The ''parakoimōmenos'' ( el, παρακοιμώμενος, literally "the one who sleeps beside
he emperor's chamber) was a
Byzantine
The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
court position, usually reserved for
eunuchs
A eunuch ( ) is a male who has been castrated. Throughout history, castration often served a specific social function.
The earliest records for intentional castration to produce eunuchs are from the Sumerian city of Lagash in the 2nd millennium ...
. The position's proximity to the
emperors
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereignty, sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife (empress consort), ...
guaranteed its holders influence and power, and many of them, especially in the 9th and 10th centuries, functioned as the Byzantine Empire's chief ministers.
History and functions
The title was used anachronistically by various Byzantine writers for prominent eunuch court officials of the distant past, including Euphratas under
Constantine the Great
Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to Constantine the Great and Christianity, convert to Christiani ...
(reigned 306–337), the notorious
Chrysaphius under
Theodosius II
Theodosius II ( grc-gre, Θεοδόσιος, Theodosios; 10 April 401 – 28 July 450) was Roman emperor for most of his life, proclaimed ''Augustus (title), augustus'' as an infant in 402 and ruling as the eastern Empire's sole emperor after ...
(), or an unnamed holder of the office under Emperor
Maurice Maurice may refer to:
People
* Saint Maurice (died 287), Roman legionary and Christian martyr
* Maurice (emperor) or Flavius Mauricius Tiberius Augustus (539–602), Byzantine emperor
*Maurice (bishop of London) (died 1107), Lord Chancellor and ...
(). The position was probably created no later than the reign of
Leo IV the Khazar
Leo IV the Khazar (Greek: Λέων ὁ Χάζαρος, ''Leōn IV ho Khazaros''; 25 January 750 – 8 September 780) was Byzantine emperor from 775 to 780 AD. He was born to Emperor Constantine V and Empress Tzitzak in 750. He was elevated to c ...
(), when the chronicler
Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor ( el, Θεοφάνης Ὁμολογητής; c. 758/760 – 12 March 817/818) was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy who became a monk and chronicler. He served in the court of Emperor Leo IV the Khazar before taking u ...
mentions a "''
koubikoularios
''Cubicularius'', Hellenized as ''koubikoularios'' ( gr, κουβικουλάριος), was a title used for the eunuch chamberlains of the imperial palace in the later Roman Empire and in the Byzantine Empire. The feminine version, used for the ...
'' and ''parakoimomenos”'' serving Leo. In the beginning, it was a modest office, given to those ''koubikoularioi'' (from
Latin
Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
''cubicularius'', denoting the eunuch servants of the emperor's "sacred bedchamber" or ''sacrum cubiculum'') who were tasked with sleeping outside the emperor's chamber during the night as a security measure. As evidenced by seals from the 7th and 8th centuries, it was usually combined with other palace functions, such as the ''
epi tēs trapezēs'', and awarded lowly dignities such as ''
ostiarios ''Ostiarios'' ( el, , from the Latin ''ostiarius'', "doorkeeper, usher") was a Byzantine court dignity reserved for eunuch palace officials.
History and functions
The ''Patria of Constantinople'' mention an ''ostiarios'' named Antiochos in the 6 ...
''. It is possible that in the cases where several co-emperors reigned at the same time, a ''parakoimōmenos'' would be assigned to each.
![Solidus-Basil I](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Solidus-Basil_I.jpg)
From the mid-9th century, however, the office grew in importance, outstripping its nominal superior, the ''
praipositos'', until it came to be regarded as the highest post reserved for eunuchs, with its holders raised to the dignity of ''
patrikios
The patricians (from la, patricius, Greek: πατρίκιος) were originally a group of ruling class families in ancient Rome. The distinction was highly significant in the Roman Kingdom, and the early Republic, but its relevance waned after ...
''. Over the next two centuries, many of its holders were able to use their proximity to the imperial person to exercise considerable political influence. Some of these men, exceptionally, were not eunuchs. During the reigns of weak or uninterested emperors, holders of the title ''parakoimōmenos'', such as
Samonas
Samonas ( el, , 875 – after 908) was an Arab-born eunuch, who was captured by the Byzantines and became one of the most influential officials of the Byzantine Empire during the first decade of the 10th century.
