Handbook of Byzantine Protocole and Ceremonies

Don_Giorgio

Chapter IX Celebration of Imperial Feasts, Symposia, receptions etc. Part 5

Reception of foreign embassies by the Emperor
When an embassy of some foreign nation arrived in Constantinople to meet with the Emperor and discuss with him they head towards the Great Palace and upon arrival they declared their identities and their purpose to the "Papias" (aka the chief doorkeeper of the Palace) then the Papias lets them in and orders a Silentiarius or an Ostiarius to escort them in the the Praepositus's rooms (or any other official empowered by the Emperor to receive foreign embassies)

There they discuss first with the Praepositus (or any other official) about the matter of the embassy and the Praepositus sets up an audience with the Emperor and his advisors according to the gravity of the matter (urgent matters if deemed so by the Praepositus could require an immediate meeting with the Emperor while lesser matters could wait, the usual waiting time though was about 1-3 weeks unless the Emperor is really busy or absent, but in some cases embassies or ambassadors could stay in the City for years as hostages).
Also the Praepositus was empowered to reject the request of meeting the Emperor and deal with the matter himself or send the ambassadors to the appropriate official if he judges that the matter is insignificant enough to disturb the Emperor. However if the Ambassadors were unsatisfied by the Praepositus's or the official's answer to the matter they could appeal to the Emperor and the Praepositus was obliged to set up an audience.
The ambassadors could require a private audience with the Emperor if they had such orders and it was up to Praepositus if he would accept this request or not.

When the audience with the Emperor has been set up the ambassadors left the Palace escorted by Silentiarii who were empowered by the Praepositus to find suitable lodge for them to stay and wait for the audience (usually high ranking ambassadors stayed at Palace as guests but low ranking ambassadors were to stay outside the Palace)

The audiences with foreign Ambassadors usually took place in the Palace of Magnaura (formerly the Senate chambers till the 7th century but after 8th century the Palace has become the Emperor's unofficial office).

On the day of the audience the Ambassadors where lead to the Palace of Magnaura by the Praepositus (if he is unavailable then the Primicerius or the Silentiarii will escort them).
The Emperor is sit on a large golden throne on the other end of the room which is set up on pulpit with six steps while the top is covered with golden tree leafs adorned with golden statuettes of birds, the golden leafs providing shade for the Emperor.
On the left and right of the throne there are 2 golden statues depicting lions roaring while next to the lions facing the Emperor stand 2 golden Gryphons.
On the right side there is a case shaped like a castle where the Crown Jewels and the Imperial regalia are displayed while on the left side a huge hydraulic "ecclesiastical" organ lies.

THe Emperor is sitted on the throne surrounded by Imperial Guards who hold banners and standards dressed in full military uniform while the nobles and his advisors are standing on the lower section of the hall left and right sitted in chairs.

Then the gates are opened and the Praepositus announces the entrance of the ambassadors who enter wearing their most expensive clothes of their offices and have their hands exposed and crossed in the chest (this happened for security reasons, so that the Guards can check them if they are holding a weapon).

As soon as the ambassadors enter the room a hydraulic mechanism is activated and the golden statuettes of birds start singing the statues of the of the Gryphons start to rise and the statues of the Lions start to rise and roar loudly.

When the ambassadors are in front of the Throne they fall in prostration 3 times.
As soon as the ambassadors fall in prostration another hydraulic mechanism is activated and the Imperial Throne starts rising high above the floor while the "ecclesiastical" organ starts playing music.

Then the Emperor says to the Praepositus that the ambassadors may rise and discussion over the matter begins.
First the ambassadors speak analysing the purpose of this embassy, the Emperor opts to remain silent while his advisors run the conversation.
After a debate between the ambassadors and the palace advisors (sometimes heated) the Emperor speaks and says his opinion on the matter positive or negative or he can opt not to answer right now and he will give his answer in another audience with the ambassadors.
If the Emperor decides to answer the same day he dictates this answer to the Notaries present and they write it sown while the Praepositus hands over to Emperor his personal seal in order to seal the document holded by the Praepositus who in turn gives it to the ambassadors.

When the Emperor through the Praepositus declares the end of the audience the ambassadors prostrate again (this time 1 time) and leave the room walking backwards facing the Emperor all the time and hands crossed again in their chest and exposed.

Also it should be noted that the Emperor and his advisors when they met with ambassadors from Holy Roman Empire they never called the Holy Roman Emperor as Emperor but they used the title "Rex" or "Rigas" in Greek as they didnt recognise his imperial authority and dealt with him as a "client" king (Rex) inferior in rank.


Examples of Prefaces in Diplomatic Letters issued by the Emperor translated directly to english

Formal letter to the Pope: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to ZZZZZZ most Holy Pope of Rome and our spiritual Father."

Formal letter to Patriarch of Alexandria/Antioch/Jerusalem: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to ZZZZZZ most Holy Patriarch of Alexandria/Antioch/Jerusalem

Formal letter to the First Counsellor of the Emir of the Faithful (Arabs): "To the most Magnificent and most Noble and distinguished XXXXXXX First Counsellor and Guide of the Agarenes from YYYYYYY and ZZZZZZZ faithful Autocrats Augustoi and Great Emperors of the Romans."

Formal letter to the Prince of Great Armenia: "XXXXXXX and YYYYYY whose faith is in Christ the Lord, Autocratsm Augusti and Great Emperors of the Romans to ZZZZZ most renowned Ruler of Great Armenia and our spiritual son."

Formal letter to the Prince of Vaspurakan: "XXXXXXX and YYYYYY whose faith is in Christ the Lord, Autocratsm Augusti and Great Emperors of the Romans to ZZZZZ most renowned Prince of Princes."

Formal letter to various Armenian Princes other than the 2 above: "Command from the Christ-loving Despots to XXXXXX Prince of NNNNNN"

Formal letter to the Kouropalates of Iberia (Georgia): "Command from the Christ-loving Despots to the Most esteemed Kouropalates"

Formal letter to the "Exousiokrator" (aka ruler) of Alania: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to ZZZZZZ Exousiastes (aka ruler) of Alania and ou spiritual son."

Formal letter to the "Katholikos" (Archbishop) of Armenia/Iberia: "Command from the Christ-loving Despots to XXXXXX most pious leader of YYYYY."

Formal letter to the King of France/Germany/England: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to ZZZZZZ distinguished King (Rex), desired spiritual brother."

Formal letter to the Emir of Africa: "XXXXX and YYYYY whose faith is in Christ the Lord, Autocrats, Augusti and Great Emperors of the Romans to the most esteemed and most noble "Exousiastes" (aka ruler) of the Muslims."

Formal letter to the Emir of Egypt: "XXXXX and YYYYY in Christ Holy Autocrats, Great and High Augusti, Emperors of the Romans, to our friend the most Noble Emir of Egypt.

Formal letter to the Prince of Venice (doge)/Capua/Salerno/Naples/Amalfi/Gaeta: "Command from the Christ-loving Despots to the Doge of Venice/Prince of Capua/Salerno/Naples/Amalfi/Gaeta

Formal letter to the Ruler of Bulgaria: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to our desired spiritual son, the God-appointed Prince of the most christian nation of the Bulgarians."
When the Bulgarian ruler upgraded to Emperor (Czar) the letter preface changed to "XXXXX and YYYYY pious Autocrats, Emperors of the Romans in Christ who is God to our desired spiritual son the lord ZZZZZ Emperor of the Bulgarians."

Formal letter to the Khagan of Khazaria: "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost our one and sole God. XXXXXX and YYYYYY Emperors of the Romans faithful to God, to ZZZZZZ most noble and most renowned Khagan of Khazaria."

Formal letter to Prince of Rus: "Letter of XXXXX and YYYYY Christ-loving Emperors of the Romans to the Prince of the Rus.

Formal letter to Prince of Magyars (early Turks)/Pechenegs/Croatia/Serbs: "Letter of XXXXX and YYYYY Christ-loving Emperors of the Romans to the Prince of the Magyars/Pechenegs/Croatia/Serbs."

Formal letter to the Prince of Moravia: "Letter of XXXXX and YYYYY Christ-loving Emperors of the Romans to the Prince of Moravia."

Formal letter to the Lord of Arabia: "XXXXXX and YYYYYYY, faithful to Christ the Lord, Great Autocrats and Emperors of the Romans, to ZZZZZZ ruler of Arabia."

End of Chapter IX... Next is chapter X about the order of precedence in the Byzantine Court.
 
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Don_Giorgio

Chapter X Order of Precedence in the Byzantine Court after 8th-9th century and various offices of the Byzantine Bureaucracy Part 1.

in the 8th-9th century the Order of Precedence in the Byzantine Court was solidified and appeared like this among the state/army officials.


