Vigla (tagma)
Encyclopedia
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. Along with the Noumeroi regiment, the Vigla formed the guard of the imperial palace
in Constantinople
, and was responsible for the emperor's safety on expeditions.
: the term vigilia was applied from the 4th century on to any kind of guard detachment, while arithmos is the Greek translation of the Latin numerus
, both titles being used in a generic sense for "regiment". In literary sources, Vigla is more commonly used than Arithmos, and is also the title used in the seals of its commanders.
Its exact date of creation is contested among the modern historians of the Byzantine army
: John Haldon considers that the Vigla was established as a tagma by the Empress Eirene in the 780s out of a provincial brigade, but Warren Treadgold supports its creation along with the first two tagmata, the Scholai and Exkoubitoi, by Constantine V
in the mid-8th century. If the former is true, then the establishment of the Vigla by Eirene may have been intended to counterbalance the two older tagmata, which remained loyal to iconoclasm and resented Eirene's iconophile policies. The provincial parent unit in turn appears to have been of considerably longer ancestry: the presence of archaic late Roman titles for its officers points to an origin, possibly as a cavalry vexillation, in the old East Roman army
before the Muslim conquests
of the 7th century. J.B. Bury has traced a hypothetical lineage to the early 5th-century vexillationes palatinae
of the Comites Arcadiaci, the Comites Honoriaci and the Equites Theodosiaci. Along with many of the other tagmata, the Vigla disappeared in the decades of crisis in the late 11th century: it is last mentioned in 1094.
As the name indicates, the Vigla was tasked with guard duties, both in the imperial palace and on campaign. Unlike the other cavalry tagmata, which were mostly garrisoned outside Constantinople in Thrace
and Bithynia
, the Vigla had a significant presence in the capital. There its task was guarding the imperial palace, along with the less prestigious infantry tagmata of the Noumeroi (responsible also for the palace prisons) and the Teicheiōtai (guarding the city walls
). On imperial expeditions, it and its commander were responsible for the safety of the camp, relaying the Emperor's orders, and guarding prisoners of war.
Uniquely among the tagmata, and perhaps a reflection of its ancestry, since it was more common in the 6th century, the commander of the Vigla bore the title of droungarios , in English sometimes rendered as "Drungary of the Watch". The first known holder of the office was Alexios Mosele
in 791. Due to his proximity to the emperor, the droungarios was usually a close and trusted aide, as well as one of the senior military officers of the state. In the 10th century, the office was given to some of the most distinguished scions of the Byzantine military aristocracy, but from ca. 1030 on, it was transformed into a civil office with judicial responsibilities. In this capacity, it survived well beyond the regiment's demise and unto the end of the Palaiologan period.
Under the droungarios were one or two topotērētai (sing. topotērētēs, τοποτηρητής, lit. "placeholder, lieutenant"), a chartoularios
as head of the commander's secretariat, and the akolouthos
, a title unique to the Vigla but corresponding to similar subaltern officers, the proximos of the Scholai and the prōtomandatōr of the Exkoubitoi. The unit was divided into twenty banda (sing. bandon
, βάνδον, from , "banner"), each of theoretically 50 men, commanded by a komēs
. In turn, each of these commanded five kentarchoi (sing. kentarchos, κένταρχος, "centurion
").
Among the lower ranks within each tagma were two further classes of subaltern officers, the bandophoroi (βανδοφόροι, "banner-bearers") and the mandator
es (μανδάτορες, "messengers"). Each tagma numbered forty of the bandophoroi, divided into four different classes of ten, with differing titles in each unit. For the Vigla in particular, these titles can be traced to the standard Roman cavalry ranks of the 5th-6th centuries. These were: the bandophoroi, the labourisioi (λαβουρίσιοι, a corruption of 6th-century labarēsioi, "carriers of the labarum
"), the sēmeiophoroi (σημειοφόροι, "bearers of an insigne", cf. the late Roman semafori) , and the doukiniatores (δουκινιάτορες, again a corruption of the Latin ducenarii of the late Roman military). The Vigla also was unique in having several ranks of messengers: along with the ordinary mandatores present in the other units, it included legatarioi (λεγατάριοι, "legate
es"), thyrōroi (θυρωροί, "doorkeepers"), skoutarioi (σκουτάριοι, "shield-bearers") and diatrechontes (διατρέχοντες, "runners").
