance....
"), a palace guard originally composed of marines; and the mourtatoi (Greek: μουρτάτοι), whom Kodinos presents as palace guards, but whose real nature remains obscure. In reality, however, in the Palaiologan period the [megas] stratopedarchēs was most likely a mere court title, and did not necessarily entail a military command.