1. Emperor and co-Emperors
2. Vasileopator (aka Father of the Emperor)
3. Caesar
4. Raector
5. Syncellus
6. Strategos ton Anatolikon (General of the Eastern Themes)
7. Domesticus Scholae (Senior General of the East, Commander in chief in the absence of the Emperor)
8. Strategos ton Armeniakon (General of Armeniakon Theme)
9. Strategos ton Thrakesion (General of the Thrakesia Theme)
10. Comes to Opsikiou (Count of Opsikion Theme)
11. Strategos ton Boukelarion (General of the Bucelarii)
12. Strategos tis Kappadokias (General of Kappadocia Theme)
13. Strategos ton Charsianon (General of Charsianon Theme)
14. Strategos tis Koloneias (General of the Koloneia Theme)
15. Strategos tis Paphlagonias (General of Paphlagonia Theme)
16. Strategos tis Thrakis (General of Thrace Theme)
17. Strategos tis Makedonias (General of Macedonia Theme)
18. Strategos tis Chaldias (General of Chaldea Theme)
19. Domesticus Excubitorum (Commander of Imperial Guard Corps)
20. Praefect of the City of Constantinople
21. Strategos tis Peloponissou (General of Peloponese Theme)
22. Strategos tis Nikopoleos (General of Nikopolis Theme)
23. Strategos ton Kivyraioton (General of the Cibyreots Theme)
24. Strategos tis Elladas (General of the Hellas Theme)
25. Strategos tis Sikelias (General of Sicily Theme)
26. Strategos tou Strymonos (General of Strymon Theme)
27. Strategos tis Kephallinias (General of Cephallonia Theme)
28. Strategos tis Thessalonikis (General of Thessalonica Theme)
29. Strategos tou Dyrrachiou (General of Dyrrachium)
30. Strategos tis Samou (translated as General but more like an admiral of Samos Theme)
31. Strategos tou Aigaiou Pelagous (translated as General but more likely an admiral of Aegaian Sea Theme)
32. Strategos tis Dalmatias (General of Dalmatia Theme)
33. Strategos tis Chersonas (General of Cherson Theme)
34. Sakellarios (Something similar to the modern Minister of Interior)
36. Logothetes tou Genikou (responsible for revenue and taxes
37. Quaestor (Something similar to modern Minister of Justice with some financial responsibilities too)
38. Logothetes tou Stratiotikou (in charge of the pay of the army and of military provisions and supplies)
39. Drougarios tis Viglas (Something similar to modern Minister of Public Order)
40. Logothetes tou Dromou (responsible fot Imperial postm diplomacy and intelligence)
41. Drougarios ton Ploimon (Chief of the Navy, High Admiral)
42. Protospatharios ton Vasilikon (Chief bodyguard of the Emperor)
43. Logothetes ton Agelon (responsible for the state farms that supplied the Empire with horses)
44. Domesticus of Hikanatoi (Commander of Imperial Guard Corps)
45. Domesticus of Noumeroi (Commander of Imperial Guard Corps)
46. Domesticus of Optimatoi (Commander of Imperial Guard Corps)
47. Comes ton Teichon (Count of the Walls, responsible for their maintenance and defence)
48. Chartoularios of Sakellion (Something like the modern undersecretary of Finance)
49. Chartoularios tou Vestiariou (Similar to the British Master of the Robes)
50. Chartoularios tou Kanikleiou (Head of Imperial Chancery)
51. Protostrator (Imperial Stable Master)
52. Protasekrites (Chief Royal Advisor)
53. Ekprosopos ton Thematon (responsible for the Themes)
54. Comes of the Stables (responsible for the Royal Stables)
55. Eidikos (supervisor of granaries, warehouses etc.)
56. Megalos Kourator (Great Curator responsible for palace supplies)
57. Kourator ton Magganon (responsible for Palaces maintenance)
58. O epi ton Deiseon (responsible for accepting petitions)
59. Orphanotrophos (Chief Almoner)
60. Tribune of the Blues
61. Tribune of the Greens
62. Master of Ceremonies
63. Domesticus ton Vasilikon (Chief Chamberlain)

All Strategoi (Generals) were under the General of Eastern Themes.
The Strategos (General) was commanding a Theme and under him had 11 officers

1. Tourmarchoi (He was commanding a subdivision of a Theme)
2. Meriarchoi (He was commanding several cities and villages in a Theme)
3. Comes tis Koortis (Count of Cohort commanding a cohort or Drouga of 1000 men)
4. Chartoularios of the THeme (chief financial officer of the theme)
5. Domesticus of the Theme (head of civil services of the theme)
6. Drougarios of Vandon (Commander of 500 men)
7. Counts of Vandon (lieutenant of the Drougarios)
8. Kentarchos ton Spatharion (Centurion of the infantry)
9. Count of the Etaireia (Commander of the foreign mercenaries)
10. Protokagkelarios
11. Protomandator (chief courier)

The Generals of the Samos theme and the Aegean Sea Theme had the previous 11 officers under their command plus 2 more, the Kentarchos (commander of small flotilla) and the Protokaravos (galley captain).

The Domesticus Scholae had under him 11 officers

1. Protovathmos (aka of first rank the second in command)
2. Topoteretes (locum tenens or administrator)
3. 2 Counts of Scholae
4. Chartoularios (financial officer)
5. Domestici (More like modern colonels)
6. Proeximos
7. Protectores (mounted Imperial Guards)
8. Eftychophoroi (standard bearers)
9. skiptroforoi (Imperial Guards on foot)
10. Axiomatikoi (captains)
11. Mandatores (Couriers)

The Domesticus Excubitorum had under him 9 officers

1. Topoteretai (locum tenens or administrators)
2. Chartoularioi (financial officers)
3. Scrivones (scribes)
4. Protomandatores (chief couriers)
5. Drakonarioi (mounted guards)
6. Skevoforoi
7. Signifers (standard bearers)
8. Signatores (mounted guards)
9. Mandatores (couriers)

The Praefect of the City of Constantinople had under him 14 officers

1. Symponos (almoner)
2. Logothetes tou Praitoriou (more like police chief and warden)
3. Kritai ton Regeonon (municipal Judges)
4. Episkeptitai
5. Protokagkellarioi (financial/legal advisors)
6. Centurion
7. Epoptai (something like police)
8. Exarchs (praefect's representatives in the City)
9. Geitoniarchai (leaders of neighbourhoods)
10. Nomikoi (legal advisors)
11. Voulotai
12. Kagkellarioi (assistants to the Protokagkellarioi)
13. Parathalassites (responsible for the Sea Walls)

Under Sakellarios they where almost all public services

1. Logothetes tou Genikou (responsible for revenue and taxes)
2. Logothetes tou Stratiotikou (responsible for army pay and provisions)
3. Logothetes tou Dromou (responsible for Imperial post, diplomacy and intelligence)
4. Chartoularios tou Sakelliou (in charge of the Sakellion treasury)
5. Chatoularios tou Vestiariou (in charge of the Vestiarion treasury)
6. Protasekretes (chief palace advisor)
7. Eidikos (supervises granariesm factories, warehouses etc.)
8. Megas Kourator (responsible of palace supplies)
9. Kourator ton Magganon (responsible of Palace maintenance)
10. Orphanotrophos (almoner)

Quaestor had under him 6 officers

1. Antigrafeis (literally copiers but they were Notaries)
2. Skribas (Chief Notary)
3. Livellisios
4. Protokagkellarios (chief legal/financial clerk)
5. Kagkelarioi (assistants of the above)

The Logothetes tou Stratiotikou had under him 7 officers

1. Chartoularioi tou Sekretou (regulate the army pay)
2. Chartoularioi ton Thematon(regulate the provision flow to the Themes)
3. Chartoularioi ton Tagmaton (regulate the supplying of the army)
4. Legatarioi (Legates military advisors)
5. Optiones (responsible for the distribution of pay to the soldiers
6. Protokagkellarios (legal advisor)
7. Mandatores (couriers)

The Drougarios tis Viglas had 10 officers under him

1. Topoteretai (administrators)
2. Chartoularios (financial officer)
3. Akolouthos (third in command after topoteretes
4. Counts
5. Centurions
6. Vandoforoi (petty officers)
7. Lavourisioi (flag bearers)
8. Simeioforoi (military communications, semaphore)
9. Doukiniatores (guards)
10. Mandatores (couriers)

The Drougarios ton Ploimon had 7 officers under him

1. Topoteretai (administrators)
2. Chartoularios (financial officer)
3. Protomandator (chief courier)
4. Counts
5. Centurion
6. Counts of the Etaireia (commander of foreign crews)
7. Mandatores (couriers)

The Logothetes rou Dromou had 7 officers under him

1. Protonotarios tou Dromou (chief notary
2. Chartoularioi tou Dromou (finacial officers)
3. Episkeptitai (responsible for imperial estates)
4. Ermineftai (translators)
5. Kourator tou Apokrisiariou (Head of Diplomatic Corps)
6. Diatrechontes (couriers for foreign lands)
7. Mandatores (couriers for within the Empire)

The Protospatharios ton Vasilikon had 4 offices under him

1. Domesticos ton Vasilikon (his second in command)
2. Spatharioi tou Spatharikioi (Emperor's bodyguards)
3. Spatharioi tou Ippodromou (Emperor's bodyguards in the Hippodrome)
4. Kandidatoi (Cadets)
5. Vasilikoi Mandatores (Royal Couriers)

Under the Logothetes ton Agelon there were 5 officers

1. Protonotarios Asias (Chief Notary for Asia)
2. Protonotarios Phrygias (Chief Notary for Phrygia)
3. Dioikitai ton Mitaton (Shepherds of the Royal flocks)
4. Counts
5. Episkeptitai (responsible for the state farms)

Under the Domesticus ton Hikanaton were 9 officers

1. Topoteretai (Administrators)
2. Chartoularios (financial officer)
3. Counts (lieutenants)
4. Protomandator (Chief Courier)
5. Centurions
6. Vandoforoi (petty officers)
7. Doukiniatores (guards)
8. Simeioforoi (military communications)
9. Mandatores (couriers)

Under the Domesticus ton Noumeron there were 6 officers

1. Chartoularioi (financial officers)
2. Tribunes (captains)
3. Protomandator (chief Courier)
4. Vicars (petty officers)
5. Mandatores (Couriers)
6. Portarioi (Palace Gates Guards)

Under the Domesticus ton Optimaton there were 5 officers

1. Topoteretai (administrators)
2. Chartoularios (financial officers)
3. Counts
4. Centurions
5. Protokagkellarioi (legal clerks)

