Users should also consult the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, 3 vols. (New York, 1991), to which what follows is much indebted.
A term of respect often to a monk (cf. geron "old man"), may mean either "father" or abbot/hegoumenos.
The high point or most strongly defended part of a city or town; the citadel. The acropolis of Constantinople was to the east of the site, between the Golden Horn and the Bosphoros.
Literally "deeds", either of saints, as a literary genre, or in a technical sense, for example of the proceedings of councils; later, archives, e.g. of monasteries.
This may mean a literal biological brother, born of the same parents (or born of one common parent) but is also used to describe monks and fellow (brother-) monks.
A "secretary" or functionary; cf. asekretis.
Literally meaning "succession", akolouthia is a liturgical rite, especially the ritual sequence of elements comprised in a particular rite or office. The term also refers to the "proper" (variable parts) or to the "common" of the office of a day or feast.
Most often, an inhabitant of the extremities of imperial territory, especially along the eastern frontier.
The high point or most strongly defended part of a city or town; the citadel. The akropolis of Constantinople was to the east of the site, between the Golden Horn and the Bosphoros.
A Caucasian region and people, with extensive contacts with Byzantium. Frequently used to describe Georgians.
A Caucasian region and people, to the north-east of Armenia and east of Iberia. Largely followed the monophysite variety of Christianity.
The pulpit, placed in the centre of the nave in early Christian basilicas, from which the Gospel was read and from which the sermon or homily was preached.
One of the minor orders of Christian clerics; a reader in the church services.
A fiscal official, whose main function was updating the cadasters (tax registers); usually attached to specific themes (i.e. provinces), or possibly to specific departments.
"Selections" (term used in Latin titles of literary works).
Solemn ecclesiastical denunciation.
Loosely, Asia Minor or modern-day Asiatic Turkey and its inhabitants; as a province or theme, of more limited geographical extent.
A solitary monk or holy man, as opposed to one who lived in a religious community.
"Nephew", a sibling's child.
A dignity, current in the 9th-12th centuries, the Greek equivalent of the Latin proconsul.
One who opposed the Christian heresy which stated that the person of Christ had only one Will. Monotheletism was condemned by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (680/81).
One who opposed the Paulician sect, a dualist-influenced Christian heresy.
One opposed to Photios (Photios 1 in PBE I), patriarch of Constantinople 856-867.
One who abandoned his original religion; also used as term of abuse.
A (state) storehouse or warehouse.
Semicircular, usually half-domed, niche at the east end of a basilica, where the altar is placed.
Loose ethnic descriptor, implying Muslim religion, nomadic origins and/or origins from the desert wastes beyond the Fertile Crescent. Cf. Saracens, Ishmaelites and Hagarenes.
Bishop of more important cities with supervision of other bishops; cf. metropolitan.
Western term, a clerical rank.
Ruler of monks, either in one monastery (so like hegoumenos) or over a number of monasteries in a locale or city.
An official, especially the governor of an area. Later, especially in the plural, the leaders or powerful members of a given community.
Clerical rank, superior to a priest; may refer to a priest with some function of supervision, or denote a bishop.
Term used (after Arius, priest of Alexandria) for those who held that Christ was not of one substance with God the Father, also used as term of abuse in theological polemic.
A unit of tagmatic soldiers (see also Vigla).
A Caucasian kingdom and people on north-east frontier of Byzantium; "Armenian Christianity" implies acceptance of only the first three Ecumenical Councils and rejects Chalcedon.
One of the first themes in Asia Minor, attested from 667; located in eastern Anatolia from Cappadocia to the Black Sea and the Euphrates..
One who practised renunciation (in Greek, askesis or "training"); monk or nun.
Greek; imperial secretary or functionary. Cf. adsecretis.
Term used either for all the East [only very occasionally] or for Asia Minor.
Often people from Syria rather than people from the Iranian plateau.
One who does not beleive in God; also used as a term of abuse for non-Christians or heretics.
Judaising sect in Phrygia and Lykaonia. Recent research suggests they may have been "Romanies", i.e. gypsies (Roma).