Biography
Samonas was born in c ...
,
Joseph Bringas Joseph Bringas ( el, ) was an important Byzantine eunuch official in the reigns of Emperor Constantine VII (r. 945–959) and Emperor Romanos II (r. 959–963), serving as chief minister and effective regent during the latter. Having unsuccessfull ...
and
Basil Lekapenos Basil Lekapenos ( gr, Βασίλειος Λεκαπηνός, Basíleios Lekapēnós; – ), also called the Parakoimomenos () or the Nothos (, "the Bastard"), was an illegitimate child of the Byzantine emperor Romanos I Lekapenos. He served as the ...
, functioned as chief ministers, while
Basil the Macedonian
Basil I, called the Macedonian ( el, Βασίλειος ὁ Μακεδών, ''Basíleios ō Makedṓn'', 811 – 29 August 886), was a Byzantine Emperor who reigned from 867 to 886. Born a lowly peasant in the theme of Macedonia, he rose in the ...
() was able to use this position to eventually usurp the throne from
Michael III
Michael III ( grc-gre, Μιχαήλ; 9 January 840 – 24 September 867), also known as Michael the Drunkard, was Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian (or Phrygian) dynasty. ...
().
By the 11th century, the ''parakoimōmenos'' had assumed most of the old administrative functions of the ''praipositos'' as well. The post continued to be important in the 11th century, but seems to have declined in the 12th, when it also began to be regularly awarded—possibly as a noble title rather than an active function—to non-eunuchs as well. The post survived in the
Empire of Nicaea
The Empire of Nicaea or the Nicene Empire is the conventional historiographic name for the largest of the three Byzantine Greek''A Short history of Greece from early times to 1964'' by W. A. Heurtley, H. C. Darby, C. W. Crawley, C. M. Woodhouse ...
(1204–1261) and into the
Palaiologan period
The Byzantine Empire was ruled by the Palaiologos dynasty in the period between 1261 and 1453, from the restoration of Byzantine rule to Constantinople by the usurper Michael VIII Palaiologos following its recapture from the Latin Empire, founde ...
, where it was divided in two: the ''parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs'' () and the ''parakoimōmenos tou koitōnos'' (). The ''parakoimōmenos tou koitōnos'' retained the duties of supervising the ''koitōn'' (the imperial bedchamber), assisted by the ''
prokathēmenos tou koitōnos'' (προκαθήμενος τοῡ κοιτῶνος) and commanding the chamberlains (κοιτωνάριοι, ''koitōnarioi'') and pages (παιδόπουλοι, ''paidopouloi''), while the ''parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs'' who was entrusted with keeping the ''sphendonē'', the ring with the emperor's personal seal, used to seal his private correspondence to his family. In the absence of the ''
prōtostratōr'', they were also charged with carrying the emperor's sword. At the same time, their holders ceased to be palace eunuchs, but were important noblemen and administrators; by the 14th century, the title of ''parakoimōmenos'' became essentially an honorific dignity.
The two posts ranked 16th and 17th respectively in the imperial hierarchy, according to the mid-14th century author
pseudo-Kodinos
George Kodinos or Codinus ( el, Γεώργιος Κωδινός), also Pseudo-Kodinos, ''kouropalates'' in the Byzantine court, is the reputed 14th-century author of three extant works in late Byzantine literature.
Their attribution to him is mere ...
, between the ''
kouropalatēs
''Kouropalatēs'', Latinized as ''curopalates'' or ''curopalata'' ( el, κουροπαλάτης, from lat, cura palatii "he one incharge of the palace"). and Anglicized as curopalate, was a Byzantine court title, one of the highest from the tim ...
'' and the ''
logothetēs tou genikou''. Their court costume consisted of a silk ''
kabbadion
The ''kabbadion'' ( el, καββάδιον) was a caftan-like garment of oriental origin which became a standard part of court costume in the last centuries of the Byzantine Empire.
The first known reference to the ''kabbadion'' occurs in the ''K ...
'' tunic, and a gold-embroidered ''skiadion'' hat, or a domed ''skaranikon'' covered in apricot-coloured silk with gold-wire decorations. It bore in front a glass image of the emperor standing in front, and in the rear a similar image of him enthroned. The ''parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs'' was distinguished by his staff of office (''dikanikion''), which was of wood, with the topmost knob gilded, the next one covered in white-golden braid, the next again gilded, etc. The ''dikanikion'' of the ''parakoimōmenos tou koitōnos'' was similar, except that only the topmost knob was gilded, the others being all covered in white-golden braid.