Under the Comes ton Teichon there were 7 officers

1. Topoteretai (administrators)
2. Chartoularioi (financial officers)
3. Tribunes (captains)
4. Protomandator (chief courier)
5. Vicars (petty officers)
6. Mandatores (couriers)
7. Portarioi (City Gates Guards)

Under Chartoularios tou Sakelliou there were 10 officers

1. Vasilikoi Notarioi (Royal Notaries)
2. Protonotarioi ton Thematon (Chief Notaries of the Themes)
3. Xenodochoi (hospital directors)
4. Zygostatis (Inspector of the weights and scales)
5. Metritai (assistants of the above)
6. Gerokomoi (nurses for the elders)
7. Chartoularioi ton Oikon (financial officers)
8. Protokagkellarios (legal advisors)
9. Kagkelarioi (assisstants of the above)
10. Domesticus tis Thymelis (something similar to the British Master of the Rolls)

Under the Chartoularios tou Vestiariou there were 9 officers

1. Vasilikoi Notarioi (Royal Notaries)
2. Centurion
3. Legatarios
4. Archon tis Charavgis (literally Master of the Dawn resposnisble for the preparations of the Emperors wardrobe every morning)
5. Exartistis (in charge of naval arsenals)
6. Chartoularios (financial officer)
7. Kouratores (Curators)
8. Chosvaitai (servants)
9. Protomandatores (chief couriers)

Under Protostrator there were 3 officers

1. Stratores (lieutenants)
2. Armofylakes (guards of the Armory)
3. Stavlokomites (responsible for the royal stables)

Under Protasekretes there were 3 officers

1. Asikritai (palace advisors)
2. Vasilikoi Notarioi (Royal Notaries)
3. Dekanos (in charge of Imperial post in the absence of the Emperor)

Under Eidikos there were 4 officers

1. Vasilikoi Notarioi (Royal Notaries)
2. Archontes ton ergodosion (Masters of public works)
3. Evdomarioi (workers)
4. Meizoteroi ton ergodosion (assistants of the Archontes)

Under the Megalos Kouratoras there were 8 officers

1. Protonotarios (Chief Notary)
2. Vasilikoi Notarioi (Royal Notaries)
3. Kouratores ton Palation (curators of the Palaces)
4. Kouratores ton Ktimaton (curators of the farms)
5. Meizoteros tou Eleutheriou (Master of Eleutherios port)
6. Xenodochos tou Sagarou (director of Sagaros Hospital)
7. Xenodochos Pylon (director of Pylon Hospital)
8. Xenodochos Nikomedeias (director of Nikomedeia Hospital)

Under Orphanotrophos there were 4 offices

1. Tou Oikou
2. Chartoularioi tou Osiou (financial officers)
3. Arkarios
4. Kouratores (responsible for charities)

Under the Tribunes of Blues and Greens there were 10 offices

1. Defterevontes (vice-Tribunes)
2. Chartoularios (financial officer)
3. Poiitis (composer of songs and poetry)
4. Archontes (Masters of factions short of third in command)
5. Geitoniarchai (leaders of Neighboorhoods)
6. Melistai (musicians)
7. Notarioi ton Meron (Notaries of the factions
8. Iniochoi (Charioteers)
9. Proteia (leaders of an insulae)
10. demotai (faction members)

Under the Master of Ceremonies there where 5 offices

1. Ypatoi (consuls)
2. Vestitores (Emperor's personal servants)
3. Silentiarii
4. Praefects of the Palace
5. Senators


End of Chapter X part 1... i ll post next part 2 with some more Byzantine Bureaucracy offices...
 
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Don_Giorgio

Chapter X Order of Precedence in the Byzantine Court after 8th-9th century and various offices of the Byzantine Bureaucracy Part 2


List of various other offices of the court

Actuarios: He was responsible for the distribution of food to the people of the City. From 11th century the title was given to the Imperial Physician.
The title still survives today as a titular honorific rank of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Adnoumistis: Responsible for the army supplies when in a campaign

Alytarches: Sort of police officer checking the behaviour of the people in the Hippodrome.

Arktouarios: Keeper of the beasts in the Hippodrome most notably the bears, one of the most famous holders of this title was Akakius the father of Empress Theodora.

Apokrisiarius: Diplomat or ambassador

Vestiarios: Tax clerk/collector not to be confused with vestitor who was a sevant of the Emperor.

Vigarios: Inspector of his faction horses in the Hippodrome.

Vothron Prostatis: (aka Sewers inspector) He was responsible for the Palace and the City's sewage system and took care of its maintenace.

Volouptatos: Responsible for imperial entertainment

Dekanoi: Officers in the Hippodrome under the Alytarches who prevented the people from entering the track when not supposed to do so

Dikaiophylax: Acted as a lawyer in lower courts.

Docheiarios: Responsible for the supplies of the churches and chapels of the Palace.
The title still survives today in Mt. Athos with the same responsibilities.

Drakon: officer acting as a scout looking for enemy's traps when in a campaign.

Drougarios tou Kolpou: Naval officer in charge of guarding the entrance of Bosporus, plus he was empowered to raise the chain that blocked the entrance on the Golden Horn in case of naval attack to the city.

Eikastes: Official painter of the Palace.

Eirinarches: the commander of city patrols.

Eparchos ton Vehiculon: Official in charge of roads maintenance and vehicles safety.

O epi ton Valaneion: Official in charge of Baths of Zeuxippus and other Imperial Baths.

O epi tis Agrypnias: Commander of the night watches.

O epi tis trapezis: He was responsible for the Emperor's lunches, dinners etc. especially during feasts.

O epi tou Koitonos: responsible for the Emperor's chambers

Kleisouraches: Commander of a fort or a mountain passage.

Komvinographos: He was charged with writing down the names of anyone who wished to compete in a chariot race

Kommentarisios: Judge for criminal cases

Cursores: Hippodrome employees

Custodiarios: Hippodrome employee in the Imperial Box among his duties was to raise the banners to the Hippodrome as a sign that a chariot race takes place.

Mapparios: Hippodrome employee, he hands over the "Mappa" to the Emperor.

Matrikarioi: Members of fire department.

Nyktotalalios: Night guard

Pardovalos: Keeper of the Beasts in the Hippodrome notably the leopards and lions.

Protekdikos: He ws the Chief legal advisor of the City.
The title still survives today as a titular honorific rank of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Referandarius: He accepted petitions from people and was empowered from the Emperor to answer them.
The title still survives today as a titular honorific rank of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Stavlisianos: Responsible for the maintenance of Hippodrome's stables

Υpomnimatografoi: Scribes in public services.
The title still survives today as a titular honorific rank of the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Orologos: He was responsible for the maintenance of Palace's clocks.


Εnd of chapter X... Next i ll post Chapter XI describing the Palaces of Constantinople and other various buildings.
 
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Don_Giorgio

Chapter XI Descrription of various buildings and Palaces in Constantinople.

Constantinople had several palaces and buildings worth of notice.
Unfortunately they are not excavated enough so most informations we have about them comes from byzantine writers, for instance the people had forgot about the Great Palace till late 18th-early 19th century when a fire destroyed the houses build above it and uncovered a very small part of its ruins and foundations.

Mega kai Ieron Palation (aka Great and Holy Palace)
The Great and Holy Palace was built originally by Constantine I but its not a single Palace. Its rather a big complex of Palacies, chapels, chambers, corridors, atriums and fora.
The Great Palace can be divided to the higher section and the lower section.

Daphne Palace (part of Great Palace complex)
The higher section is the original Palace built by Constantine I and was named "Palation tis Dafnis" (aka Palace of Laurels), while his succesors enlarged it.
It is not known why it was called Daphne (Laurel) but according to a testimony it was called like this because the Emperor was naming the new consuls there in 1 January each year by giving them laurel wreaths in this palace.

The Palace of Daphne was located in the south-east part of the city (in a part called 1st Region) with the Hippodrome exactly next to it (slightly north-west) while the Palace was connected to the Hippodrome with a secret passage. Slightly further to the north the Bath of Zeuxippos stood and the whole area around Daphne was full of gardens following the same pattern as Hadrian's villa in Tivoli, while some nobles villas might have been built around it.
In Daphne's south there were the Chrysotriklinos, the Palace of Hormisda and the Palace of Boukoleon.
We dont know much about this Palace since most of it is now under the "Sultan Achmed Mosque"
Daphne The palace was entered from a colonnaded street, leading south of and parallel with Hagia Sophia, through a magnificent domed vestibule later called Chalke Gate that led to the area of imperial offices and barracks of emperor’s guards.
The Palace had several reception, dinning and audience rooms as well as private bedrooms for the Emperor and his family.
The Palace's facade was facing north and was preceded by a large courtyard (Trivounalio) then few stairs lead u to the entrance of the Palace.
After entering the Daphne u see the "Konsistorio" chambers facing east where the Senate met originally and also it was used as the Emperor's main audience hall.
Next to the Konsistorion there was a corridor known as "Corridor of 19 Akkouvita" which connected the Daphne with the "Triklinos ton 19 Akkouviton" (aka Triclinum of 19 Akkouvita the main dinning hall) and the Augustaeum (aka the Emperor's throne room).
Between the corridor of 19 Akkouvita and the Augustaeum there was a semicircular courtyard called "Onopodion" encircled by a colonade.
The Imperial Family's private bedrooms were located on the south section of Daphne that allowed them to enjoy the view of the sea of Marmara and of Bosporus.
In the coutyard of Onopodion the imperial chapel of St. Stephen was located erected by Emperor Theodosius II.
At the lower south-east section of the Palace a small Hippodrome was incorporated called "Skepastos Ippodromos" (aka Covered Hippodrome) for private use of the Emperor.
Several other Emperors enlarged Daphne most notably Justinian who built the Triclinum Iustinianum, Justin II who built the Chrysotriklinos, Herakleios who built the Mosaikos Peristylos (aka Mosaic colonade), Theophilos who built the "Trikochos" and Sigma Palace and Basil I who built the Nea Ekklisia.