Court official in charge of banquets; the "Kletorologion of Philotheos the Atriklines" provides much information about the 9th-century bureaucracy and the relative rankings of offices.
A formal title bestowed by an emperor on his wife, frequently after the birth of a son and heir.
Imperial title in Latin, equivalent to Greek "sebastos" (later used for a much lower rank in the hierarchy); used in PBE to identify the ruling emperor (i.e. as distinct from co-emperors).
The principal ceremonial square of Constantinople, containing the Milion (the milestone from which distances in the empire were measured) . The Great Palace, Senate House and Hagia Sophia faced the Augusteion.
"Self-headed"; distinguishes dioceses that elected their own bishops and were independent of the five patriarchal sees.
The ruling emperor, from the reign of Heraklios (610-641) onwards, usually styled in Greek basileus kai autokrator in contrast to his co-rulers if any, who were merely basileis.
A nomadic people to the north of the Black Sea, first attested in the 6th century.
A region to the east of Byzantine-controlled Anatolia.
A catapult or engine of war (a Latin term).
Bathkeeper, usually as basilikos balnitor; known from seals c. 650-850.
A small (50-100 men) military detachment or detachments; in the 10th century a bandon was a subdivision of a tourma.
The apsed Roman long hall with pitched roof, apse and two or more side aisles, adopted by early Christians for large churches.
Means "imperial" in Greek. It occurs in combination with other words in many titles. Originally implied a palatine or praesental position.
The sanctuary or chancel where the altar was placed in a Christian church.
The "guardian of the books"; often a monastic functionary, with perhaps some role as an archivist.
Means "library" in Latin; it is the name of a work by Photios 1; generally, a collection of books or a library.
A librarian or perhaps an archivist; the Latin title equivalent to bibliophylax.
A Christian cleric, the senior major order (deacon, priest, bishop), usually in charge of a city or diocese, and charged with pastoral oversight and the teaching of true doctrine. A bishop ordains others to be priests or deacons.
A soldier in personal service of military or civil authorities from 5th century onwards; by 7th century it designates one of the main elite units of the Opsikion field force.
The pincer-like matrix used to make a Byzantine seal for documents or objects.
A tax register.
Title usually reserved for the sons of an emperor.
"Commander of the Faithful", successor to the Prophet and highest leader of the Muslims.
Either legal regulations of church order, passed by councils, or form of hymn used in liturgical commemoration.
Area of central Asia Minor, famous for the great late-4th century Fathers and for its 9th-10th century rock-cut churches.
Instruction; collection of questions and answers used in instruction.
The common monastic life contrasted with that of hermits, anchorites or of idiorhythmic monasteries.
The broad grouping of Christians who accept the decisions of the Council of Chalcedon, the Fourth Ecumenical Council (451), which defined Christ's two natures (i.e. human and divine) as inviolably united without confusion, division, separation or change in one person or hypostasis. Contrast with monophysites and monotheletes.
Literally the "Bronze Gate" (sc. pyle), the main ceremonial entrance and vestibule of the Great Palace in Constantinople, named after the bronze of its roof tiles or portals.
Place where documents (often ecclesiastical in nature) were kept and guarded (by a chartophylax).
Person placed in charge of ecclesiastical documents or to guard them; in effect an archivist. Often a deacon.
A subordinate official in several different bureaux; part of the administration.
A document which can be one of several types, but sealed with the emperor's gold seal (hence the name, as chrysos means gold).
Literally, the Golden Hall, one of the main ceremonial audience rooms of the Great Palace in Constantinople.
A domed construction supported by four or six columns, used to mark out an object or space of some importance; often placed over a Christian altar or martyr's tomb or relics.
From 8th century onwards, the naval theme (administrative district or region), the south-western coast of Anatolia.
Known in Greek as the eparch, charged with controlling the Polis city (the City, i.e. Constantinople) and keeping the peace, which also involved control of prices, weights and measures. The term can applied to the city-prefect of other cities such as Thessalonike.