Known ''parakoimōmenoi''
![Samonas_incites_Emperor_Leo_against_Andronikos_Doukas](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Samonas_incites_Emperor_Leo_against_Andronikos_Doukas.jpg)
A number of seals mention a Theophylact, ''koubikoularios'', ''parakoimomenos'', and ''
strategos
''Strategos'', plural ''strategoi'', Linguistic Latinisation, Latinized ''strategus'', ( el, στρατηγός, pl. στρατηγοί; Doric Greek: στραταγός, ''stratagos''; meaning "army leader") is used in Greek language, Greek to ...
'' of
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
; he may be identical to the exarch
Theophylact, attested in 701. This would make Theophylact the first known holder. The first secure mention in the sources occurs, as mentioned above, in the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor, where the ''koubikoularios'' and ''parakoimomenos'' Theophanes was among those members of the court dismissed for their
iconodule
Iconodulism (also iconoduly or iconodulia) designates the religious service to icons (kissing and honourable veneration, incense, and candlelight). The term comes from Neoclassical Greek εἰκονόδουλος (''eikonodoulos'') (from el, ε ...
sympathies under Leo IV. The next holder, the ''ostiarios'' Scholastikios, is only known under
Theophilos (). The ''patrikios''
Damian Damian ( la, links=no, Damianus) may refer to:
*Damian (given name)
*Damian (surname)
*Damian Subdistrict, in Longquanyi District, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
See also
*Damiani, an Italian surname
*Damiano (disambiguation)
*Damien (disambiguation)
*Dam ...
served Michael III until circa 865, and was then replaced by Michael's favourite, Basil the Macedonian. After Basil's accession to co-emperor in 866, the office was occupied by a certain Rentakios until the murder of Michael III. Judging from his own experience that the office was too powerful and too close to the emperor, Basil I () did not appoint a ''parakoimōmenos''. His son and successor Leo VI () revived the office in 907 for his favourite
Samonas
Samonas ( el, , 875 – after 908) was an Arab-born eunuch, who was captured by the Byzantines and became one of the most influential officials of the Byzantine Empire during the first decade of the 10th century.
Biography
Samonas was born in c ...
, who until then was a ''
prōtovestiarios''. He held the post until his disgrace in summer 908.
[.] He was replaced by
Constantine Barbaros, who held the office until circa 919 with the exception of the reign of
Alexander
Alexander is a male given name. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.
Variants listed here are Aleksandar, Al ...
(), who installed the ''patrikios'' Barbatos in his stead.
Romanos I Lekapenos
Romanos I Lekapenos ( el, Ρωμανός Λεκαπηνός; 870 – 15 June 948), Latinized as Romanus I Lecapenus, was Byzantine emperor from 920 until his deposition in 944, serving as regent for the infant Constantine VII.
Origin
Romanos ...
() named his trusted aide
Theophanes as ''parakoimōmenos''.
Theophanes was retained by
Constantine VII () until 947, when he was replaced by
Basil Lekapenos Basil Lekapenos ( gr, Βασίλειος Λεκαπηνός, Basíleios Lekapēnós; – ), also called the Parakoimomenos () or the Nothos (, "the Bastard"), was an illegitimate child of the Byzantine emperor Romanos I Lekapenos. He served as the ...
. Lekapenos, the bastard son of Emperor Romanos I, would play a dominant role in Byzantine history over the next four decades, toppling emperors and serving as the virtual regent or co-regent (''
paradynasteuōn'') of the Empire for over thirty years, comprising the reigns of
Nikephoros II Phokas
Nikephoros II Phokas (; – 11 December 969), Latinized Nicephorus II Phocas, was Byzantine emperor from 963 to 969. His career, not uniformly successful in matters of statecraft or of war, nonetheless included brilliant military exploits whi ...
() and
John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes (; 925 – 10 January 976) was the senior Byzantine emperor from 969 to 976. An intuitive and successful general, he strengthened the Empire and expanded its borders during his short reign.