Some pics from Byzantium1200 showing 3d reconstructions of the Palace

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/daphne1.jpg This is the Entrace to the Palace of Daphne

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/daphne5.jpg This the courtyard of Daphne, the chapel of St. Stephen is on the right while on the left u see the entrance that leads the Emperor to the Imperial Box directly.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/augusteus.jpg This is the Onopodion Courtyard.

Chrysotriklinos
Chrysotriklinos (aka Golden Hall) was build by Justinian I in the sixth century and gradually it replaced the old Augustaeum as the main throne room.
It was build as an octagonon (with 8 corners) with a Dome while light was provided by 16 windows near the dome and unknown number of windows in the lower section.
The Gates of Chrysotriklinos faced west and was preceded by a small porch called Tripeton or Horologion.
The Emperor's throne stood in an apse at the building's eastern wall right across the gates.
Also there were many rooms attached to the Chrysotriklinos such as the chapel and the chambers of St. Theodore on the eastern wall of Chrysotriklinos.
At the north wall of Chrysotriklinos stood the Pantheon while on the western wall several rooms for the servants stood.
A small room was reserved for the Patriarch in the southern wall.

The original decorations of Chrysotriklinos are unknown but we know that in 8th century commisioned the painting of Chrysotriklinos with semi-religious mosaics and paintings.
The most prominent mosaic was the on e depicting Christ above the Emperor's throne, while above the Gates in the Western wall there was a large mosaic depicting Virgin Mary flanked by Emperor Michael III and Patriarch Photius, also there were several other mosaics and paintings showing Apostles, Martyrs, Saints etc. and the doors were made of pure silver.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/chrysotriklinos.html this is a pic showing how Chtysotriklinos looked like.

Palace of Boukoleon
The Palace of Boukoleon was built originaly by Emperor Theodosius II as an independent Palace outside the Great Palace which stood north from it.
It was built right upon seashore south of Great Palace and east of the Palace of Hormisda.
It was called Boukolen after a combination of the names of the 2 statues standing in the Palace's port namely an ox (Bous) and a lion (leon) and this combination gave us the Palace's name.

Early Emperors used it as a prison but since 9th century it has become one of the Emperor's favourite summer residences after Emperor Theophilos rebuilt the dilapidated palace.

It was built as a rectangular 2 storeys buliding and its western side faced the sea. On the second floor in the western side there were the Imperial chambers ornated with a magnificent balcony and the statues of 2 lions.
The Gates of the Palace were on the eastern wall while on the south-eastern side there was a private harbour for the Emperor.
The eastern wing of the Palace contained rooms and reception halls while light was secured by series of windows ornated with smaller balconies.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/bucoleon.jpg Here is a general view of the Palace from the sea...

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/bucoleon3.jpg A detail showing the Imperial Balcony

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/bucoleon2.jpg Another detail showing the harbour where the Emperor would board or disembark the Imperial Galley.


End of part 1... i ll continue later with part 2 (Also i ran out of cigarettes and i have to go buy some... :D)
 
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Cuāuhtemōc

Cuāuhtemōc

Banned
This should be stickied somewhere. It would be an extremely handy resource to have for anyone wanting to do a novel or a timeline set in the Eastern Empire.
 

Don_Giorgio

Chapter XI Descrription of various buildings and Palaces in Constantinople part 2


Palace of Hormisdas
This was a palace that once stood slightly west from the Palace of Boukoleon and gave its name to the entire area.
It was built by Emperor Justin I who named it after Pope Hormisda.
It was offered as a wedding gift from the Emperor to the newlyweds Justinian and Theodora who stayed there until Justinian became Emperor and after that he donated the Palace to Theodora.

The Palace had 2 chapels one in the name of St. Sergius & Bacchus built by Justinian and a second one in the name of St. Peter & Paul built by Justin I which stored part of the relics of St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Sergius and St. Bacchus.

Theodora being a monophysite gave it in turn to the Constantinople's monophysites along with the chapel of St. Sergius & Bacchus for their liturgical needs, However after his wife's death Justinian expelled them from the Palace.
It was a simple palace more like a Patrician villa rather than a palace but after Justinian's death it quickly fell into disuse and by 9th-10th century only the name of the area remained.


Palace of Antiochos
The Palace of Antiochos was built around 439 as the private residense of Praepositus Antiochos who was a tutor to the Emperor Theodosius II and after his downfall following a quarell with the Emperor's sister Pulcheria the palace passed to the Emperor in 440.

The palace is located adjacent to the Hippodrome in the neighboorhood of Argyroprateia (Silver-sellers district) just northwest of Daphne.
It is consisted of 2 sections. In the southern section there was a dinning hall shaped in hexagon with a large table in the middle while several small rooms for the servants were around the dinning hall. Outside the dinning hall there was a semicircular portico paved with white marble slabs and on the portico's back walls several rooms were located and propably used as bedchambers or private dinning rooms.
From the portico someone could access the courtyard by passing through an elaborate gate.
In the northern section of the Palace there was a large rotunda with a semicircular portico facing the street along the west side of the Hippodrome with the entrance located in the south wall and a small bath attached near the entrance.
The rotunda was used as an audience hall for Antiochos during his tenure as Praepositus.

During the 7th century the dinning hall of the southern section was converted to the Church of St. Euphemia in order to store the newly arrived relics of the saint there while the adjoining servants rooms were converted to mausolea.
THe Rotunda of the northern section seems to have been destroyed somehow by then since there are no mentions of it and in the 8th century a mausoleum is reported to have been built in its place.
Emperor Constantine V secularised the church and turned it to a palace again but Empress Irene restored it as a church and remained that way till the end of the Empire.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/antiochos.jpg THis the portico of Antiochos's Palace

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/antiochos2.jpg a view from the outside.


Palace of Lausus
The Palace of Lausus stood slightly north of the Palace of Antiochos between the neighborhoods of Argyroprateia (silver-sellers district) and Chalkoprateia (copper-sellers district).
It was built by Lausus who was a Praepositus to the Emperor Theodosius II and after his death he willed the Palace to the Emperor.

The Palace was shaped in a huge Rotunda preceded by a semicircular portico and adjoining a long hall next to the Palace of Antiochos.
Lausus was a great art collector and had gathered every piece of Greek and Roman art he could get his hands on in his Palace.
Notably on his gardens stood the statue of "Knidian Aphrodite" made by Praxiteles, the statue of Olympian Zeus made by Pheidias (the one stood in Olympia and was abou 14 m tall) a statue of "Eros" made by Lyssipos, the emerald statue of "Athena of Lindos" and many other statues, paintings etc.

Unfortunately 30 years after his death a great fire destroyed his Palace and the Hippodrome along with his vast art collection.
After the fire nothing had remained from the Palace, only the name and the area was called since then "Lausiakos" or "Palace of Lausus".

Palace of Maggana
It was a small palace erected in the eastern part of the city and was surrounded by monasteries.
Little is known about this palace and we only know that it was given as an office to the Curator who was responsible for supplying the Palace and later in 11th century a Law school was established there by Emperor Constantine IX.

Chalke Gate
Chalke Gate (aka Bronze Gate) was the main entrance to the Great Palace and took its name from its copper doors.
Chalke Gate was facing west to the Forum Augustaeum and east to the Magnaura Palace.
It was built by Emperor Anastasius I and then burnt down in 532 during Nika Riots and rebuilt immediately by Emperor Justinian I in a more magnificent way.
Justinian I added a huge mosaic of Christ above the Gate.
During Iconoclasm the mosaic of Christ was removed and substituted by a Cross.
After the restoration of the Icons the mosaic depicting Christ was restored as it was before.
By 8th century Chalke Gate and the adjacent rooms were converted to prison but Basil I turned them to Courts of Law.
Emperor Romanus I added a small chapel dedicated to Christ above the Gate.
Emperor John I Tsimiskes enlarged the chapel and chose it as his own burial place.
After 1204 there are no mentions about Chalke Gate and it was presumably destroyed by the Crusaders.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/chalke1.jpg
this is how Chalke Gate looked like... The mosaic depicting Christ stood just above the gate (in the place of this golden semicircle in the pic)

Palace of Magnaura
Τhe Palace of Magnaura was built initially by Constantine I and housed the Senate.
However it was burned down during Nika Riots and rebuilt by Justinian I in the form of a 3-aisled Basilica and was used as an audience hall.
The entrance was in the western side across the Chalke Gate and upon entering there was a colonade courtyard with a portico which lead to the the main audience hall.
The south section had 2 floors and from the second floor the Emperor could go directly to Hagia Sophia unseen by a secret passage.
In the eastern section there were private rooms for the Emperor and the Empress and bedrooms.
The main hall was richly decorated in order to impress the foreign ambassadors/rulers who visited the Emperor.

On this main hall there was a large golden throne (called the Throne of Solomon) which is set up on pulpit with six steps while the top is covered with golden tree leafs adorned with golden statuettes of birds, the golden leafs providing shade for the Emperor.
On the left and right of the throne there are 2 golden statues depicting lions roaring while next to the lions facing the Emperor stand 2 golden Gryphons.
On the right side there is a case shaped like a castle where the Crown Jewels and the Imperial regalia are displayed during audiences while on the left side a huge hydraulic "ecclesiastical" organ lies.
As soon as the ambassadors enter the room a hydraulic mechanism is activated and the golden statuettes of birds start singing the statues of the of the Gryphons start to rise and the statues of the Lions start to rise and roar loudly.