A Latin term for a dignity, which originally signified membership of the senatorial order.
Usually a priest, though may be one of the other major ranks of Christian clergy (deacon, priest and bishop); minor orders are sub-deacon and anagnostes (reader).
A bound book with leaves or pages, as opposed to a scroll; most Byzantine books were in the form of codices.
The common monastic life contrasted with that of hermits or of idiorhythmic monasteries.
Office implying close connection to the emperor; often used for specific missions (comes literally means "companion"); also used of military commanders, equivalent of tribounos. It may also be an honorific title, a dignity.
Originally a martyr, later also used for those who had suffered for the faith, e.g. Maximus Confessor, Maximos 10 in PBE I.
Until AD 541, an annual Roman magistracy; later, it became a title held only by emperors.
Term of abuse used about Constantine V (Konstantinos 7 in PBE I) by iconophiles. It derives from a legend about his baptism as an infant.
The holder of a eunuch office, used of those attached to the cubiculum (Latin for "bedchamber").
Latin term (compare the Greek "kourator"); from 6th century onwards, a manager of imperial domains.
A Christian cleric, the lowest of the major orders (deacon, priest, bishop) of the ordained Christian ministry. Deacons assist priests celebrating the rites of the Church.
A female deacon, though not necessarily an ordained Christian minister.
A title used mainly of emperors, but later extended to others of higher rank, e.g. sons of emperors.
The Latin term for "deacon". The lowest rank of the major orders of ordained Christian ministry. The other major orders are priests and bishops; the minor orders of clerics are sub-deacons and anagnostes or readers.
A Greek term, signifying the office of "deacon", or more generally "ministry".
The Greek term for "deacon". The lowest rank of the major orders of ordained Christian ministry. The other major orders are priests and bishops; the minor orders of clerics are sub-deacons and anagnostes or readers.
The area controlled by a bishop.
From 680, a fiscal official or tax collector.
A document or documents.
A pair of panels, often made of ivory; some diptychs were liturgical in function: the carried lists of names to be commemorated which were proclaimed by the deacon during the Eucharist. Names were removed from the diptychs after official condemnation or anathematisation.
From 9th century, one who had been twice hypatos; a more elevated dignity, therefore.
An error (usually) in manuscript production, when the same word or letters are written out twice by mistake.
The formal teaching of the Church.
The beliefs of the Church, Orthodoxy as defined by the Creeds and the anathemata of the Ecumenical Councils.
A title, which may be ecclesiastical, civil or military.
A Latin term meaning "house", used of an estate or mansion. In this meaning the same as the Greek oikos.
Church-run estates in the vicinity of Rome first instituted in the 740s by pope Zacharias 16.
The "falling asleep" of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary), celebrated in the East since the late sixth century on 15 August and often depicted in visual art.
The repetition of a word or phrase (may be a manuscript error).
Literally, a "slave" or "servant". The term was also used to signify humility when someone described themselves as the doulos of the emperor. It may also signify religious faith, when someone described themselves as the doulos of the Theotokos or of God.
In Greek doux; in Latin dux; a general. Originally the commander of a military province, then a lower officer.
In Greek dromos, the system of imperial post and transportation, from 7th or 8th century under the logothete of the Dromos.
A decked warship.
The system of imperial post and transportation, from 7th or 8th century under the logothete of the Dromos.
From 7th century, military rank, in command of a droungos, a subdivision of the army of a theme.
A subdivision of the army of a theme, commanded by a droungarios.
In Byzantine contexts, a Christian heresy that postulates a conflict between good and evil principles, where both principles were equal (absolute dualism) or where good would eventually triumph (mitigated dualism).
The authority of and later also the area controlled by a dux, a general. Originally the commander of a military province, then a lower officer.
Plural of dux; a general. Originally the commander of a military province, then a lower officer.
In Greek doux; in Latin dux; a general. Originally the commander of a military province, then a lower officer.