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...
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...
. It was established in the latter half of the 8th century, and survived until the late 11th century. Along with the Noumeroi regiment, the Vigla formed the guard of 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 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:...
, and was responsible for the emperor's safety on expeditions.
History and functions
The Vigla or Arithmos was the third of the imperial tagmata to be established, with its commander attested for the first time in 791. Both names derive from the Latin terminology of the late Roman armyLate Roman army
The Late Roman army is the term used to denote the military forces of the Roman Empire from the accession of Emperor Diocletian in 284 until the Empire's definitive division into Eastern and Western halves in 395. A few decades afterwards, the Western army disintegrated as the Western empire...
: the term vigilia was applied from the 4th century on to any kind of guard detachment, while arithmos is the Greek translation of the Latin numerus
Numerus
Numerus may refer to one of the following*Grammatical number*A military unit of 200–400 men, in the Roman EmpireSee also:*Roman numerals...
, both titles being used in a generic sense for "regiment". In literary sources, Vigla is more commonly used than Arithmos, and is also the title used in the seals of its commanders.
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...
: John Haldon considers that the Vigla was established as a tagma by the Empress Eirene in the 780s out of a provincial brigade, but Warren Treadgold supports its creation along with the first two tagmata, the Scholai and Exkoubitoi, by Constantine V
Constantine V
Constantine V was Byzantine emperor from 741 to 775; ); .-Early life:...
in the mid-8th century. If the former is true, then the establishment of the Vigla by Eirene may have been intended to counterbalance the two older tagmata, which remained loyal to iconoclasm and resented Eirene's iconophile policies. The provincial parent unit in turn appears to have been of considerably longer ancestry: the presence of archaic late Roman titles for its officers points to an origin, possibly as a cavalry vexillation, in the old East Roman army
East Roman army
The East Roman army refers to the army of the Eastern section of the Roman Empire, from the empire's definitive split in 395 AD to the army's reorganization by themes after the permanent loss of Syria, Palestine and Egypt to the Arabs in the 7th century...
before the Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests
Muslim conquests also referred to as the Islamic conquests or Arab conquests, began with the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He established a new unified polity in the Arabian Peninsula which under the subsequent Rashidun and Umayyad Caliphates saw a century of rapid expansion of Muslim power.They...
of the 7th century. J.B. Bury has traced a hypothetical lineage to the early 5th-century vexillationes palatinae
Palatini (Roman military)
The palatini were elite regiments of the Late Roman army mostly attached to the comitatus praesentales, or imperial escort armies...
of the Comites Arcadiaci, the Comites Honoriaci and the Equites Theodosiaci. Along with many of the other tagmata, the Vigla disappeared in the decades of crisis in the late 11th century: it is last mentioned in 1094.
As the name indicates, the Vigla was tasked with guard duties, both in the imperial palace and on campaign. Unlike the other cavalry tagmata, which were mostly garrisoned outside Constantinople in Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
and Bithynia
Bithynia
Bithynia was an ancient region, kingdom and Roman province in the northwest of Asia Minor, adjoining the Propontis, the Thracian Bosporus and the Euxine .-Description:...
, the Vigla had a significant presence in the capital. There its task was guarding the imperial palace, along with the less prestigious infantry tagmata of the Noumeroi (responsible also for the palace prisons) and the Teicheiōtai (guarding the city walls
Walls of Constantinople
The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople since its founding as the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire by Constantine the Great...
). On imperial expeditions, it and its commander were responsible for the safety of the camp, relaying the Emperor's orders, and guarding prisoners of war.
