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Sebastokrator

Sebastokrator(Medieval Greek:Σεβαστοκράτωρ,romanized:Sevastokrátor,lit. 'August Ruler',Byzantine Greekpronunciation:[sevastoˈkrator];Bulgarian:севастократор,romanized:sevastokrator;Serbo-Croatian:sebastokrator), was a senior court title in the lateByzantine Empire.It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence (Bulgarian Empire,Serbian Empire). The word is acompoundofsebastós(lit. 'venerable',the Greek equivalent of theLatinAugustus) andkrátōr('ruler', the same element as is found inautokrator,'emperor'). The wife of aSebastokratorwas namedsebastokratorissa(σεβαστοκρατόρισσα,sevastokratórissa) in Greek,sevastokratitsa(севастократица) in Bulgarian andsebastokratoricain Serbian.

Eastern Roman Empire

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The title was created by EmperorAlexios I Komnenos(r. 1081–1118) to honour his elder brotherIsaac Komnenos.[1]According toAnna Komnene,Alexios did this to raise Isaac above the rank ofCaesar,which he had already promised to his brother-in-law,Nikephoros Melissenos.Anna Komnene compares the rank ofsebastokratōrto "a second emperor", and also records that along with theCaesarasebastokratōrwas granted the right to wear a crown (but not the imperial diadem).[2]During theKomnenian dynasty(1081–1185), the title continued to be the highest below that of Emperor until 1163, when EmperorManuel Icreated the title ofdespotes.During that period, it was given exclusively to members of the imperial family, chiefly younger sons of the emperor.[1]

After the dismemberment of the Byzantine Empire by theFourth Crusadein 1204, the title was adopted in theLatin Empire,theEmpire of Nicaea,and theBulgarian Empire.In Nicaea and the post-1261 restored Byzantine Empire, the title remained one of the highest court dignities, and was almost always restricted to members of the imperial family. The last known holder of the title wasDemetrios Kantakouzenos,a ruler in thePeloponnesein the late 14th century.[1]

According to the sources, the distinctive colour associated with the title was blue: thesebastokratōr′sceremonial costumeincluded bluestockingsand blueboots.In circa 1260, according toGeorge Akropolites,thesebastokratoreswho were members of the imperial family were distinguished from those who were not by having embroidered goldeneagleson their shoes.[3]By the time ofpseudo-Kodinosin the mid-14th century, the insignia associated with the rank were askiadionhat in red and gold, decorated with gold-wire embroideries, with a veil bearing the wearer's name andpendantsidentical to those of thedespotēs.He wore a red tunic (rouchon) similar to the emperor's, but without therizaidecorations and the insignia of military power. His mantle (tamparion) was no longer known, but the stockings were blue; underJohn VI Kantakouzenos(r. 1347–1354), however, when the emperor raised his brothers-in-law Manuel and John Asanes to the rank, he permitted them to weartampariaand stockings like those of thedespotēs.Thesebastokratōr's shoes and stockings were blue, with gold-embroidered eagles on red background; and hishorse tackwas also of blue, hissaddle blanketfeaturing furthermore four red-embroidered eagles. His tent was white with blue decorations. The form of the domedskaranikon,on the other hand, for thesebastokratōrwas unknown to pseudo-Kodinos.[4]Thesebastokratōralso had the prerogative of signing documents with a special blueink.[1]

Bulgaria

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Kaloyaninherited the title possibly from his father Aleksandar (d. after 1232), a son ofTsarIvan Asen I of Bulgaria(r. 1189–1196).[5]

Serbia

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See also:Medieval Serbian noble titles

This title was also adopted in the court of medievalSerbia,under theNemanjić dynasty,theSerbian KingsandEmperors(1217–1346; 1346–1371).

List of holders

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Byzantium

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Frankokratia

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Bulgaria

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Serbia

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References

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  1. ^abcdODB,"Sebastokrator" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1862.
  2. ^Anna Komnene.Alexiad,3.4.
  3. ^Macrides 2007,pp. 350, 366–367.
  4. ^Verpeaux 1966,pp. 147–148.
  5. ^Bakalov & Kumanov 2003.
  6. ^Macrides (2007), p. 218.
  7. ^Macrides (2007), pp. 167-168
  8. ^Macrides (2007), p.24.
  9. ^Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1506.
  10. ^Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1499.
  11. ^Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1487.
  12. ^Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 10986.
  13. ^Note the distinctivestephanos,as well as the redchlamysembroidered with goldendouble-headed eagles,worn over thekabbadionkaftan.

Sources

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  • Bakalov, Georgi; Kumanov, Milen (2003). "КАЛОЯН (неизв.-след 1259)".Електронно издание "История на България"(in Bulgarian). Sofia: Trud, Sirma.ISBN954528613X.
  • Ferjančić, Božidar(1968). "Севастократори у Византији" [Sebastocrators in Byzantium].Zbornik Radova Vizantološkog Instituta.XI.Belgrade: Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts: 141–192.ISSN0584-9888.
  • Ferjančić, Božidar(1970). "Севастократори и кесари у Српском царству" [Sebastocrators and Caesares in the Serbian Empire].Зборник Филозофског факултета.Belgrade: 255–269.
  • Kazhdan, Alexander,ed. (1991).The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium.Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN0-19-504652-8.
  • Macrides, Ruth (2007).George Akropolites: The History.Oxford: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-921067-1.
  • Parani, Maria G. (2003).Reconstructing the Reality of Images: Byzantine Material Culture and Religious Iconography (11th to 15th Centuries).Leiden: Brill.ISBN978-90-04-12462-2.
  • Verpeaux, Jean, ed. (1966).Pseudo-Kodinos, Traité des Offices(in French). Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique.
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