Means "universal" (literally, "all the inhabited world"). Traditionally it is applied to the great General councils of the Church, representing (at least in theory) the entire episcopate of the empire: Nikaia I (325); Constantinople I (381), Ephesos (431), Chalcedon (451), Constantinople II (553), Constantinople III (680-81) and Nikaia II (787).
The deputy or representative of someone, used of various officials.
The tenure of a long term or hereditary lease on cultivated tenured land.
A Latin text in praise of someone or something (compare with the Greek enkomion); a panegyric.
A letter sent by bishop or patriarch to all his clergy.
The energy or energies of Christ, also His will or wills. Monotheletes believed in only one will; monoergetes believed in only one energy.
The city-prefect, charged with controlling the city (the City, i.e. Constantinople) and keeping the peace, which also involved control of prices, weights and measures.The term can applied to the city-prefect of other cities such as Thessalonike.
A province, especially a fiscal district.
The city-prefect, charged with controlling the city (the City, i.e. Constantinople) and keeping the peace, which also involved control of prices, weights and measures. The term can applied to the city-prefect of other cities such as Thessalonike.
The Church feast celebrated on 6 January, marking the end of the Nativity cycle, commemorating the adoration of Christ by the magi, when His divinity was revealed. By tradition, Jesus was baptised by John Prodromos (the "forerunner", i.e. the Baptist) on 6 January.
A (state) workshop or manyufactory (usually in Constantinople).
A nephew, though more properly a full first cousin (one's parent's sibling's son); often used of transgenerational (i.e. "adrift" across a generation) relationships of cousins (e.g. one's parent's sibling's grandson).
The governor of an exarchate, e.g. Carthage, Ravenna; or, chief bishop of civil diocese (metropolitan or patriarch).
The governor of anexarchate, e.g. Carthage, Ravenna; or, chief bishop of civil diocese (metropolitan or patriarch).
The territory under the jurisdiction of an exarch.
A corps of imperial guards, from 8th century reorganised and placed under a domestikos.
A member of the exkoubita imperial guard.
Barbarians allied to the empire; barbarian troops; soldiers in the tourma of the same name in the Anatolikoi theme.
Frankish empire and people, ruled by Charlemagne (768-814).
"Son-in-law", later (12th century) it became a semi-official title for imperial relatives.
A Lombard office, a "gastald" was a royally appointed official for judicial and other administrative tasks, one for each civitas (roughly "city") under Lombard rule.
Fiscal department under logothete tou genikou.
A provincial kommerkiarios, a fiscal official issuing official seals.
Literally, an "old man"; used as a term of respect of elders, especially of monks.
Also gloriosus; a Latin term, the highest senatorial rank in 6th century.
A teacher or teachers of letters, later (11th century) scribe or secretary.
The monastic clothing, formally adopted at the final vows.
A term used to describe Muslims in Byzantine sources. It has more religious connotations, as it stresses their descent from Hagar, Sarah's bondswoman.
"Holy", term used of holy women, meaning "saint".
The lives of saints (a literary genre).
"Holy", term used of holy men, meaning "saint".
A suburb of Constantinople on Sea of Marmara, with churches of St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist.
The head of a women's monastery; an abbess.
The head of a male monastery; an abbot.
Hesychast means "one who is quiet" and was used as synonym for a hermit or anchorite. Later, "hesychast" came to mean a follower of the hesychastic movement, a spiritual movement that enjoined contemplation and use of the Jesus prayer.
A unit of the imperial bodyguard, largely composed of foreigners, attested in the ninth century.
The commander of the hetaireia, in charge of security in the imperial palace.
One of the great Fathers of the Church; a title of respect.
A unit of tagmatic soldiers, of obscure origin, perhaps modelled on the Vigla.
Literally, the "Guide", "the one who points the way"; an icon type of the Virgin, after the Hodegetria icon in Constantinople.
A seller of silks.
A liturgical book, containing the monastic "hours" (from 8th century). Also a clock or timekeeping device, and by extension a specific place that contained such a timekeeping device.
One who holds the title of hypatos, or consul.
Literally "consul"; an honorific title after the sixth century.