Organisation
As with the other tagmata, the issue of the unit's size is a matter of controversy. Warren Treadgold considers the tagmata to have numbered a standard 4,000 men each, while other scholars, notably John Haldon, argue in favour of a much lower size of ca. 1,000 men. The structure of the imperial tagmata however was uniform and is well-attested, with minor variations, mostly in titelature, reflecting the different origins of the units.Uniquely among the tagmata, and perhaps a reflection of its ancestry, since it was more common in the 6th century, the commander of the Vigla bore the title of droungarios , in English sometimes rendered as "Drungary of the Watch". The first known holder of the office was Alexios Mosele
Alexios Mosele (general)
Alexios Mosele or Mousoulem/Mousele was a late 8th-century Byzantine general of Armenian origin.Alexios is the first known member of the Mosele/Mousele family of Armenian origin. In 790, he was the droungarios of the Vigla guard regiment...
in 791. Due to his proximity to the emperor, the droungarios was usually a close and trusted aide, as well as one of the senior military officers of the state. In the 10th century, the office was given to some of the most distinguished scions of the Byzantine military aristocracy, but from ca. 1030 on, it was transformed into a civil office with judicial responsibilities. In this capacity, it survived well beyond the regiment's demise and unto the end of the Palaiologan period.
Under the droungarios were one or two topotērētai (sing. topotērētēs, τοποτηρητής, lit. "placeholder, lieutenant"), a chartoularios
Chartoularios
The chartoularios or chartularius , Anglicized as chartulary, was a late Roman and Byzantine administrative official, entrusted with administrative and fiscal duties, either as a subaltern official of a department or province or at the head of various independent bureaus.-History:The title derives...
as head of the commander's secretariat, and the akolouthos
Akolouthos
Akolouthos , anglicized as Acolyte, was a Byzantine office with varying functions over time. Originally a subaltern officer of the imperial tagma of the Vigla, it was associated with the command over the famed Varangian Guard in the 11th-12th centuries.The title is first attested in the 9th...
, a title unique to the Vigla but corresponding to similar subaltern officers, the proximos of the Scholai and the prōtomandatōr of the Exkoubitoi. The unit was divided into twenty banda (sing. bandon
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...
, βάνδον, from , "banner"), each of theoretically 50 men, commanded by a komēs
Comes
Comes , plural comites , is the Latin word for companion, either individually or as a member of a collective known as comitatus, especially the suite of a magnate, in some cases large and/or formal enough to have a specific name, such as a cohors amicorum. The word comes derives from com- "with" +...
. In turn, each of these commanded five kentarchoi (sing. kentarchos, κένταρχος, "centurion
Centurion
A centurion was a professional officer of the Roman army .Centurion may also refer to:-Military:* Centurion tank, British battle tank* HMS Centurion, name of several ships and a shore base of the British Royal Navy...
").
Among the lower ranks within each tagma were two further classes of subaltern officers, the bandophoroi (βανδοφόροι, "banner-bearers") and the mandator
Mandator
The mandatōr , deriving from the Latin word for "messenger", was a subaltern official in the middle Byzantine Empire.The mandatores were a corps of messengers for special duties attached to the bureau of all senior civil and military officials, such as the thematic stratēgoi, the commanders of the...
es (μανδάτορες, "messengers"). Each tagma numbered forty of the bandophoroi, divided into four different classes of ten, with differing titles in each unit. For the Vigla in particular, these titles can be traced to the standard Roman cavalry ranks of the 5th-6th centuries. These were: the bandophoroi, the labourisioi (λαβουρίσιοι, a corruption of 6th-century labarēsioi, "carriers of the labarum
Labarum
The labarum was a vexillum that displayed the "Chi-Rho" symbol ☧, formed from the first two Greek letters of the word "Christ" — Chi and Rho . It was used by the Roman emperor Constantine I...
"), the sēmeiophoroi (σημειοφόροι, "bearers of an insigne", cf. the late Roman semafori) , and the doukiniatores (δουκινιάτορες, again a corruption of the Latin ducenarii of the late Roman military). The Vigla also was unique in having several ranks of messengers: along with the ordinary mandatores present in the other units, it included legatarioi (λεγατάριοι, "legate
Legatus
A legatus was a general in the Roman army, equivalent to a modern general officer. Being of senatorial rank, his immediate superior was the dux, and he outranked all military tribunes...
es"), thyrōroi (θυρωροί, "doorkeepers"), skoutarioi (σκουτάριοι, "shield-bearers") and diatrechontes (διατρέχοντες, "runners").