comes
1. A title in the Roman and the Byzantine Empires, designating an official with political but mostly military jurisdiction. Especially the comes Orientis held the position corresponding to that of a vicar in Early Byzantine period. In the years of Justinian I, the comes in head of wider provinces assumed political and military powers, while in the Middle Byzantine period the Opsikion theme was one of the few themes which was the jurisdiction of a comes instead of a strategos.2. A nobility title in medieval Europe.
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domesticate
Equestrial combat unit, it was a subdivision of the thematic army of Opsikion and probably also of the tagmata (regiments) until the office of the domestikos of the scolae was introduced in the late 8th C.
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kouropalates
A high-ranking dignity, which from Justinian I was conferred on members of the imperial family and on foreign princes. During the 11th c. it was conferred on several generals, not belonging to the imperial family.
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patrikios
(from lat. patricius) Higher title of honour, placed, according to the "Tactika" of the 9th and the 10th centuries, between anthypatos and protospatharios. It was given to the most important governors and generals. Gradually, however, it fell into disuse and from the 12th century did not exist any more.
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spatharios
Early Byzantine period: Office as well as honorary title. In Early Byzantine period spatharioi were called the guards of the Emperor or other high functionaries. From the years of Theodosios II onwards, the imperial spatharioi belonged to the corps of cubicularii and they were eunuchs. Middle Byzantine period: A honorary title, probably from early 8th c. In the 9th c. it gradually lost its status; in the 11th c., it is rarely to be found in the sources, while in the 12th it is used to denote lesser personnages. As an actual functionary, spatharios had an active role in administration as well as in the affairs of the court. As an honorary title, it was conferred to courtiers, members of the administration and military dignitaries, members of notable lineages and even clerics.
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strategos ("general")
During the Roman period his duties were mainly political. Οffice of the Byzantine state´s provincial administration. At first the title was given to the military and political administrator of the themes, namely of the big geographic and administrative unities of the Byzantine empire. Gradually the title lost its power and, already in the 11th century, strategoi were turned to simple commanders of military units, responsible for the defence of a region.
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taktikon
1. Adm.: A major source for the organization and development of Byzantine administration. In the Middle Byzantine period the taktika, as presedance lists ( τακτικά πρωτοκαθεδρίας or τακτικά της καθέδρας or κλητορολόγια or κλητοροθέσια) catalogued the officials who participated to the formal ceremonies of the imperial palace. Four precedence list are still preserved: Uspenskij, Philotheos', Benescevic, de l' Escurial. 2. Mil.: A "Taktika" is a famous manual for strategic and tactical military operations by land and by sea. Author in the early 10th century. at Leo F. The text preserved in a compendium and complete the form and influenced the drafting of such handbooks as downstream strategic. 3. Eccl.: The “taktiko”, known also as “Notitia episcopatuum” or syntagmation , in the administration of the Church is a classification list of ecclesiastical authorities according to hierarchy.
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tourma
(lat. turma, meaning squadron) Administrative division of a theme in the Middle Byzantine period. A tourma was further subdivised into droungoi and banda.
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