Literally an "undergeneral"; a military title.
Classical quantitative metre, later regulated by stress accent; also, poem in iambic metre.
Term applied to Georgia; later also Iberian theme, in eastern Asia Minor including Manzikert.
Literally, a "likeness" or picture; usually of a religious image, either of individuals (Christ, Theotokos or saints) or of a religious scene or narrative.
The movement to attack icons in 8th and 9th centuries; or as chronological term to denote the iconoclastic period (726 or 730-843).
An opponent of icons.
A defender of icons.
One form of the monastic life, where the monks lived separately, coming together only for the Sunday liturgy.
Originally a fiscal term, special tax, but in Byzantine times a chronological indication, a single year, running from September to August, within a 15-year cycle.
A region of southern Asia Minor.
A term used by Byzantines for Muslims or Arabs; descendant of Ishmael, son of Hagar.
Monophysite. Named after Jacob Baradaeus, allowed by Justinian to ordain Monophysite clergy and bishops in 6th century.
Muslim judge.
A Greek title, derived from the Latin Caesar; a title usually reserved for the sons of an emperor.
Originally a member of the imperial bodyguards, later a dignity.
Keeper of the imperial ink stand (the inkstand was in the shape of a dog, hence the name) and of the cinnebar (purple) ink. The kanikleios had the authority to date and sign (and therefore validate) certain classes of documents.
Originally, an assistant of the praetorian prefect, later a secretarial official of various departments.
Either legal regulations of church order, passed by councils, or a form of hymn used in liturgical commemoration.
Literally means "ships". However the implication is that these ships were manned by the Karabisianoi, a naval group first mentioned in the Miracles of St Demetrios (c. 680) and who were last mentioned in 711.
From 9th century, a civil or military official, later a provincial or local governor.
An office; attested on a seal in the period 641-867.
Cell/s or room/s, especially of monks; even in cenobitic-form monasteries, the monks tended not to sleep in dormitories but three or four to a kellion.
In Byzantine sources, the ruler of Avars, Turks, Khazars or Bulgarians.
Ruling people in northern Caucasus, called Tourkoi by Byzantines.
Small territorial unit, part of a theme.
The governor of a kleisoura, a small territorial unit, part of a theme.
The same as kleisourarch: the governor of a kleisoura, a small territorial unit, part of a theme.
Variant for kleisourarch: the governor of a kleisoura, a small territorial unit, part of a theme.
A district in city, province or ecclesiastical diocese.
Districts, in city, province or ecclesiastical diocese. Often used to denote the areas in the Crimea, north of the Black Sea, under Byzantine control.
A fiscal official, issuing official seals.
Term of abuse used about Constantine V (Konstantinos 7 in PBE I) by iconophiles. It derives from a legend about his baptism as an infant.
Originally from the Latin "cohort"; generally refers to "staff/general staff" and by derivation, "pavilion/tent".
The holder of a eunuch office, used of those attached to the cubiculum (Latin for "bedchamber").
From 8th century, patriarchal chamberlain.
Derived from the Latin curator; from 6th century a manager of imperial domains.
Title given to members of the imperial family and foreign princes.
A judge.
Derived from the Latin quaestor; orginally high-ranking legal officials, drafter of laws, later a judicial official of lesser rank.
A ceremonial hall in the Great Palace of Constantinople, constructed under Justinian II (Ioustinianos 1 in PBE I).
A "reader" in the Christian Church; one of the minor orders of clergy.
An envoy or representative.
A notary.
Latin, a "document", whence later libellesios (notary).
Any service or task, enforced duty, most usually church service, the Eucharist.
From 6th century, a fiscal official, usually attested by seals; later the head of a department in the administration, e.g. of the Dromos.
Region between Thrace and Epirus, including Thessalonike, composing two late Roman provinces; later a theme under a strategos.
Latin, "master"; in late Roman period, heads of civil and military administration.
From late 9th century onwards, a dignity not an office; from the Latin magister.
Means "of blessed memory". The term signifies that the person referred to is dead.