When the ambassadors are in front of the Throne they fall in prostration 3 times.
As soon as the ambassadors fall in prostration another hydraulic mechanism is activated and the Imperial Throne starts rising high above the floor while the "ecclesiastical" organ starts playing music.

Emperor Basil I renewed the hall with wonderfull moasaics and paintings. The mosaics near the door were showing Basil I and his predecessors dressed in full Imperial Robes amongs their Generals who offer to them conquered cities.
On the dome above the door one could see Basil I and his predecessors dressed in military uniforms and each Emperor's military achievements are inscribed.
In the centre of the hall there was a fountain and a silver statue was set in fountains middle depicting an Eagle killing a snake.
The mosaics in the middle of the hall depict Basil I and his Empress Eudokia and all their predecessors Emperors and Empresses dressed in full Imperial regalia sitting in golden thrones.
The roof is made of solid gold and a huge green mosaic Cross can be seen in the middle.
The cross in the roof is encircled by stars and busts of the Emperors painted.
On the middle of the floor there was a peacock made by green marble and embeded to the floor inside a circle.
Rays of green marble start from the circle and form a second larger circle and from the larger circles rays of green marble start again towards the 4 corners of the room an among the rays 4 eagles made from red marble are embeded in the floor.
Behind the Emperor's Throne there was a huge mosaic depicting Christ blessing.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/es2.jpg Here is the entrance to the Magnaura Palace

Palace of Myrelaion
Palace of Myrelaion was built first during 5th century in the form of a Rotunda but quickly fell into disuse.
Until Emperor Romanus I bought it converted to a nunnery and had his wife buried in there...

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/myrelaipalace.jpg
There you can the Palace of Myrelaion as it would have look like in Romanus's I times.

Palace of Votaneiatis
Build in the north-eastern side of the city near the Genoese quarters this was the private residence of General Nicephorus Votaneiatis before he became Emperor Nicephorus III.
However after his death the palace fell into disuse and in 1192 it was given to the Genoese.
The Palace was consisted of a number of houses and pavillons along with 2 churches.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/botenai.jpg the Palace of Votaneiatis is shown here

Placidia Palace
The Palace was built in 5th century by the Western Roman Empress Galla Placidia in the northern section of the city near Pantokratoros Monastery (its near modern day Phener district).
And from the 6th century till 1054 it was the official residense of Papal Apokrisiarius (aka the Papal ambassador) to Constantinople.
It was in the form of a simple Patrician Villa adorned with a large garden.

Palaces of Aelia Eudokia and Arkadia
They were adjacent to the Placidia Palace built in the 5th century by Empress Aelia Eudokia and Arkadia sister of Theodosius II as summer residenses. However they quickly fell into disuse and abandoned.

Palace of Porphyrogennitus (aka Palace of the Purple born)
Despite popular belief that says that this was the Palace of Constantine VII in reality it was built in 13th century and propably the last palace to be erected in Constantinople.
It was part of the Blachernae complex Palace and took his name from Constantine Palaiologus purple born son of Michael VIII Palaeologus.
Its a large 3 storey building standing in the northern corner of the land walls.
Despite suffering heavy damage in the siege og 1453 because of its proximity to the walls the Palace remains till today as the best preserved sample of an Imperial Palace.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/tekfur1.jpg
Here you can see how the Palace of Porphyrogennitus looked like in 13th century.

Palace of the Purple
It was the Palace where the children to a reigning Emperor were born.
Its a small Palace placed between Daphne and Boukoleon and was shaped in a square and its top is shaped like a pyramid.
The entrance was from the south and on the second floor were the private rooms of the Emperor and the Empress facing south towards Boukoleon.
The Empress's room (the actual Purple-room) was decorated with purple marbles with small white spots.
It was built somewhere around 4th-6th century with marbles shipped from Rome.

Palace of Hieria
It was located across Constantinople in the asiatic side near Chalcedon.
It was build by Justinian I and served as a summer residense for Emperors.
It was shaped like Boukoleon and survived till 1203 where it appears either abandoned or destroyed.

Palace of Blachernae
The Palace of Blachernae was built around 500 as a single Palace in the northwestern end of the city by Emperor Anastasius I who had 2 elaborate dinning hall built there the "Triklinos Anastasiakos" (aka Triclinum Anastasianum) and "Triklinos Okeanos" (aka Triclinum Oceanis).
Also Anastasius I built a magnificent portico in the entrance of Blachernae called Iosiphiako Portico (aka Portico of Joseph) and a third hall named "Triklinos Danouvios" (aka Triclinum Danubium).
From Danubium the Emperor could enter the Church of Virgin Mary in Blachernae without being seen by using the secret stairs.
After 11th century the Komnenoi abandoned the Great Palace and Blachernae upgraded to the main Imperial Palace while Manuel Comnenus enlarged it and upgraded to a complex Palace as Great Palace was by constructing new halls and houses.
The Palace remained the main Imperial Palace till the fall of the city.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/blachernae1.jpg
In this pic you can see the Blachernae Palace complex
1. Church of Virgin Mary in Blachernae
2. Agia Soros chapel (where the Robes of Virgin Mary were stored)
3. Triclinum Danubium
4. Triclinum Oceanis
5. Triclinum Anastasianum
6. Triklinos Alexiakos (built by Alexius I)
7. Prison of Anemas (there the Emir of Crete was held prisoner before released by Romanus II)
8. Palace Baths
9. Palace of Manuel I Comnenus
10. Palace chapel
11. Palace of Empress Bertha
12. Tower of Isaak II Angelus


End of part 2... Next i ll post part 3 with the description of the private Imperial chambers and the Imperial Fora.
 

Don_Giorgio

Chapter XI Descrription of various buildings and Palaces in Constantinople part 3

Ieros Koiton (aka Holy Chambers the Emperor's personal bedroom)
Ieros Koiton was located in Daphne Palace and was the Emperor's main personal bedroom.
Very few people had access to this room as it was strictly forbidden to anyone to approach it. Only the Empress, the co-Emperors, the Parakoimomenos, the Praepositus, the Commander of Imperial Guard and a few selected servants could enter the chamber.

The room was rectangular in shaped as a rectangular with windows facing south.
The roof was made from solid gold and adorned with silver stars while in the centre was a huge cross made from green mosaic tiles.
The walls were covered with mosaics of religious themes while on the base of the walls there were tiles depicting flowers which surrounded the whole room.
On the eastern wall the Emperor's golden bed stood and above it there was a mosaic depicting the Emperor, the Empress and their children in a golden background (originally it was a mosaic depicting Basil I and his family who had commisioned the redecoration of the chambers but every each one Emperor scrapped the previous faces and substituted them with their own faces and of their families.).
The floor was richly decorated too, in the center a peacock with open tail was depicted made by red marble encircled in a red circle while in the 4 corners of the floor 4 eagles were embeded made by green marble.
Also an Iconostasis stood by the Emperor's bedside, while the doors were made of solid gold and the curtains separating several departments of the bedroom were made of purple velvet.
From the roof 4 golden chanteliers hang and the room was decorated with furniture made from ivory and ebony.

During summer times the Emperor usually used the "Margariti Koitona" (aka Pearl Chambers) which was located near the garden of Onopodion and had windows facing both the gardens of Onopodion and the gardens near Augustaeum so to create a breeze and cool off the chamber.
The dome was made of solid gold embroidered with silver stars and the dome was standing in 4 huge columns.
The Emperor's bed was placed northwest under a huge mosaic depicting christ, while the rest of the walls depicted mosaics with hunting scenes).
While the floor was covered with white marble (done so in order to reflect sunlight and create more light to the room and in the same time to reflect summer heat away from the room).

If winter was harsh (like it is in Constantinople in December-January) then the Emperor was moved to the "Kario Koitona" (aka Carian Chambers) which was located inside Daphne and was protected from the harsh winds that blew.
The whole chamber was build by green and black Carian marbles (hence the name) while it had fewer windows and all of them faced west in order to avoid the harsh north winds and the cold and humid winds from the sea.
It had the same roof as the Holy chamber but fewer mosaics.


Aithousa tis Armonias
The Empress had her own chambers called "Aithousa tis Armonias" (aka Room of Harmony) and they were located across the Holy Chambers.
Again entrance in Empress's quarters was restricted to few selected persons only the Emperor, "Zostai Patrikiai", eunuchs and few selected maids were allowed to enter, ever guards cannot enter the Empress's quarters without permission from her.
The floor was covered with green marble while the the walls were covered with alternate stripes of purple Thessalian marbles and white Proikonisos marbles.
The walls were decorated with mosaics depicting animals and nature themes, while adjacent to the chamber there was the Empress's personal wardrobe which was covered wholy with white Carian marble.
Again as in the Emperor's chambers 4 chanteliers were hung from the roof and all over the room there were furniture from ivory and ebony.
The doors were made from solid silver.

During winter the Empress could move (if she wished so as the room was so perfectly located that it could endure both summer's heat and winter's cold) to the "Koitona tou Erotos" (aka Love Chamber) which was inside Daphne and was covered with red marbles all over.
During summer the Empress could move the "Palati tis Porfyras" (aka purple Palace (see part 2 above) again if she wished so.


Forum Augustaeum
It was the main and most important Forum in the City. Built originally by Constantine I as a public market but Leo I at first and then Justinian rebuilt it after Nika Riots as a closed colonaded courtyard and thus making Chalke Gate the only way for someone to enter the Palace.
It was located in the eastern section of the city before the Great Palace and Chalke Gate.
It had a rectangular shape and was surrounded by a colonade (Leo's I addition), while Justinian I completely cut off access to the Forum and evicted any seller/market from the place.
After closing in it for public he opened 2 new gates on in the Western wall called Melete Gate and another in the south wall called Pinsos Gate for people to enter the Augustaeum (although permission was needed to enter).
Just before Augustaeum stood the Milion Monument aka a monument which looked like an arch and on the inside there were recorded every city of the Empire and their distance from the Milion.

