Megas archon
The title of megas archōn (
Byzantine
court title during the 13th–14th centuries.
History and functions
The title of megas archōn appears originally as a translation of foreign titles, with the meaning of "
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos calls the Magyar ruler Árpád as "great prince of Tourkia [Hungary]" (Greek: ὁ μέγας Τουρκίας ἄρχων) in chapter 40 of his De Administrando Imperio
.
The
Hexabiblos), which reflect the usage during the late reign of Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328) or during the reign of Andronikos III Palaiologos (r. 1328–1341), place him in the 38th place.[5] The list of Xeropot. 191 places him in 34th in the hierarchy,[6] while in the list of office given in the 15th-century manuscript Paris. gr. 1783, the title is missing.[7] His ceremonial costume is given by pseudo-Kodinos as follows: a gold-embroidered skiadion hat, a plain silk kabbadion kaftan, and a skaranikon (domed hat) covered in golden and lemon-yellow silk and decorated with gold wire and images of the emperor in front and rear, respectively depicted enthroned and on horseback. He bore no staff of office (dikanikion).[2][8]
Known holders
| Name | Tenure | Appointed by | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constantine Margarites | c. 1254–1258 | Theodore II Laskaris | First holder of the title, created for him by Theodore II. He had previously held the titles of archōn tou allagiou .
|
[2] |
| Michael | c. 1284 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Mentioned only once as . | [9] |
| Angelos Doukas Komnenos Tarchaneiotes | c. 1295 – c. 1332 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Military commander and later in life a monk; he is known from two funerary orations composed for him by Manuel Philes. | [10] |
| Maroules | c. 1303–1305 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | A military commander, he was put in command of the Byzantine troops accompanying the Asia Minor, under the overall command of Roger de Flor. Later promoted epi tou stratou, he fought against the Catalans in Thrace in 1306–1308.
|
[11] |
| Alexios Raoul | c. 1321 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Military commander, correspondent of Michael Gabras and Manuel Philes. | [12][13] |
| Demetrios Angelos | c. 1332 | Andronikos III Palaiologos | Oikeios of the emperor, attested as one of the witnesses to a peace treaty with Venice, concluded in November 1332. | [14][15] |
| John Parasphondylos | c. 1342 | John V Palaiologos | Attested as one of the witnesses to the renewal of the peace treaty with Venice in March 1342. | [14][16] |
| Demetrios Doukas Kabasilas | c. 1369 | John V Palaiologos | Loyalist of Zographou Monastery .
|
[14][16] |
| Kabasilas | c. 1377 | unknown | Attested as megas archōn at Serres, possibly son of Demetrios Doukas Kabasilas. | [17] |
| [Antonios] Mandromenos | c. 1383 | unknown | Attested in a single manuscript; it either refers to the megas archōn and monk Antonios Mandromenos, or to the monk Antonios, servant of the megas archōn Mandromenos | [18] |
References
- ^ Bartusis 1997, p. 382.
- ^ a b c d Guilland 1960, p. 87.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 182.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 138.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, pp. 300, 307, 321, 335.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 309.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, pp. 303–306.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 161.
- ^ PLP, 19060. Μιχαήλ.
- ^ PLP, 27473. Ταρχανειώτης, Ἂγγελος ∆ούκας Κομνηνός.
- ^ Guilland 1960, pp. 87–88.
- ^ Guilland 1960, p. 89.
- ^ PLP, 24108. Ῥαοὺλ Ἀλέξιος.
- ^ a b c Guilland 1960, p. 88.
- ^ PLP, 190. Ἂγγελος ∆ημήτριος.
- ^ a b PLP, 21911. Παρασφόνδυλος Ἰωάννης.
- ^ PLP, (10072) → 92224. Καβάσιλας.
- ^ PLP, 16621. Μανδρομηνὸς Ἀντώνιος.
Sources
- Bartusis, Mark C. (1997). The Late Byzantine Army: Arms and Society 1204-1453. University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-1620-2.
- .
- Trapp, Erich; Beyer, Hans-Veit; Walther, Rainer; Sturm-Schnabl, Katja; Kislinger, Ewald; Leontiadis, Ioannis; Kaplaneres, Sokrates (1976–1996). ISBN 3-7001-3003-1.
- Verpeaux, Jean, ed. (1966). Pseudo-Kodinos, Traité des Offices (in French). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.