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Logothetes tou stratiotikou

Byzantine imperial official

Summary

Byzantine imperial official

The grc (), rendered in English as the Logothete of the Military or Military Logothete, was a Byzantine imperial official in charge of the pay and provisioning of the Byzantine army. The office appears in the late 7th century and is mentioned until the 14th century.

History and functions

Michael VI]] served as Military Logothete before his brief reign as Byzantine Emperor in 1056–1057.

This duty was originally exercised by the praetorian prefecture, but the military chest (το στρατιωτικόν, grc) was eventually detached and formed as a separate grc (department). The first attested grc was Julian, the "most glorious grc and grc" in 680.

The exact sphere of duties of the Military Logothete is somewhat obscure. The only direct evidence as to his functions comes from the De Ceremoniis of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (), according to which he oversaw the imposition and exemption from taxes on the households of soldiers. It is also known that by the 11th century, he exercised some juridical functions. Several scholars (notably Ernst Stein) have argued that the Military Logothete supervised military affairs in general, such as the levying of troops, the construction of fortifications and the overall military expenditure. This hypothesis, however, cannot be proved.

Subordinate officials

The subordinates of the grc were:

The grc of the grc (χαρτουλάριοι τοῦ σεκρέτου), the senior subaltern officials of the department.
The grc of the grc (χαρτουλάριοι τῶν θεμάτων) and the grc (χαρτουλάριοι τῶν ταγμάτων), supervising the financial affairs of the thematic troops and the imperial grc, respectively.
A number of grc (λεγατάριοι), whose exact function is unknown.
The grc (ὀπτίονες, from Latin optio), officials responsible for the distribution of pay to the troops.
A number of grc under a grc.
A number of grc ('messengers').

List of known {{Transliteration|grc|logothetai tou stratiotikou}}

Name	Tenure	Appointed by	Notes
Julian		Constantine IV	grc and grc, only known as an attendant of the Sixth Ecumenical Council.
Eustathios	probably 7th century	unknown	Known only from his lead seal of office.
John		Irene of Athens	A eunuch servant of Irene, he is mentioned as attending the Second Council of Nicaea, with the rank of imperial grc and the office of "grc of the military grc". By he was also grc, and led an expedition to Italy in support of the former King of the Lombards Adelchis, who intended to recover his realm from Charlemagne. The expedition was defeated by the Franks, and John was captured and killed.
John	8th/9th century	unknown	Known only from his lead seal of office.
George		Theophilos	grc under Theophilos.
Marinos		Basil I the Macedonian	grc and a senator, only known as an attendant of the Council of Constantinople in 869.
Theodore Daphnopates	before 959	Romanos II	The grc Theodore Daphnopates, a "former grc" (ἀπὸ στρατιωτικῶν), was promoted by Romanos II to Eparch of Constantinople.
Nicholas	mid-11th century	unknown	Michael Psellos provided a funeral oration for him.
Michael VI Bringas	until 1056	Theodora	A career army administrator of advanced years, Michael was raised by the palace eunuchs to the throne upon the death of Empress Theodora in 1056, and reigned until deposed in 1057.
Paul	unknown	unknown	Known only from his lead seals of office as grc, grc, judge of the Hippodrome, and grc.
Michael	11th/12th century	unknown	Known only from his lead seals of office as grc, grc, grc and grc, and grc.
Theodosios	12th century	unknown	Known only from his lead seals of office as grc, grc and grc.
Hyaleas (?)		Andronikos II Palaiologos	An inscription from 1316 mentions the grc, grc, and grc of Thessalonica "Hyalsou", in all likelihood a misspelling of the genitive "Hyaleou". Guilland suggests a possible identity with the grc Alexios Hyaleas.
Meliteniotes		Andronikos II Palaiologos	Mentioned in a legal document at Constantinople in 1325.
Theodore Kabasilas		Andronikos II Palaiologos	A grc and former grc. Eulogized by John Kantakouzenos as a man held in high esteem by both Andronikos II and Andronikos III, he tried to mediate between the two during the Byzantine civil war of 1321–1328.
John Chrysoloras	c.1347	John V Palaiologos	A Roman Catholic, Chrysoloras was granted Papal licenses to trade with the Anatolian beyliks and the Mamluk Sultanate after personally travelling to Avignon. He was later promoted to the position of Logothetes tou genikou before his death in Venice c. 1373.

Rodolphe Guilland also lists some 6th-century officials, who served under Justinian I and were in charge of the army pay chest, as predecessors of the later office of grc: Alexander "Scissors", active in Greece and Italy in ; the grc and former praetorian prefect Archelaus, who accompanied Belisarius as his quartermaster in the Vandalic War; and the senator Symmachus, who was sent to Africa as praetorian prefect and quartermaster for Germanus in 536–539.

References

Sources

Carr, M. (2015). "Crossing Boundaries in the Mediterranean: Papal Trade Licences from the Registra supplicationum of Pope Clement VI (1342-1352)." Journal of Medieval History 41, 107-29.

References

{{harvnb. ODB
Carr 2015, p. 119.

Wikipedia Source

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