To the north of Augustaeum one could see Hagia Sophia, Hagia Eirini and the Patriarchal Palace.To the east stood the Senate buildings one built by Constantine I and the second one built by Julian. The Constantinian Senate has been destroyed during Nika Riots and rebuilt by Justinian I in larger form. Next to the Senate in the southeast stood the Chalke Gate and the Baths of Zeuxippus stood next to it, Patriarch Thomas I erected a dinning Hall in the southwestern end of Augustaeum during his tenure called "Thomaitis Triklinos" which housed the Patriarchal Library.
On the western side Augustaeum was next to Hippodrome's "sphendoni"

The Forum was decorated with several monumental columns, on in honour of Augusta Helena (Mother of Constantine I) with her statue on top of it, the second one to be erected was a column with Constantine I statue on top of it flanked by three smaller columns bearig the statues of his 3 sons. However following a collapse of one of the statues during the reign of Theodosius I all the statues were replaces by a statue of Theodosius in a quadriga (this was standing in 2 columns) and on the remaining 2 he placed the statues of his 2 sons all cast in pure silver, while his grandson Theodosius II added a bronze statue of his wife.

Following the rebuilt bt Justinian I he added one more column dedicated fashioned after Trajan's column in Rome to him and a colossal equestrian statue depicting Justinian I was placed on its top.
In this statue Justinian was depicted wearing Roman armor and a feathered helmet holding a Globus Cruciger on the left hand while the right hand was stretched towards East (this was done as a warninf sign to enemies coming from the East since the statue was very large and placed high above ground so it could be seen clearly from anyone standing outside the city even in long distance), and before the statue a smaller column was erected with the statues of 3 barbarian Kings on top kneeling before Justinian's statue.
The statue survived till the end of the Empire when it was toppled around 1454. A chronicler who saw the remains of the statue states that Justinian's right leg was more than 2m tall and his nose was about 30cm long.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/augustaion1.jpg a pic showing Forum Augustaeum

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/milion.jpg This is the Milion Monument

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/coljust.jpg Here is a pic showing how Justinian's statue looked like.

Forum of Arcadius
It was built by Emperor Arcadius about 403 near Constantinian walls Golden Gate in the area called Xerolophos (dry hill) west of Mese Odos.
It was adorned with statues and a monumental column built by Arcadius again fashioned after Trajan's Column and an equestrian silver statue of Emperor Arcadius was placed on top of it (about 50m from ground). However an earthquake toppled the Emperor's statue in 704 and it was left "naked" after that (aka without a statue on top).

Forum of Constantine
One of the first buildings to be erected in Constantinople after its foundation. It was build near the Golden Gate of the Constantinian walls as a colonaded Forum with 2 entrances one in the east and another in the west and in the middle stood the Column of Constantine topped with a statue of Emperor Constantine I depicted as Sun-God holdinf a lance and wearing a Crown with seven rays, the middle ray of the Crown was made by one of the Holy Nails jis mother found.
On the statue's base in a special crypt the Emperor had put the Crosses of the 2 Thieves (those who were crucified with Christ), Noah's Axe and Troy's Palladium brought there from Rome.
The column was surrounded by noumerous antiquity statues brought there from all over the Empire, none survived past 1204. Most notable example the statue of Athena Promachos which stood there till 1204.
However a violent storm toppled the statue in 1150 and Emperor Manuel I replaced it with a huge golden Cross.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/forum-c.jpg
Here is a pic of how the forum looked like after 1150. Notice the cross on top of constantine's column.

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/forum-c4.jpg
Here is a pic of Constantine's column before 1150 when Constantine's statue was still on top.

Forum of Theodosius I
Originally built by Constantine I who had it named Forum Taurii (aka Forum of the Bull named like this from a nearby statue)
It was renamed in 393 and took the name of Theodosius I who had the Forum rebuilt fashioned after Trajan's Forum in Rome and a monumental column was erected fashioned after Trajan's column in Rome.
After 10th century the column's top became a favourite place for ""stylites" monks to live on (stylitis is a monk who lives all his life on the top of a column),

http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/images/forum-t.jpg here is a pic showing how Forum looked like.

Forum Boarium
It was a rectangular forum standing between the forum of Arcadius and the Forum of Theodosius and was the place where butchers had their shops (hence the name)

Forum Amastrianon
Stood between Forum Boarium and the forum of Arcadius but slightly to the northwest.
It was the place where the city market stood.

Anemodoulion
Literally the "servant of Winds" it was a 4 gates arch that stood in the cross section of Mese Odos and Makros Embolos streets originally built built by Diocletian.
It became a bad place when Justinian expelled the only whorehouse of the city from its premises near the palace in Zeugma district and the whores moved to the area around Anemodoulion.

End of part 3... Next i ll post part 4 about Constantinople's districts.
 
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Don_Giorgio

ByzantineCaesar said:
I've always wondered why the Komnenoi moved to Blachernae.
Click to expand...

The Great Palace was in dilapidated state by then and the cost of its maintenace was very huge.
So they chose to move to the Blachernae Palace which was smaller but in better shape and with less cost of maintenance.
 
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Don_Giorgio

Chapter XI Descrription of various buildings and Palaces in Constantinople part 4

Districts in Constantinople
Like Rome Constantinople was divided by Constantine I to 14 Regions

1st Region was covering the area of the Great Palace which stood between the first and second hills of the city in the southeast.

2nd Region covered the northwest end of the city and included the old Byzantium Acropolis, the city theatre, the Sigma district, the Kynegion where the Emperors went for hunting and several monasteries.

3rd Region stood between the Great Palace and the Anemodoulion and included the Hippodrome, the cistern of Philoxenos and the Palace of Antiochos and the districts of Argyroprateia (silver sellers) and Hormisda.

4th Region was located western of 2nd Region and included the Prosphorion Port, the Strategion building, the Palace of Votaneiatis and the Cistern of Justinian and the districts of Chalkoprateia (copper sellers) Keropoleia (candle sellers) and of Eugeniou.

5th Region was located west of 4th Region and included the Church of St. Urbicius and the district of Sphorakios

6th Region was west of 5th Region and included the Neorion Port,the majority of the Latin quarters, and the districts of Perama and the Artopoleia (bread sellers)

7th Region was west of 6th Region upon th third hill of the city and included mostly houses and churches and the districts of Zeugma where the only whorehouse of the city stood untill expelled by Justinian I and Narsou.

8th Region stood between the Forum Amastrianon and the Forum of Constantine and was comprised mostly of shops and factories.

9th Region was south from the 8th and housed mostly public services offices some villas, houses and the ports of Kontoskalion and the Port of Julian the districts of this region were Caenopolis, Amantiou, Kanikleion,
and Kaisariou

10th district was located west of the 7th district and was mainly comprised of houses and included the districts of Leomakelleion, Platea and Constantiniana and included Valens's Aqueduct.

11th Region was located on the 4th hill of the city and again was comprised by urban houses and included the districts of Olybriou and Amastrianon.

12th Region was located southwest of the 11th region and included the Port of Eleutherios (the main commercial port) and the Forum of Arcadius and the districts of Dalmatou and Helleniana

13th Region was covering the area between the 12th region and the Theodosian wall and was mainly comprised by farmers and peasants adn included the districts of Exokionion, Paradeision, Olympiou, Sigma, Triton, Psamathia, Katakalon and Aureliana.

14th Region was located north of 13th Region and covered mainly the area around Blachernae and the nobles villas on the fifth hill and included the districts of Dexiokratous, Petrion, Petra and Defteron.

End of Part 4... This was a short part since i am not at home... i ll post the rest later...
 

Don_Giorgio

I was reading an interesting study about the Eastern Roman Emperors causes of death... Some of them could of have lived longer...

