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Logothetes tou genikou

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The logothetes tou genikou (Greek: λογοθέτης τοῦ γενικοῦ, often called genikos logothetes or simply ho genikos (ὁ γενικός , 'the general '), and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete, was in charge of the 'general financial ministry', the genikon logothesion of the middle Byzantine Empire.

History and functions

Seal of the proedros and genikos logothetes Basil Xeros (11th/12th centuries)

The genikon was responsible for general taxation and revenue, and also served as a court for financial cases. As such, it broadly fulfilled the tasks of the earlier sacrae largitiones, although it was mostly derived from the "general department" of the praetorian prefecture. The first attested logothetes tou genikou, the monk Theodotos, is mentioned in 692, but the post may have been instituted as early as 626. The bureau of the genikon and its logothete remained one of the chief ministries for the entire middle Byzantine period (7th–12th centuries), with the 899 Klētorologion of Philotheos recording the position as ranking 33rd in the imperial hierarchy. During the Komnenian period, its importance declined, but recovered under the Angeloi. Following the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, the office of the logothetes tou genikou was retained as a purely honorary title by the successor state of Nicaea and the restored Palaiologan Empire after 1261.

The mid-14th century writer Pseudo-Kodinos records him in the 20th place in the imperial hierarchy, between the parakoimomenos of the imperial bedchamber and the protovestiarites. His distinctive court dress and insignia during this time were a brimmed hat called skiadion of white silk, a silk long kaftan-like kabbadion, and for ceremonies and festivities, a domed skaranikon hat of white and gold silk, with gold-wire embroidery and decorated with images of the emperor in the front and back. Unlike other officials, he bore no staff of office (dikanikion). Amongst the Palaiologan-era holders were significant intellectuals and statesmen, such as George Akropolites and Theodore Metochites. The last recorded logothetes tou genikou was a certain John Androuses in 1380. By that time, however, its original functions had long been forgotten; as the Pseudo-Kodinos records, "the function of the General Logothete is unknown".

Subordinate officials

The subordinates of the logothetēs tou genikou were:

  • The chartoularioi megaloi tou sekreto (χαρτουλάριοι μεγάλοι τοῦ σεκρέτου, 'great chartularies of the department'), the heads of the various departments.
  • The chartoularioi ton arklon (χαρτουλάριοι τῶν ἀρκλῶν, where ἀρκλα means ' box"' i.e. 'treasury') or exo chartoularioi (ἔξω χαρτουλάριοι, 'outer chartularies'). As their name signifies, they were the senior treasury officials posted in the provinces ('outer', i.e. outside Constantinople).
  • The epoptai of the themata (ἐπόπται τῶν θεμάτων), who were the officials charged with control of taxation in the provinces.
  • The kometes hydaton (κόμητες ὑδάτων, 'counts of the waters'), officials probably in charge of aqueducts and water supply in the provinces.
  • The chartoularios tou oikistikou (χαρτουλάριος τοῦ οἰκιστικοῦ) or simply ho oikistikos, whose precise functions are unknown. It is attested that he was in charge of tax exemptions, and had various juridical duties in some themata in the 11th century; the office may have been associated with the imperial domains (oikoi). By the 11th century, the office had become an independent bureau, but vanishes after that.
  • The kommerkiarioi (κομμερκιάριοι), who were customs officials. Attested since the early 6th century, they are likely the successors of the comes commerciorum mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. Initially stationed at the frontier, after the 7th century they were placed at ports or in charge over entire themata or individual islands.
  • The epi tes kouratorias (ἐπί τῆς κουρατωρίας , 'in charge of the curatorship '), who supervised the imperial estates.
  • The komes tes lamias (κόμης τῆς λαμίας), an official probably in charge of the mines and gold bullion (cf. Latin: lamina/lamna, 'gold, precious metals'). It is therefore usually assumed that he is the successor of the old comes metallorum per Illyricum. From sigillographic evidence through the 11th century, this office was sometimes combined with the positions of epi ton oikeiakon ('in charge of the oikeiakoi", a class of senior courtiers) and of one of the chartoularioi megaloi of the genikon.
  • The dioiketai (διοικηταὶ), officials who supervised the collection of taxes, assisted by a number of praktores ('agents').
  • The komentianos (κομεντιανός), an official of unknown function.
  • A number of kankellarioi (καγκελλάριοι, from Latin: cancellarius) under a protokankellarios. Originally senior officials in the praetorian prefecture, in the middle Byzantine period they were mid-level secretaries in the various ministries.

