The sebastophoros (Greek: σεβαστοφόρος) was a high Byzantine court position and rank reserved for eunuchs in the 10th–12th centuries. Its functions are unclear.

History and functions

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The office is first attested in the Escorial Taktikon of circa 975. Nicolas Oikonomides suggested that it was introduced sometime between 963 and 975.[1][2][3] In the Escorial Taktikon, it is ranked as one of the highest dignities, after the proedros and before the magistroi,[4] and was usually reserved for eunuchs.[2][5]

The first known holder was Romanos Lekapenos, the son of Stephen Lekapenos and grandson of Emperor Romanos I Lekapenos (r. 920–944),[2][6] but Oikonomides suggested that the title may have been first created for Basil Lekapenos, the powerful parakoimomenos and long-time first minister of the Byzantine Empire.[7]

The functions of the sebastophoros are unclear; the name may imply that he carried the emperor's banner, or that he was a personal messenger of the emperor, a role some of its holders are known to have fulfilled.[2][3] The title was quickly devalued, already during the 11th century: on seals, it is combined with relatively modest offices in the Byzantine imperial hierarchy. It disappeared completely after the 12th century.[2][3]

In some texts, namely the Patria of Constantinople and the Suda lexicon, the sebastophoroi are identified as officials of the districts (regeonai, "regions") of Constantinople, who every year on October 5 performed dances before the Byzantine emperor. This statement, however, comes from the 6th-century antiquarian writer John Lydus, who alleges that this practice existed under Emperor Tiberius (r. 14–37), i.e. in Rome.[1][2]

Known holders

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A few other seals of sebastophoroi are known from the 10th–12th centuries, but their owners are not otherwise known.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b Guilland 1963, p. 199.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Kazhdan 1991, p. 1862.
  3. ^ a b c Oikonomides 1972, p. 308.
  4. ^ Oikonomides 1972, p. 262.
  5. ^ Guilland 1963, pp. 200, 202.
  6. ^ a b Guilland 1963, pp. 200–201.
  7. ^ Guilland 1963, pp. 199–200.
  8. ^ Guilland 1963, pp. 201–202.
  9. ^ Guilland 1963, pp. 203–205.
  10. ^ Guilland 1963, p. 202.
  11. ^ Guilland 1963, pp. 203, 205.

Sources

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  • Guilland, Rodolphe (1963). "Études sur l'histoire administrative de l'Empire byzantin: le sébastophore". Revue des études byzantines (in French). 21: 199–207. doi:10.3406/rebyz.1963.1307.
  • Kazhdan, Alexander (1991). "Sebastophoros". In Kazhdan, Alexander (ed.). The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 1862. ISBN 0-19-504652-8.
  • Oikonomides, Nicolas (1972). Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles (in French). Paris: Editions du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.