Constantine I: died propably from malaria aged 65
Constantius II: died propably from malaria aged 44
Julian: killed in battle after a spear pierced his liver aged 32
Jovian: died from poisonous gases of a stove aged 32
Valens: burned alive by Goths while inside a house (although by accident as Goths werent aware of the Emperor's presence in the house) aged 50
Theodosius I: died propably by dropsy aged 48
Arcadius: died suddenly proropably stroke or heart attack aged 30
Theodosius II: died after falling from his horse and injuring his spine aged 49
Marcian: died from complications from his arthritis and propably diabetes aged 65
Leo I: died propably from stomach or intestine cancer aged 73
Leo II: Died propably by disease (although some writers mention that he might have been poisoned by his mother) aged 7
Zeno: Died propably from epileptic seizure (though many writers mention that the seizure just left him unconcious and Empress Ariadne buried him alive...) aged 66
Anastasius I: died from heart attack after a lightning aged 88
Justin I: died from complications from old war wounds aged 77
Justunian I: died propably from a combination of arthritis and Alzheiher's disease aged 82
Justin II: died from complications after surgery to remove bladder stones aged 58
Tiberius II: died after eating rotten berries aged 62
Maurice: decapitated by Phokas aged 63
Phokas: lynched by mob
Heraclius: died propably from kidney failure aged 66
Constantine III: poisoned by his step mother aged 29
Constans II: died after a fatal blow in the head aged 37
Constantine IV: died propably from a combination of gout and stomach cancer aged 33
Justinian II: decapitated by Philippicus aged 42
Leontius: decapitated by Justinian II
Tiberius III: decapitated by Justininian II
Philippicus: blinded and propably died from the operation
Anastasius II: decapitated by Leo III
Theodosius III: propably died of a stroke
Leo III: died from dysentery aged 56
Constantine V: propably died from Fournier's gangrene aged 57
Leo IV: died of septic shock after using a moldy crown aged 30
Constantine VI: died from complications after his blinding aged 32
Irene: propably died of a heart attack or a stroke aged 51
Nicephorus I: killed in battle
Staurakios: died from complications of his wound in the spine
Michael I: died of epileptic seizure
Leo V: assassinated aged 45
Michael II: died from kidney failure aged 59
Theophilos: died from dysentery aged 28
Michael III: assassinated aged 27
Basil I: died in a hunting accident aged 74
Leo VI: propably died from stomach cancer aged 45
Alexander: died of a massive stroke aged 46
Constantine VII: propably died from Typhoed fever but slow poisoning has been suggested to aged 54
Romanus I: died from a stroke or heart attack aged 78
Romanus II: propably died after injuring his groin, poisoning has been suggested too aged 25
Nicephorus II: assassinated aged 57
John I: poisoned by his chamberlain aged 50
Basil II: died suddenly propably by stroke aged 67
Constantine VIII: propably died from a combination of vascular disease and Alzheimer's disease aged 68
Romanus III: assassinated aged 67
Michael IV: propably died from epileptic seizure age 31
Michael V: died from complications after his castration and blinding aged 27
Zoe: propably died from Parkinson's disease aged 72
Constantine IX: propably died from arthritis aged 55
Michael VI: propably died from Alzheimer's disease
Isaakios I: propably died from kidney failure aged 55
Romanus IV: died from complications after his blinding aged 42
Constantine X: unknown disease aged 61
Michael VII: propabbly died from bladder cancer aged 40
Nicephorus III: died from Alzheimer's disease aged 79
Alexius I: propably died from a serie of heart attacks aged 62
John II: died in a hunting accident aged 55
Manuel I: propably died from pleuritis aged 61
Alexios II: murdered aged 14
Andronicus I: lynched by the mob aged 67
Isaakios II: died from a stroke aged 48
Alexios III: died from a stroke aged 58
Alexios IV: murdered aged 22
Alexios V: executed by the Crusaders
Theodore I: died suddenly propably a stroke aged 52
John III: propably died from a stroke aged 62
Theodore II: died from epileptic seizure aged 36
John IV: died of natural causes aged 55
Michael VIII: died of a massive heart attack aged 58
Andronicus II: died by food poiosning aged 73
Michael IX: died from a stroke aged 43
Andronicus III: propably died from malaria aged 44
John V: propably died from arthritis aged 58
John VI: propably died from kidney failure aged 91
Andronicus IV: died from a stroke aged 37
John VII: died from heart attack aged 38
Manuel II: died from a stroke aged 75
John VIII: died from arthritis aged 55
Constantine XI: killed in battle aged 48
 

Don_Giorgio

Chapter XII Justice in Byzantine times

The Judicial authority was completely with the Emperor.
He was considered as god-given and incarnation of the Law itself and while by tradition the Emperor is exempt from the Law we see numerous cases where the Emperor submits to the law not because he is obliged to but because he has to set the example for his subjects.

Judges and Courts
Cases of high treason or crimes against officials of the state were judged by the Emperor himself who also acted as the supervisor of the whole legal system of the Empire and this pattern was preserved till the fall of the Empire.
The Emperor also acted as an appeal judge to every case that was tried in the Empire, and also advised and responded to questions posed by judges of the Empire.

Till 7th century the Emperor appointed tactical judges who tried the cases brought to them by the citizens with the help of jurists (since tactical judges werent required to know the legislation, that was a jurist's field).
Constantinople had 3 tactical Judges, the Quaestor, the Praefect of the City and the Praetor who presided over the court of law. However if the decision wasnt satisfactory for one of the 2 parts he could always appeal to the Emperor, and the case was brought before the Imperial Court and a final decision was made by the Emperor.
The "Kanikleion" (aka the Imperial Chancery) except the imperial correspondance and other had the duty to publish the laws and the court decisions while the Quaestor acted as the Imperial jurist.

Cases of financial nature were judged by the Comes Sacrarum Largitionum while cases that involved nobles they were referred to the Magister Officiorum.

In provinces outside Constantinople all cases were judged in first degree by the local eparch or vicar while the Praefectus Praetorio was acting as an appeal court.

After 8th cuntury the judicial system was reformed with the "Protasekrites" (Chief Palace advisor) becoming the top Judge.
Also the "Logothetis tou Praetoriou" assumes some judicial powers helped by the "Krites ton Regeonon" (aka regional judges) who were 14 one for each region of Constantinople, while in the provinces the Logothetes replaces the old Praefectus Praetorio institution as an appeal court.

In Constantinople also 2 more departments of the Imperial Court were founded 1. "Oi kritai tou Vilou" (aka Judges of the Veil) which tried cases between nobles and 2. "kritai tou Ippodromou" (aka Judges of the Hippodrome) which judged cases between foreigners.

After Leo VI the office of the Quaestor lost all of its financial authority while retained all of its judicial authorities thus becoming the second top Judge in the City with the right to judge provincial judges along with the Emperor and his decisions can be appealed only to the Emperor himself.
The Praefect of the City retains his judicial duties and is promoted to vice-president of the Imperial Court with the right to substitute the Emperor whenever he is sick or absent.
After 11th century the Praefect of the City is replaced as vice-president of the Imperial Court by the "Drougarios tis Viglas", while on the same time the "Sakellarios" assumes the duties of Attorney General of the Imperial Court (and also of the interogator before the trial)

Outside Constantinople in provinces the Strategos or in his absence the Doux is the supreme judicial authority in a theme helped by a Praetor or "Kriti" (judge) who is sent by the Emperor (Praetors or Krites tried mainly civil law cases while all the other cases poltical-criminal etc. were tried exclusively by the Strategos).

Every citizen of any rank or wealth had the right to file an appeal if he believed that the decision was wrong, and this appeal would be discussed by the Imperial Court presided by the Emperor himself who had the authority to validate, modify or even annul the previous decision.

When someone wanted to file an appeal he had to present a special report called "Deisis" (aka petition) to the "Axiomatiko epi ton Deiseon" (aka Officer in charge of petitions).
O axiomatikos epi ton Deiseon would study the report and then he would turn over the case to the Imperial Court if it was serious enough, for lesser cases he was empowered to make the final decision himself.

In some cases the petitions of Appeal were delivered to the Emperor personally especially during Great Feasts when the factions presented petition booklets to the Emperor.

Special hotels have been built in Constantinople for people coming from far away provinces in order to file an appeal where they stayed till the trial of their case (it could take months).
Constantine IX (who had been a judge before becoming Emperor) then in order to protect the poorer citizens from making the trip to Constantinople he founded a new Court called "Dikastirio epi ton Kriseon" (aka Court of the Judges) which revised all the decisions made by first degree courts and if an appeal was needed then the citizen would be notified to come to the city when a date for the hearing has been set.

In 9th century Constantinople had 24 lawyers and 24 Notaries for the people's needs in courts. Of course in lesser courts or for lesser cases the citizens didnt hired a lawyer but they defended themselves or hired a "dikaiophylax" something like a trainee lawyer.
In the Imperial Court of course you have to have a lawyer.

During the reign of Manuel I the Courts existing in Constantinople were 4
1. The Prafect of the City's court
2. The Dorougarios tis Viglas court
3. Quaestor's court
4. Epi ton Kriseon

By Manuel I decision the courts were obliged to come into session at least 3 times a week and the speeches were limited to 2 one from the accuser and one from the defender.
This was done because previously the courts were in session only 1-2 times a week and the lawers kept eating time by huge speeches thus delaying the process.

The court's decisions were by plurality and in case of a tie then the presiding judge's vote counted as double.


Church and Courts
From Justinian's I times the Bishops had the authority to hear and try certain cases of civil or criminal nature while the more serious cases were refered to the Patriarch who could issue an opinion (not a decision he could only guide them in the right direction)
Ecclesiastical cases were tried exclusively by ecclesiastical courts which were presided by a "Chartophylax" in cases that the accused was a monk, deacon or a priest.
If the accused is a Bishop then he is tried by a Synod of Bishops presided by the most senior Bishop with the Patriarch or the Emperor retaining the right to judge an appeal.

Penalties
A) Death Penalty
It was in the judgemnt of the judge if he would impose the death penalty unless the law specified it clearly, for instance the charges of murder, arson, adultery or sorcery were punishable by death.
According to the law death by decapitation or burning was the norms to impose the death penalty but then again it was at the Emperor's or the judge's hand to impose it on a different way like burying alive, drowning in the sea, throwing in the Hippodrome along with wild beasts etc.
Some Emperors were quite creative in inventing new ways to kill someone... Like Alexius I when he arrested an usurper and condemned him to death he ordered a copper crown to be made then put it in fire untill turn red and then nail it to the usurper's head

Burning at stake it was imposed only in case of arson or in case of female homosexuality between nuns (the only female homosexuality condemned... between lay women it was legally indifferent)

Hanging was imposed in cases of robbery with murder.
Until Justinian the guilty of incest and male homosexuality were punished by decapitation but Justinian forbade it and instituted instead the "kavlokopia" punishment (aka cutting of the penis) but it was done in such a crude way that the mortality rate was about 95%... Also he imposed the same punishment to child molesters...

B) Mutilation
Mutilation as a penalty is more frequent after the Isaurians who imported them influenced from the arab legal system (however there are mentions of mutilations before the Isaurians just after Leo III it became more frequent)
For crimes against someone's wealth, forging money and provokation of lethal wounds the penalty was the cutting of the right hand.
For perjury the penalty was the cutting of the tongue.
For the crime of sacrilege the penalty was blinding, also the same penalty was imposed on usurpers or rebels if they were spared from the death penalty.
For the crimes of rape, defloration of virgins, incest etc. the penalty was the cutting of the nose (again if they managed to escape the death penalty) or the cutting of the penis (for men)
For the crime of male bestiality the accused had his penis cut off, if the accused was a female then the penalty was death by burning.

