Dekanos

History and functions

From the 4th century AD the term decanus became used for palace messengers, particularly those in the service of Roman empresses. Decani also apparently served as guards at gates, and in the 6th century, John Lydus equates them with the ancient lictors. In the 899 Klētorologion of Philotheos, the decanus (transcribed into Greek as δεκανός, dekanos) was a mid-level functionary, serving under the protasekretis. According to the mid-10th century De Ceremoniis of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), a decanus was "in charge of the imperial papers" when the Byzantine emperor was on campaign. Sigillographic evidence for the Byzantine dekanoi is relatively rare, although some are depicted in illuminated manuscripts, where their appearance varies considerably, in accord with their varying and changing functions.