Vestarches
Encyclopedia
Vestarchēs was a senior Byzantine
honorific dignity
in use from the late 10th to the early 12th centuries.
Vestarchēs means "head of the vestai", another group of high court dignitaries. Etymologically, these terms are related to the vestiarion
, the imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts to connect the vestai/vestarchēs with the officials of the vestiarion (cf. Bréhier), no such relation appears to have existed.
It is first mentioned in the Escorial Taktikon
, a list of offices and court tiles and their precedence compiled in ca. 975. Initially it was restricted to senior court eunuch
s, but came to be awarded to senior officers as well after the mid-11th century. Its holders included famed generals such as Michael Bourtzes, Nikephoros Melissenos
, and possibly also the future emperors Nikephoros Botaneiates and Romanos Diogenes, but also some senior judicial officials of Constantinople
. In the palace hierarchy, it came between the title of magistros and that of vestes, but was devalued with the general inflation of awards during the latter decades of the 11th century: by the turn of the century, the new title of prōtovestarchēs is attested as being awarded to judges and notaries. Both titles are in evidence in the early 12th century, but apparently fell completely out of use soon after.
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...
honorific 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...
in use from the late 10th to the early 12th centuries.
Vestarchēs means "head of the vestai", another group of high court dignitaries. Etymologically, these terms are related to the vestiarion
Vestiarion
The vestiarion , sometimes with the adjectives basilikon or mega , was one of the major fiscal departments of the Byzantine bureaucracy. In English, it is often known as the department of the Public Wardrobe...
, the imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts to connect the vestai/vestarchēs with the officials of the vestiarion (cf. Bréhier), no such relation appears to have existed.
It is first mentioned in 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...
, a list of offices and court tiles and their precedence compiled in ca. 975. Initially it was restricted to senior court 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...
s, but came to be awarded to senior officers as well after the mid-11th century. Its holders included famed generals such as Michael Bourtzes, Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos
Nikephoros Melissenos , latinized as Nicephorus Melissenus, was a Byzantine general and aristocrat. Of distinguished lineage, he served as a governor and general in the Balkans and Asia Minor in the 1060s. In the turbulent period after the Battle of Manzikert in 1071, several generals tried to...
, and possibly also the future emperors Nikephoros Botaneiates and Romanos Diogenes, but also some senior judicial officials 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:...
. In the palace hierarchy, it came between the title of magistros and that of vestes, but was devalued with the general inflation of awards during the latter decades of the 11th century: by the turn of the century, the new title of prōtovestarchēs is attested as being awarded to judges and notaries. Both titles are in evidence in the early 12th century, but apparently fell completely out of use soon after.