Background
John I Tzimiskes ...
(), and the early reign of
Basil II
Basil II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Βασίλειος Πορφυρογέννητος ;) and, most often, the Purple-born ( gr, ὁ πορφυρογέννητος, translit=ho porphyrogennetos).. 958 – 15 December 1025), nicknamed the Bulgar S ...
() until his dismissal in 985. Basil was replaced under
Romanos II
Romanos II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Ρωμανός, 938 – 15 March 963) was Byzantine Emperor from 959 to 963. He succeeded his father Constantine VII at the age of twenty-one and died suddenly and mysteriously four years later. His son Bas ...
() by the capable
Joseph Bringas Joseph Bringas ( el, ) was an important Byzantine eunuch official in the reigns of Emperor Constantine VII (r. 945–959) and Emperor Romanos II (r. 959–963), serving as chief minister and effective regent during the latter. Having unsuccessfull ...
, who also exercised the ''de facto'' rule of the state, but was toppled by Lekapenos shortly after Romanos II's death.
In the 11th century, the most important holder of the office was Nicholas, who was ''parakoimōmenos'' and ''proedros'' as well as
Domestic of the Schools
The office of the Domestic of the Schools ( gr, δομέστικος τῶν σχολῶν, domestikos tōn scholōn) was a senior military post of the Byzantine Empire, extant from the 8th century until at least the early 14th century. Originally ...
under
Constantine VIII
Constantine VIII Porphyrogenitus ( el, Κωνσταντῖνος Πορφυρογέννητος, ''Kōnstantinos Porphyrogénnetos''; 960 – 11/12 November 1028) was ''de jure'' Byzantine emperor from 962 until his death. He was the youn ...
() and served again in the same offices for a time under
Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos ( grc-x-medieval, Κωνσταντῖνος Μονομάχος, translit=Kōnstantinos IX Monomachos; 1004 – 11 January 1055), reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 1042 to January 1055. Empress Zoë Porphyrogenita ...
().
John Komnenos, a relative of the Emperor
John II Komnenos
John II Komnenos or Comnenus ( gr, Ἱωάννης ὁ Κομνηνός, Iōannēs ho Komnēnos; 13 September 1087 – 8 April 1143) was Byzantine emperor from 1118 to 1143. Also known as "John the Beautiful" or "John the Good" (), he ...
(), was named as ''parakoimōmenos'' and entrusted with the charge of state affairs along with
Gregory Taronites
Gregory Taronites ( gr, Γρηγόριος Ταρωνίτης, Grēgorios Tarōnitēs) was an Armenians, Armenian prince of Taron (historic Armenia), Taron, who went over to Byzantine service and held senior commands and governorships under Empero ...
. In the late 12th century, the eunuch Nikephoros under
Andronikos I Komnenos
Andronikos I Komnenos ( gr, Ἀνδρόνικος Κομνηνός; – 12 September 1185), Latinized as Andronicus I Comnenus, was Byzantine emperor from 1183 to 1185. He was the son of Isaac Komnenos and the grandson of the emperor Al ...
() and the likewise eunuch
John Oinopolites under
Alexios III Angelos
Alexios III Angelos ( gkm, Ἀλέξιος Κομνηνός Ἄγγελος, Alexios Komnēnos Angelos; 1211), Latinized as Alexius III Angelus, was Byzantine Emperor from March 1195 to 17/18 July 1203. He reigned under the name Alexios Komnen ...
() are the only known holders.
In the Empire of Nicaea, known holders are the ''
pansebastos sebastos''
Alexios Krateros (attested circa 1227–1231, in tandem with the post of ''
apographeus ''Apographeus'' ( el, ἀπογραφεύς) was a fiscal official in the last centuries of the Byzantine Empire.
The office first appears in the Komnenian period, either under Alexios I Komnenos () or at any rate by the third quarter of the 12th c ...
'') under
John III Vatatzes (), and the ''
prōtovestiaritēs''
George Zagarommates, who was promoted to ''parakoimōmenos'' by
Theodore II Laskaris
Theodore II Doukas Laskaris or Ducas Lascaris ( gr, Θεόδωρος Δούκας Λάσκαρις, Theodōros Doukas Laskaris; 1221/1222 – 16 August 1258) was Emperor of Nicaea from 1254 to 1258. He was the only child of Emperor John II ...