Official used on special missions; subordinate official in various administrative departments and in military units.
A follower of Mani, whose syncretic dualist religion developed from Zoroastrianism and Christianity; also used as term of abuse for heretic, or to denote Paulicians (a dualist sect).
Christian sect of uncertain origin located in Lebanon, later united with Latin patriarchate of Antioch.
A supervisor or the person in charge of something.
A Chalcedonian Church in Syria and Palestine under the Umayyads and later, in communion with the imperial Church.
A service book with monthly cycle of feasts.
Term used from 10th century to denote close confidant or agent of the emperor.
The main thoroughfare in Constantinople, leading from the Augoustaion west towards the land walls of Theodosios.
A dependent house of a main monastery.
Meaning "of the mother city", i.e. of the most important city in an area. By extension it came to mean a Christian bishop of a more important city, who acted as a focus and leader for bishops in the region.
The milestone from which distances in the empire were measured. The Milion stood in the Augustaion.
Lodgings or inn; also fiscal term, perhaps "requisition".
Units of measurement for land or grain.
Christians who rejected the Council of Chalcedon and held that Christ had only one nature; see also "Jacobite".
From 8th century, general commanding several strategoi.
Christians who held that Christ had one will; 7th-century heresy condemned by Sixth Ecumenical Council, 680-81.
Holy oil. Either chrism (oil blessed by a bishop for use in services) or the oil exuded by the relics of some saints, most famously by St Nicholas of Myra, hence the name "myron".
From late 9th century, a high official, perhaps assistant to the mystikos (imperial secretary).
The imperial secretary.
A dignity until late 11th century usually conferred on members of the imperial family; same as the Latin nobilissimus.
Latin, a dignity until late 11th century usually conferred on members of the imperial family; same as the Greek nobelissimos.
Byzantine gold coin. The successor to the solidus.
Literally, "one who looks after the sick".
A fiscal official concerned with preparation of documents; also more generally, a scribe or secretary in government department.
A specific military troop or "regiment", under a domestikos. The Noumera were sometimes included among the tagmatic troops, based in Constantinople. Also the prison supervised by the Noumera.
A liturgical counting period, the seven days after a festival ("the octave of Easter" for example).
Latin, literally a "steward"; head of the organisation of a church, see or religious foundation. Same as oikonomos.
Offices, i.e. high administrative positions; listed for example in the 9th-century Kletorologion of Philotheos.
Greek, literally a "steward"; head of the organisation of a church, see or religious foundation; same as oeconomus.
An estate or household (same as Latin domus). It is also a stanza of a kontakion (a specific type of liturgical hymn). Further, it is also an astrological term.
The long scarf worn by bishop.
From 7th century, a theme in Asia Minor, centred on Ankara.
From late 8th century, theme in north-west Asia Minor centred on Nikomedeia.
Orphanage.
The head of an orphanotropheion (orphanage).
Term officially defined over the centuries by the Ecumenical Councils; also commonly used by all religious groups of themselves.
Correct writing, i.e. of Greek accents, spelling, etc.
A eunuch doorkeeper.
Latin; a "tutor or guardian of children"; in classical times, the paedagogus was a slave who took them to school.
A eunuch in charge of the palace buildings.
A military functionary attested on seals, perhaps concerned with provisioning; a garison commander.
The eunuch head of the staff of the imperial bedchamber.
A dependent peasant, mainly from 10th century.
Either a "steward", the head of organisation of a church, see or religious foundation; or an assistant to an oikonomos.
Originally one of the five senior bishops of the Christian world (Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem). "The patriarch" or "the Ecumenical patriarch" usually means the patriarch of Constantinople.
The offices of the Ecumenical patriarch in Constantinople, which bordered the Augustaion.
A dignity, originating in late Roman period. From 8th-10th centuries it was awarded to the most important governors and generals; in 9th-10th centuries it was placed between anthypatos and protospatharios. Patrikios disappeared after the beginning of the 12th century.
One of the districts into which the landed properties of the Roman Church were grouped for administrative purposes, controlled by a rector.
