Parakoimomenos
The parakoimōmenos (
History and functions
The title was used anachronistically by various Byzantine writers for prominent eunuch court officials of the distant past, including Euphratas under
From the mid-9th century, however, the office grew in importance, outstripping its nominal superior, the
By the 11th century, the parakoimōmenos had assumed most of the old administrative functions of the praipositos as well. The post continued to be important in the 11th century, but seems to have declined in the 12th, when it also began to be regularly awarded—possibly as a noble title rather than an active function—to non-eunuchs as well.
The two posts ranked 16th and 17th respectively in the imperial hierarchy, according to the mid-14th century author
Known parakoimōmenoi
A number of seals mention a Theophylact, koubikoularios, parakoimomenos, and
Theophanes was retained by Constantine VII (r. 913–959) until 947, when he was replaced by Basil Lekapenos. Lekapenos, the bastard son of Emperor Romanos I, would play a dominant role in Byzantine history over the next four decades, toppling emperors and serving as the virtual regent or co-regent (paradynasteuōn) of the Empire for over thirty years, comprising the reigns of Nikephoros II Phokas (r. 963–969) and John I Tzimiskes (r. 969–976), and the early reign of Basil II (r. 976–1025) until his dismissal in 985. Basil was replaced under Romanos II (r. 959–963) by the capable Joseph Bringas, who also exercised the de facto rule of the state, but was toppled by Lekapenos shortly after Romanos II's death.[17]
In the 11th century, the most important holder of the office was Nicholas, who was parakoimōmenos and proedros as well as Domestic of the Schools under Constantine VIII (r. 1025–1028) and served again in the same offices for a time under Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1042–1055).[18] John Komnenos, a relative of the Emperor John II Komnenos (r. 1118–1143), was named as parakoimōmenos and entrusted with the charge of state affairs along with Gregory Taronites.[19] In the late 12th century, the eunuch Nikephoros under Andronikos I Komnenos (r. 1183–1185) and the likewise eunuch John Oinopolites under Alexios III Angelos (r. 1195–1203) are the only known holders.[7]
In the Empire of Nicaea, known holders are the
Michael VIII Palaiologos named a trusted agent of his, a defector from the
Apart from Nestongos, the following parakoimōmenoi are known under Andronikos II Palaiologos: Dionysios Drimys, mentioned in a poem of Manuel Philes ca. 1300;[28] Andronikos Kantakouzenos in ca. 1320;[10][29] Andronikos Komnenos Doukas Palaiologos Tornikes, a grandson of Michael VIII's half-brother Constantine Palaiologos, who held the post in ca. 1324–1327;[10][30] John Phakrases, author of a treatise in verse on imperial offices;[31][32] and the general John Choumnos, the eldest son of the scholar and minister Nikephoros Choumnos, who was promoted from parakoimōmenos tou koitōnos to parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs in 1307.[33][34] An unnamed member of the Raoul family, mentioned by Manuel Philes, also held the post at about the same time.[35]
Perhaps the most famous of the late Byzantine parakoimōmenoi was the capable and ambitious
Only one parakoimōmenos is known for the Empire of Trebizond (1204–1461), Michael Sampson, who is attested in 1432.[42]
References
Citations
- ^ a b c d ODB, p. 1584.
- ^ a b c d e Guilland 1967, p. 204.
- ^ Bury 1911, pp. 124–125.
- ^ Guilland 1967, p. 203.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 202–204.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 203, 206–208.
- ^ a b c d Guilland 1967, p. 208.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, pp. 175–176.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 176.
- ^ a b c d e f g Guilland 1967, p. 209.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 137.
- ^ Verpeaux 1966, p. 156.
- ^ Prigent & Nichanian 2003, pp. 99–101.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 204–205.
- ^ Tougher 1997, p. 198.
- ^ Guilland 1967, p. 205.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 205–206.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 206–207.
- ^ Guilland 1967, p. 207.
- ^ PLP, 6417. Zαγαρομμάτης Γεώργιος.
- ^ PLP, 8665. Ἰωάννης.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 208–209.
- ^ PLP, 2458. Βασιλικὸς Βασίλειος.
- ^ PLP, (16358) 92605. Μακρηνός.
- ^ PLP, 5691. Δούκας Ἰσαάκιος.
- ^ PLP, 27276. Σφραντζῆς Γαβριήλ.
- ^ PLP, 20201. Νεστόγγος, Κωνσταντῖνος Δούκας.
- ^ PLP, 5829. Δριμὺς Διονύσιος.
- ^ PLP, 10955. Καντακουζηνὸς Ἀνδρόνικος.
- ^ PLP, 29122. Tορνίκης, Ἀνδρόνικος Κομνηνὸς Δούκας Παλαιολόγος.
- ^ a b Guilland 1967, p. 210.
- ^ PLP, 29580. Φακρασῆς Ἰωάννης.
- ^ Guilland 1967, pp. 209–210.
- ^ PLP, 30954. Xοῦμνος, Ἰωάννης Κομνηνός (?).
- ^ PLP, 24106. Ῥαούλ.
- ^ PLP, 1180. Ἀπόκαυκος Ἀλέξιος.
- ^ PLP, 5298. Δημήτριος.
- ^ PLP, 25210. Σεργόπουλος Μανουήλ.
- ^ a b Guilland 1967, p. 211.
- ^ PLP, 209. Ἄγγελος Καλόθετος.
- ^ PLP, 91760. Δερμοκαΐτης Θεοφύλακτος.
- ^ PLP, 24789. Σαμψὼν Μιχαήλ.
Sources
- OCLC 1046639111.
- OCLC 878894516.
- ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
- Maksimovic, Ljubomir (1988). The Byzantine Provincial Administration Under the Palaiologoi. Amsterdam: Adolf M. Hakkert. ISBN 90-256-0968-6.
- Prigent, Vivien; Nichanian, Mikaël (2003). "Les stratèges de Sicile. De la naissance du thème au règne de Léon V". Revue des études byzantines (in French). 61: 97–141. .
- Tougher, Shaun (1997). The Reign of Leo VI (886-912): Politics and People. Leiden: Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-10811-0.
- 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.