() but was soon disgraced. He eventually rose to ''
panhypersebastos The title of ( gr, πανυπερσέβαστος, , venerable above all) was a Byzantine court title created by Alexios I Komnenos () using the imperial root (the Greek translation of ). It was always conferred to members of aristocratic families ...
'' under
Michael VIII Palaiologos
Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( el, Μιχαὴλ Δούκας Ἄγγελος Κομνηνὸς Παλαιολόγος, Mikhaēl Doukas Angelos Komnēnos Palaiologos; 1224 – 11 December 1282) reigned as the co-emperor of the Empire ...
(). An otherwise unidentified ''
pansebastos'' and ''parakoimōmenos'' John also appears to belong to the middle of the 13th century.
Michael VIII Palaiologos named a trusted agent of his, a defector from the
Seljuk Seljuk or Saljuq (سلجوق) may refer to:
* Seljuk Empire (1051–1153), a medieval empire in the Middle East and central Asia
* Seljuk dynasty (c. 950–1307), the ruling dynasty of the Seljuk Empire and subsequent polities
* Seljuk (warlord) (di ...
court named
Basil Basilikos, to serve as ''parakoimōmenos'' of the ''koitōn'' during his early reign (1259–1261). After becoming sole emperor in 1261, Michael named
John Makrenos to the post. Makrenos participated in the campaign to recover the
Morea
The Morea ( el, Μορέας or ) was the name of the Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece during the Middle Ages and the early modern period. The name was used for the Byzantine province known as the Despotate of the Morea, by the Ottoman ...
from the Latins, and fought in the battles of
Prinitza and
Makryplagi, being captured in the latter. He was later returned to Constantinople, where he was accused of
treason
Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplo ...
and blinded. Three ''parakoimōmenoi'' of the ''sphendonē'' are known under Michael VIII: the ''
pansebastos sebastos''
Isaac Doukas, brother of John III Vatatzes, who was present at the signature of the
Treaty of Nymphaeum and died as an envoy in
Genoa
Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the List of cities in Italy, sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian ce ...
;
Gabriel Sphrantzes Gabriel Sphrantzes ( el, Γαβριήλ Σφραντζῆς, ) was a Byzantine aristocrat and courtier.
Very little is known about him. He was possibly the son of Maria Sphrantzaina, daughter of John Petraliphas and a sister-in-law of Michael II K ...
(a nephew of
John I Doukas
John I Doukas ( gr, Ἰωάννης Δούκας, Iōánnēs Doúkas), Latinized as Ducas, was an illegitimate son of Michael II Komnenos Doukas, Despot of Epirus in –1268. After his father's death, he became ruler of Thessaly from to his own ...
, ruler of
Thessaly
Thessaly ( el, Θεσσαλία, translit=Thessalía, ; ancient Thessalian: , ) is a traditional geographic and modern administrative region of Greece, comprising most of the ancient region of the same name. Before the Greek Dark Ages, Thes ...
); and
Constantine Doukas Nestongos Constantine Doukas Nestongos ( el, Κωνσταντῖνος ∆ούκας Νεστόγγος, ) was a Byzantine aristocrat and courtier.
Nestongos first appears in 1280, when he accompanied the co-emperor (and future sole emperor) Andronikos II P ...
. Nestongos was closely associated with
Andronikos II Palaiologos (), accompanying him on his first expedition against the
Aydinid
The Aydinids or Aydinid dynasty (Modern Turkish: ''Aydınoğulları'', ''Aydınoğulları Beyliği'', ota, آیدین اوغوللاری بیلیغی), also known as the Principality of Aydin and Beylik of Aydin (), was one of the Anatolian ...
Turks in 1280. He retained his position at least during the early years of Andronikos II's reign.
Apart from Nestongos, the following ''parakoimōmenoi'' are known under Andronikos II Palaiologos: Dionysios Drimys, mentioned in a poem of
Manuel Philes Manuel Philes (c. 1275–1345, gr, Μανουήλ Φιλής), of Ephesus, Byzantine poet.