A nomadic people from Central Asia, settled from late 9th century between Don and Lower Danube.
The holder of supposedly dualist beliefs, also called by many Byzantine writers Manichaeans.
Originally writing-tablets, then imperial or patriarchal documents.
This Greek word, meaning "city" was often used to mean Constantinople as the City par excellence.
Literally, "born in the purple"; a child born to an emperor while he was on the throne.
Latin, a eunuch head of the imperial bedchamber (Latin, sacrum cubiculum), later headed by the parakoimomenos.
Greek, a eunuch head of the imperial bedchamber (Latin, sacrum cubiculum), later headed by the parakoimomenos. Until the 11th century the Greek title was given to eunuchs involved in palace ceremony.
The office building of the city-prefect or eparch of Constantinople, which contained a prison.
A low-ranking fiscal official or collector of taxes.
A priest; a cleric, the middle of the major orders (deacon, priest, bishop) of the ordained Christian ministry. Priests celebrate the Liturgy (the Eucharist, Mass or Holy Communion) and perform the other sacraments of the Church.
A Christian cleric, the middle of the major orders (deacon, priest, bishop) of the ordained Christian ministry. Priests celebrate the Liturgy (the Eucharist, Mass or Holy Communion) and perform the other sacraments of the Church.
A senior functionary, either military, court (eunuch), civil or ecclesiastical.
A high-ranking civil or ecclesiastical title. When used of an ecclesiastic, he is usually a bishop (the natural supreme officer or "president" of his see) or infrequently a metropolitan.
The head of the asekretoi (imperial secretaries or functionaries).
From 7th century, head of the ecclesiastical court known as the ekdikeion.
Imperial bodyguard, later placed under the domestikos ton scholon; but the instance in PBE I may be a more general court title or functionary.
The head of the asekretoi (imperial secretaries or functionaries).
Literally, the "first calligrapher"; an officer with some kind of secretarial function.
From 9th century, secretarial office in departments such as the genikon and the sakellion.
A steward-like official.
Officer in the fleet (proto means "first"; a kentarchos is the commander of a hundred men).
A palace eunuch office; proto means "first" and so the holder of this dignity is the chief of the koubikoularioi.
Proto means "first" and so the holder of this dignity is senior magistros: dignity from late 9th century, from magister.
Proto means "first" and so the holder of this dignity is chief of mandatores: officials used on special missions.
Proto means "first" and so the holder of this dignity is chief of the notarioi (secretarial officials).
A dignity (see patrikios), attested until 8th century. Proto means "first" and so the holder of this dignity is the "first of the patrikioi".
A clerical rank, superior to a priest (as the proto element means "first"); may refer to a priest with some function of supervision, or denote a bishop.
The soloist in the liturgy, the "first singer".
An official, probably similar to the sekretikoi.
From 8th century, high dignity (as the proto element means "first") with membership of the senate.
In the late Roman period, a "general" (cf. the Latin magister militum), also as title; later a dignity, sometimes of notaries.
Originally an office, increasingly a dignity with no duties.
A high-ranking (as the proto element means "first") palace eunuch, synonym for protovestiarios.
A high-ranking (as the proto element means "first") palace eunuch, second to the parakoimomenos.
Orginally a high-ranking legal official, drafter of laws, later judicial official of lesser rank.
Also known as the Council in Trullo, from the room in the Great Palace in which it was held, 691-92; produced canons but did not debate doctrine, hence not one of the seven Ecumenical Councils.
An official, often with a specific territorial remit (Sicily, Calabria or papal lands); sometimes specifically the manager of a patrimonium.
A fiscal official.
Term used loosely in Byzantine sources to describes Arabs or Muslims.
A specific "regiment" of soldiers, part of the tagmatic troops based in Constantinople, i.e. not one of the thematic armies.
An official, recorded from seals.
An area (often not used with precision) indicating somewhere north of the Byzantine Empire.
Originally the Greek translation of the Latin "Augustus", its status became less important later.
Generic word meaning bureaux or departments. the plural of sekreton.