References

  1. ^ ODB, "Genikon" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 829–830.
  2. Louth 2005, p. 305.
  3. Bury 1911, pp. 86–87.
  4. Guilland 1971, p. 9.
  5. Verpeaux 1966, p. 137.
  6. Verpeaux 1966, pp. 156–157.
  7. Verpeaux 1966, p. 176.
  8. ^ Bury 1911, p. 87.
  9. ODB, "Arkla" (A. Kazhdan), p. 174.
  10. ODB, "Komes hydaton" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1139.
  11. ^ Bury 1911, p. 88.
  12. ODB, "Oikistikos" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1516.
  13. ODB, "Kommerkiarios" (A. Kazhdan, N. Oikonomides), p. 1141.
  14. Bury 1911, pp. 88–89.
  15. ^ Bury 1911, p. 89.
  16. ODB, "Komes tes lamias" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1139.
  17. Bury 1911, pp. 89–90.
  18. Bury 1911, p. 90.
  19. ODB, "Kankellarios" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1101.

Sources


Order of Byzantine palace offices (after pseudo-Kodinos)
  1. Despotes
  2. Sebastokrator
  3. Caesar
  4. Megas domestikos
  5. Panhypersebastos
  6. Protovestiarios
  7. Megas doux
  8. Protostrator
  9. Megas logothetes
  10. Megas stratopedarches
  11. Megas primmikerios
  12. Megas konostaulos
  13. Protosebastos
  14. Pinkernes
  15. Kouropalates
  16. Parakoimomenos tes sphendones
  17. Parakoimomenos tou koitonos
  18. Logothetes tou genikou
  19. Protovestiarites
  20. Domestikos tes trapezes
  21. Epi tes trapezes
  22. Megas papias
  23. Eparchos
  24. Megas droungarios tes vigles
  25. Megas hetaireiarches
  26. Megas chartoullarios
  27. Logothetes tou dromou
  28. Protasekretis
  29. Epi tou stratou
  30. Mystikos
  31. Domestikos ton scholon
  32. Megas droungarios tou stolou
  33. Primmikerios tes aules
  34. Protospatharios
  35. Megas archon
  36. Tatas tes aules
  37. Megas tzaousios
  38. Praitor tou demou
  39. Logothetes ton oikeiakon
  40. Megas logariastes
  41. Protokynegos
  42. Skouterios
  43. Ameralios
  44. Epi ton deeseon
  45. Koiaistor
  46. Megas adnoumiastes
  47. Logothetes tou stratiotikou
  48. Protoierakarios
  49. Logothetes ton agelon
  50. Megas diermeneutes
  51. Akolouthos
  52. Krites tou phossatou
  53. Archon tou allagiou
  54. Protallagator
  55. Megas dioiketes
  56. Orphanotrophos
  57. Protonotarios
  58. Epi ton anamneseon
  59. Domestikos ton teicheon
  60. Prokathemenos of the koiton
  61. Prokathemenos of the vestiarion
  62. Vestiariou
  63. Hetaireiarches
  64. Logariastes tes aules
  65. Stratopedarches of the monokaballoi
  66. Stratopedarches of the tzangratores
  67. Stratopedarches of the mourtatoi
  68. Stratopedarches of the Tzakones
  69. Prokathemenos of the Great Palace
  70. Prokathemenos of the Palace of Blachernae
  71. Domestikos of the themata
  72. Domestikos of the eastern themata
  73. Domestikos of the western themata
  74. Megas myrtaïtes
  75. Protokomes
  76. Papias
  77. Droungarios
  78. Sebastos
  79. Myrtaïtes
  80. Prokathemenoi of the cities according to their importance
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