Flogging wasnt an independent penalty and it was imposed along with mutilation penalties or other penalties.

C)Exile-Fines
Exile was the usual penalty in cases like manslaughter, abortion and deceiption and varied from life till an arranged amoun tof time.
Before Justinian I if someone was sentenced to exile his fortune was confiscated and he lost his citizenship but Justinian separated those in different penalties and the exile along with confiscation of fortune was imposed only to fraudsters. In all cases however the place and the duration of the exile was dependant from the judge alone.

Confiscation of fortune or fines where usually imposed to nobles or wealthy men (for obvious reasons).
The accused condemned had to pay a fine to the victim and then pay again to restore the damage done. If he cannot restore the damage then the fine is doubled.

D)Imprisonment
Byzantines usually didnt condemn people to imprisonment. People were lefte imprisoned till the trial (which could take months or even years rarely) or till their execution.

A sort of imprisonment could be the enforcement to enter a monastery usually happened when the accused repented for his crime and pleaded for the Emperor's mercy.
After Justinian I it became the usual punishment for rapists or for bigamists or for monks who had violated their vows.
The accused is forced to be tonsured and his fortune is donated to the monastery of their imprisonment.
It should be noted that under Canon Law when someone is tonsured he cannot be "untonsured" thus he will be forever a monk enclosed in a monastery. The same punishment was reserved for deserters or for collaborators with the enemy.


End of Chapter XII.... I ll see tomorrow what am i forgeting and post it since i will be out in Monday...
 

Don_Giorgio

One remnant of the Byzantine theme system survives till our days...
If you take a look at the titles of the Bishops of the Ecumenical Patriatchate u will see that their full title reflect the theme in which the cit was located...
Also this applies and to several other Bishops but it is featured more pominantly in the Ecumaneincal Patriarchate's Bishops titles...
 

Don_Giorgio

Don_Giorgio said:
One remnant of the Byzantine theme system survives till our days...
If you take a look at the titles of the Bishops of the Ecumenical Patriatchate u will see that their full title reflect the theme in which the cit was located...
Also this applies and to several other Bishops but it is featured more pominantly in the Ecumaneincal Patriarchate's Bishops titles...
Click to expand...

A few examples of the old Byzantine themes/Roman provinces surviving in Bishops titles:

Patriarchate of Constantinople:
XXXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Tyana and Exarch of Kappadocia Secunda
XXXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Heracleia and Exarch of all Thrace and Macedonia

Patriarchate of Alexandria:
XXXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Leontopolis and Exarch of Augastaminica Secunda
XXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Pelusium and Exarch of Augustaminica Prima

Patriarchate of Antioch:
XXXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Tyros & Sidon and Exarch of Phoenician Shores
XXXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Laodicaea and Exarch of all Theodorias

Patriarchate of Jerusalem:
XXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Caesarea and Exarch of Palaestina Prima
XXXXXX Metropolitan Bishop of Petra and Exarch of Arabia

Notice that the old roman provinces are reflected in the Exarch title which was awarded to the Bishop of the capital of the province/theme.
 

Don_Giorgio

Chapter XIII Church in Byzantine times


Church was an important factor in Byzantine society, as it was written before Church was the Empire's "second lung" (the first being the Emperor).
According to tradition dating back to Constantine's I times the Emperor is the Head of the Church as Christ's vicar on earth.
This tradition was encorporated as law by Justinian I who empowered the Emperors to proclaim doctrines (this was done as a mean to protect the Church from herecies but eventually this law backfired) and this was further enhanced by Leo's III letter to the Pope where he claimed that he was "Emperor and a Priest" and that phrase was adopted by each of his successorts thus justifying their interventions with the Church.


Patriarch of Constantinople
The Patriarch of Constantinople was the chief Highpriest of the Empire and bishop of the City of Constantinople.
His full title is "XXXXXXX Archbishop of Constantinople, Nova Roma and Ecumenical Patriarch" and holds the first place amongst the Bishops of the Empire along with the Pope of Rome with whom he is equal in order of precedence.
But the main difference is that Pope became a universal Bishop while the Patriarch declared that he was merely "Primus inter pares".
In theory the Patriarch was elected by the Synod of Bishops residing in Constantinople but in practice it was always the choice of the Emperor who forced his will upon the Bishops.
Emperor also had the right to depose him if he was hostile or uncooperative again by forcing his will upon the Bishops.
The Patriarch cannot be deposed or elected by a degree... at least the formality of convoking a Synod must be observed.
From 379 since the end of the Empire out of 122 Patriarchs 53 of the were deposed and out of these 53 the 36 were deposed by imperial will.
When the Emperor disagreed strongly with the Patriarch he could have him removed from office and exiled him but he wouldnt dare to lay hands on him since the person of the Patriarch was considered sacrosanct (almost the same way as the Emperor) but in few rare cases the Emperors did arrested or even executed Patriarchs.

Structure of the Church
Entrance to the Holy Orders is gained by the sacrament of ordination and the Bishops had a complete free hand over who they would ordain as deacons and priests.
However when it comes in Bishops they were drawn from noble families in most cases (although lesser families could provide Bishops) at least for the most prestigious sees.

The structure of Hierarchy among Bishopd was like this (and still survives with some modifications):
A) Local Bishop: These were provincial Bishops in charge of a city and the villages around it and they were mostly natives of the area
B) Metropolitan Bishop: These were the Bishops in charge of the capital city of a Theme or a province and usually they were awarded the title of the Exarch which reflected the theme/province in which they had jurisdiction on.
C) Patriarch who was as said above Primus inter pares between Bishops.

Local Bishops were elected by the Eparchial Synod. An Eparchial Synod is the council of all the local Bishops presided by the Metropolitan Bishop of the Theme/Province in which 3 candidates were proposed and after scrutiny the local bishop was elected.

Metropolitan Bishops presided over the Eparchial Synod which was empowered to deal with spiritual matters of the province/theme and elect local bishops if needed.
Metropolitan Bishops were elected by the Patriarchal Synod in Constantinople where the Synod proposed 3 candidates and the Patriarch picks one (if the election is about a prestigious see then perhaps the Emperor might have something to say)

The Patriarch presided over the Patriarchal Synod in Constantinople.
The Patriarchal Synod was composed by 12 Metropolitan Bishops called to serve in Synod for one year according to seniority of consecration and they were empowered (at least legally) to elect or depose the Patriarch.
The Synod elected the Patriarch by scrutiny among 3 candidates but as said above either the Emperor forced his own candidate from the 3 proposed or pressed the Bishops to elect someone else he proposed. Either way the Patriarch-elect was always the Emperor's choice.

It happened quite some times that the Patriarch/Bishop elect to be a layman, if that happened then the Bishop-elect wasnt consecrated immediately but he would be tonsured first at the day of the election, the next day he would be ordained deacon, the next day he would be ordained priest, the next day he would be consecrated Bishop and finally the next day he would be enthroned as Patriarch.
This is a practice that continues till today in the Patriarchate of Constantinople (and other patriarchates also) albeit rarely.

Other Patriarchates of Alexandria/Antioch/Jerusalem
Same procedures as the ones decribed above were followed by the other Patriarchates too.
The only difference is their titles and jurisdiction which was like this:

Patriarchate of Constantinople: He presides over the Patriarchal Synod of the Empire and he is responsible for Asia minor and after 8th century for Balkans too.
The Patriarch of Constantinople retained the right of "Ekkliton" along with the Pope of Rome, aka they acted as the final judge in eccleasiastical cases, in example if a priest in Alexandria has a problem he will refer to the Patriarch of Alexandria for a judgement however if the decision doesnt satisfy him he can form an appeal to the Patriarch of Constantinople or the Pope of Rome (before 1054 though.. after 1054 he can appeal only to the Patriarch of Constantinople) and the judgement passed by the Patriarch of Constantinople is final and sacrosanct.
And his full title as Patriarch is "XXXXXXX Archbishop of Constantinople, Nova Roma and Ecumenical Patriarch"

Patriarch of Alexandria: He is responsible for the Church in Africa and presides over his own Patriarchal Synod comprised by African Dioceses Bishops.
His full title is: "XXXXXXX Pope and Patriarch of the Great City of Alexandria, Libya, Pentapolis, Ethiopia of all the lands of Egypt, Father of Fathers, Shepherd of Shepherds, Highpriest of Highpriests, Thirteenth of the Apostles and Universal Judge.

Patriarch of Antioch: He is responsible for the Church in Asia minus Asia minor and Holy Lands and presides over his own Patriarchal Synod comprised by Asian Dioceses Bishops.
His full title is:"XXXXXXXX Patriarch of the God-City of Antioch, Syria, Arabia, Cilicia, Iberia, Mesopotamia and of all East.

Patriarch of Jerusalem: He is responsible for the Church in the Holy Lands and presides over his own Patriarchal Synod comprised by Bishops of the Holy Lands.
His full title is: "Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and all Palestine, Syria, Arabia, and beyond the Jordan River, Kana of Galilee and Holy Sion"


End of Chapter XIII... I wont post anymore for at least 15 days since i will be out of the city with limited access to internet. I ll continue posting after i return...
 
ByzantineCaesar

ByzantineCaesar

Don_Giorgio said:
Actually it is the same office as the Chartoularios.
THe only difference is that Chartophylax was used mostly at the church while Chartoularios was a secular office.

Chartophylax was responsible for the Bishop's chancery and usually was a deacon
Click to expand...
Aha, I see. Ok then, I'm on the list :D
 
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