An official who served in a sekreton.
An official who served in a sekreton.
Generic word meaning a bureau or department. Sekreta is the plural form.
Producers and dealers in silk.
Originally court attendants, after the sixth century their role was largely ceremonial.
An official ceremonial meeting of the emperor and his advisors.
An isolated dependency of a monastery.
The sacristy of a church, in effect a treasury where the vessels used in the liurgy were kept.
The official in charge of the sacred vessels of a church.
The standard Byzantine gold coin of the early period.
An honorific title, a dignity.
An honorific title, a dignity.
An honorific title, a dignity.
The curved end of the hippodrome in Constantinople.
Refers to the monastery of St John Stoudios in Constantinople
A general, commander of a theme or more generically a military commander.
In the late Roman period, general (Latin, magister militum), also as title; later a dignity, sometimes of notaries.
In reference to soldiers, "military"; also (on seals or in titles) as a noun meaning "military finance department".
The title of subaltern and provincil officials found on seals of the eighth and ninth centuries.
A Christian ascetic who lived on top of a pillar.
One of the minor orders of Christian clerics.
Adviser or assistant of a bishop.
A member of the Senate.
A meeting of bishops to discuss common concerns or to deal with a specific problem. The "Holy Synod" was in effect a permanent standing committee of advice for the patriarch of Constantinople.
A congregation or religious community.
Synodal epistles sent out to convey the decisions of a council; also patriarchal epistles.
A military unit or units, contrasted with the thematic armies. The tagmatic regiments were based in Constantinople and then deployed where needed.
Official lists of offices and titles, 9th and 10th centuries.
Inhabitants of the Crimea, according to Middle Byzantine sources, or more generally those who live to the north of the empire.
A military rank.
A monumental arch consisting of four arches supporting a groin vault or dome, e.g. the Arch of Galerius at Thessalonike.
From 7th century, military and administrative districts or provinces (adj. thematic).
From 7th century, military and administrative districts or provinces (adj. thematic).
Title for the Virgin Mary officially recognised by the Council of Ephesus (AD 431).
The "name" or dedication of a church. In Rome, churches of titulus had certain rights and privileges .
Used as a verb, the ritual of cutting the hair signifying entry to the monastic life; as a noun, it means the monastic hairstyle itself
The administrator of a district or place.
The deputy of a military or ecclesiastical official.
A loose ethnic descriptor used by Byzantine sources to mean one of the barbarian people who lived to the north of the empire. It may be used to mean the Khazars.
A military detachment.
The commander of a tourma, military detachment.
A military commander equivalent to a comes.
A ceremonial hall or processional route. Some triklinoi were used as banqueting halls.
A document giving the rules for a specific monastery; may be liturgical or administrative or both.
Literally, "cheese-eating"; the week before Lent, during which meat was forbidden.
A boot or sandal.
A decorated garment.
Greek proskynesis, the act of veneration offered to icons as opposed to "worship" (latreia) offered to God alone.
The state warehouse and treasury.
An official known from seals, of uncertain function but probably to do with the treasury (vestiarion); different from protovestiarios.
The office of the vestiarius at Rome, an official responsible originally for vestments, but later for much of the church's wealth.
A court official with varying duties.
In the late Roman period, the head of diocese, a civil province. In an ecclesiastical context, a vicar or vicarius is someone who represented someone else.
In the late Roman period, the head of diocese, a civil province. In an ecclesiastical context, a vicar or vicarius is someone who represented someone else.
The residence of the vicedominus, steward or major-domo of the papal palace.
The steward or major-domo of the papal palace.
Guards, originally night guards. "The Vigla" was a unit of tagmatic soldiers based in Constantinople (from circa 790); also called Arithmos.
Latin term for literary life of saint (see hagiography).
The chief government official of Muslim rulers.
Title held by various rulers of the southern Slavs.
The ruling dynasty in the Caliphate, 7th-8th century; term also used of the period.
Hostel for travellers or pilgrims.
Title held by various rulers of the southern Slavs.