arsenitai
Followers and supporters of patriarch Arsenios Autoreianos, who had excommunicated Michael VIII Palaiologos. Michael managed to get rid of Arsenios in 1265; from that time, Arsenios’ followers were at odds with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, refusing to recognize Arsenios’ successors to the patriarchal throne. Politically they supported the Lascarid dynasty and opposed the dynasty of the Palaiologoi. The dispute was resolved in 1310.
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boyar
Title of the select members of the Slavic nations'aristocracy. In Russia the boyars composed an advisory committee (duma) that controlled the state's issues during periods of transition, dynastic discords or decline of the central authorities.
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doukas (lat. dux)
Antiquity: Roman military commander who, in some provinces, combined military and civil functions.Buzantium: a higher military officer. From the second half of the 10th c. the title indicates the military comander of a larger district. After the 12th c., doukes were called the governors of small themes.
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katepano
(from "epano","above") Governor of a katepania. Title that from the end of the 10th century characterized the commanders of large provinces as Italy or Mesopotamia and from the 11th century, it was used also in the regions of Bulgaria, Antioch etc.
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magister militum
Senior military commander in the Roman and Early Byzantine period. The office was given to the commander of the forces based on the province: magister militum per Armeniam: general commander of Armenia (established by Justinian I), magister militum per Illyricum: of Illyricum, magister militum per Orientem: of the eastern provinces, magister militum praesentalis: in command of the army based on the imperial court, magister utriusque militiae: the general commander of all land military forces, that is, cavalry and infantry.
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megas domestikos
Supreme military commander of the imperial army. High-ranking title which was generally given to close relatives of the emperor.
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pinkernes
[also pikernes or epikernes, possibly from the Latin pincerna, a word deriving from the greek verb epikerannymi, meaning to mix (wine)]). Cup-bearer of the palace. Official at the personal service of the emperor. In the Late Byzantine years, the pinkernes was a very honorary title, while in the 14th century it was awarded to very important figures, such as Alexios Philanthropenos.
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protoproedros
A high-ranking title of Byzantine court hierarchy, awarded to members of the Senate. It was introduced in 963 by Nikephoros Phokas to denote the highest-ranking official of senatorial class. It appears constantly until the 11th century as a dignity higher than that of proedros and is not mentioned in the sources after the middle of the 12th century.
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protos
(lit. "First"). Title designating, already from the 7th c., the head of a large monastic community, such as those of Latros, Mt. Athos and Meteora. The monk elected to carry the title had administrative and judicial authority in the community, while outside it he acted as its designated representative.
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protostrator
A Byzantine military office, accorded to the chief of imperial stratores or hippokomoi («grooms»). The title is first mentionned in the 8th century. In the 9th and 10th century, his major duty was to accompany the Emperor while on horseback. In the 12th century he was one of the highest officials of the Byzantine court and he also commanded troops.
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