The ( grc-gre, παπίας) was a

eunuch 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 millenni ...

official in the

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, responsible for the security and maintenance of the buildings of the imperial palaces in

Constantinople la, Constantinopolis ota, قسطنطينيه , alternate_name = Byzantion (earlier Greek name), Nova Roma ("New Rome"), Miklagard/Miklagarth (Old Norse), Tsargrad ( Slavic), Qustantiniya ( Arabic), Basileuousa ("Queen of Cities"), Megalopolis ( ...

. He commanded an extensive staff and performed in important role in palace ceremonies. In 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 ...

, the honorary title of ('grand ') was created and awarded to senior aristocrats.

History and role

The term is etymologically connected to or (). It is first attested in a seal dated to circa 550–650, and next recorded in the chronicle of

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 ...

for the year 780.. There were three , all eunuchs: one for the Great Palace itself (, ), and two others for its adjuncts, the

Magnaura The Magnaura (Medieval el, , possibly from Latin: ''Magna Aula'', "Great Hall") was a large building in Byzantine Constantinople located next to the Great Palace. It was situated to the east of the Augustaion, close to the Hagia Sophia, and next ...

and the palace of

Daphne Daphne (; ; el, Δάφνη, , ), a minor figure in Greek mythology, is a naiad, a variety of female nymph associated with fountains, wells, springs, streams, brooks and other bodies of freshwater. There are several versions of the myth in whi ...

(the and ). The latter was created by Emperor Michael III (), while the former is attested only in Philotheos's ''

Kletorologion The ''Klētorologion'' of Philotheos ( el, Κλητορολόγιον), is the longest and most important of the Byzantine lists of offices and court precedence ('' Taktika'').. It was published in September 899 during the reign of Emperor Leo VI ...

'' of 899. The of the Great Palace was a very important official. Often styled 'grand ' (, ), and usually holding the rank of , he was the concierge of the palace and responsible for its security. He held the keys to the doors of the palace (and of the palace prison) and opened them every morning together with the . He thus controlled physical access to the imperial quarters, and was an important element in any conspiracy against the emperor's life, as demonstrated in the usurpations of Michael II in 820 and

Basil I 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 ...

in 867. It is possible that initially the other two were subordinate to the of the Great Palace. Like all senior palace functionaries, the of the Great Palace also fulfilled certain ceremonial duties. Aside from the ritual unlocking of the palace doors, he for instance formally ended the daily imperial audiences by rattling the keys, the symbol of his office. At ceremonies for the promotion of officials, he

censed A thurible (via Old French from Medieval Latin ) is a metal censer suspended from chains, in which incense is burned during worship services. It is used in Christian churches including the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Assyrian Church of t ...

the main audience hall of the

Chrysotriklinos The Chrysotriklinos ( el, Χρυσοτρίκλινος, "golden reception hall", cf. ''triclinium''), Latinized as Chrysotriclinus or Chrysotriclinium, was the main reception and ceremonial hall of the Great Palace of Constantinople from its con ...

and the emperor, and on August 1, he carried a cross in procession through the streets of the capital, visiting the most wealthy citizens and receiving donations. By the 12th century, the was probably opened up to non-eunuchs as well. New for the

Chalke The Chalke Gate ( el, ), was the main ceremonial entrance ( vestibule) to the Great Palace of Constantinople in the Byzantine period. The name, which means "the Bronze Gate", was given to it either because of the bronze portals or from the gild ...

and the new

Blachernae Palace The Palace of Blachernae ( el, ). was an imperial Byzantine residence in the suburb of Blachernae, located in the northwestern section of Constantinople (today located in the quarter of Ayvansaray in Fatih, Istanbul, Turkey). The area of the palac ...

are also attested in the 12th century. In the

, the ('grand ') became a specific dignity awarded to senior members of the aristocracy. In the 13th century, it was probably an actual office, but it became a purely honorary title in the 14th century.On the known Palaiologan-era , cf. . In the mid-14th century ''Book of Offices'' of

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 ...

, the title occupies the 22nd position in the Byzantine imperial hierarchy, and its insignia were: a wooden staff () with alternating gold and red-gold knobs, a

hat A hat is a head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorporate mecha ...

with

embroidery Embroidery is the craft of decorating fabric or other materials using a needle to apply thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as pearls, beads, quills, and sequins. In modern days, embroidery is usually seen ...

of the type, another type of hat called of white and gold silk with gold-wire embroidery and images of the emperor in the front and back, and a silk robe of office or .

Subordinate officials

The were in charge of an extensive staff detailed to the cleaning, lighting, and general maintenance of the each palace, aided by a deputy, the (, 'the second one'), who was separately responsible for the safekeeping of imperial furniture and insignia. The subordinates of the included: *The (, under a (). They were chamberlains responsible for the various rooms (, ) of each palace. They were also known as (), apparently because they worked in weekly shifts. Further, of various buildings of the Great Palace complex are also attested in the 10th century: of the palaces of Daphne and Magnaura, the halls of the Consistory, the Ostiarikon, the Stratorikion, and the Nineteen Couches and of the palace chapels of St. Stephen and the Theotokos. *The various lower servants: (, 'bathers') responsible for the baths, the (, 'candle-lighters') in charge of lighting, the () or (, cf. ) in charge of heating, and the () in charge of clocks. The functions of another category, the (), are unclear.

Nicolas Oikonomides Nikolaos or Nikos Oikonomides ( el, Νικόλαος Οικονομίδης, 14 February 1934 – 31 May 2000) was a Greek Byzantinist, and one of the leading experts in the field of Byzantine administration. Biography Oikonomides was born in ...

also adds the (), an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's tent on campaign, to the subordinates of the . Similar staffs must have also existed for the of the Magnaura and the Daphne Palace.

References

Sources

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Papias (Byzantine Office) Byzantine palace offices Byzantine titles and offices reserved for eunuchs Historical management occupations