Biography
At an early age, he moved to Constantinople, where he was the pupil of Georgius Pachymeres, in whose honour he composed a memorial poem. Philes ...
ca. 1300;
Andronikos Kantakouzenos in ca. 1320;
Andronikos Komnenos Doukas Palaiologos Tornikes, a grandson of Michael VIII's half-brother
Constantine Palaiologos
Constantine XI Dragases Palaiologos or Dragaš Palaeologus ( el, Κωνσταντῖνος Δραγάσης Παλαιολόγος, ''Kōnstantînos Dragásēs Palaiológos''; 8 February 1405 – 29 May 1453) was the last Roman (Byzantine) e ...
, who held the post in ca. 1324–1327;
John Phakrases, author of a treatise in verse on imperial offices; and the general
John Choumnos, the eldest son of the scholar and minister
Nikephoros Choumnos
Nikephoros Choumnos ( el, , 1250/55 – 1327) was a Byzantine scholar and official of the early Palaiologan period, one of the most important figures in the flowering of arts and letters of the so-called "Palaiologan Renaissance". He is notable ...
, who was promoted from ''parakoimōmenos tou koitōnos'' to ''parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs'' in 1307. An unnamed member of the
Raoul family, mentioned by Manuel Philes, also held the post at about the same time.
Perhaps the most famous of the late Byzantine ''parakoimōmenoi'' was the capable and ambitious
Alexios Apokaukos, a man of humble birth who rose in high office as a protégé of
John Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzene ( el, , ''Iōánnēs Ángelos Palaiológos Kantakouzēnós''; la, Johannes Cantacuzenus; – 15 June 1383) was a Byzantine Greek nobleman, statesman, and general. He served as grand domestic under And ...
and the chief instigator of the
Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347
The Byzantine civil war of 1341–1347, sometimes referred to as the Second Palaiologan Civil War, was a conflict that broke out in the Byzantine Empire after the death of Andronikos III Palaiologos over the guardianship of his nine-year-old so ...
. He was made ''parakoimōmenos'' in 1321, and held the post until his elevation to the rank of ''
megas doux'' in 1341. Finally, the last known holders are Demetrios, "uncle" of the Emperor
John V Palaiologos
John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( el, Ἰωάννης Παλαιολόγος, ''Iōánnēs Palaiológos''; 18 June 1332 – 16 February 1391) was Byzantine emperor from 1341 to 1391, with interruptions.
Biography
John V was the son of E ...
(), attested at Constantinople in 1342;
Manuel Sergopoulos, named "''parakoimōmenos'' of the great ''sphendonē''" by
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzene ( el, , ''Iōánnēs Ángelos Palaiológos Kantakouzēnós''; la, Johannes Cantacuzenus; – 15 June 1383) was a Byzantine Greek nobleman, statesman, and general. He served as grand domestic under An ...
() and given the lordship of
Marmara Island
Marmara Island ( ) is a Turkish island in the Sea of Marmara. With an area of it is the largest island in the Sea of Marmara and is the second largest island of Turkey after Gökçeada (older name in Turkish: ; el, Ίμβρος, links=no ''Im ...
for life by the same emperor; the physician Angelos Kalothetos, attested at
Mystras
Mystras or Mistras ( el, Μυστρᾶς/Μιστρᾶς), also known in the '' Chronicle of the Morea'' as Myzithras (Μυζηθρᾶς), is a fortified town and a former municipality in Laconia, Peloponnese, Greece. Situated on Mt. Taygetus, ne ...
in a letter in 1362, and the ''
katholikos kritēs''
Theophylaktos Dermokaites, who was sent as en emissary to
Pope Urban V
Pope Urban V ( la, Urbanus V; 1310 – 19 December 1370), born Guillaume de Grimoard, was the head of the Catholic Church from 28 September 1362 until his death in December 1370 and was also a member of the Order of Saint Benedict. He was the on ...
in October 1367.
Only one ''parakoimōmenos'' is known for the
Empire of Trebizond
The Empire of Trebizond, or Trapezuntine Empire, was a monarchy and one of three successor rump states of the Byzantine Empire, along with the Despotate of the Morea and the Principality of Theodoro, that flourished during the 13th through to t ...
(1204–1461), Michael Sampson, who is attested in 1432.
References
Citations
Sources
*
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{{Portal bar, Byzantine Empire
Byzantine palace offices
Byzantine titles and offices reserved for eunuchs