Thepraepositus sacri cubiculi (Latin: "provost of the sacred bedchamber", inGreek:πραιπόσιτος τοῦ εὐσεβεστάτου κοιτῶνος,romanized: praipositos tou eusebestatou koitōnos) was one of the senior palace offices in theLate Roman Empire. Its holder was usually aeunuch, and acted as the grandchamberlain of the palace, wielding considerable authority and influence. In the 7th or 8th century, the title was also given to anorder of rank for eunuch palace servants. The title and office continued in use in the simplified form ofpraipositos (πραιπόσιτος) in theByzantine Empire until the late 11th century.
The first securely identifiable holder of the office wasEusebius under EmperorConstantius II (r. 337–361), but the position may have been introduced already underConstantine the Great (r. 306–337), in replacement of the oldera cubiculo. He controlled the corps of thecubicularii (κουβικουλάριοι,koubikoularioi), also eunuchs, and was responsible for the imperial bedchamber,wardrobe and receptions.[1][2]
Originally under the control of thecastrensis sacri palatii, he soon became directly subordinated to the Byzantine emperor. His proximity to the Byzantine emperor gave him great power, and severalpraepositi wielded considerable influence in the governance of the Byzantine Empire.[2] In theNotitia Dignitatum, thepraepositus is listed immediately after thepraetorian prefects, theurban prefect and themagistri militum. However, due to the loss of the relevant pages of theNotitia, we do not know the structure of hisofficium.[3] Senior assistants were theprimicerius sacri cubiculi and thecomes sacrae vestis.
During the 4th-5th centuries, thepraepositus gained in power: in the late 4th century, he gained control over the imperial estates ofCappadocia (thedomus divina per Cappadociam of theNotitia), and was elevated in rank tovir illustris and the equivalent ofquaestor. A separatepraepositus was also established for the household of the Byzantine empress (praepositusAugustae), with a similar structure of subordinate officials.[2] In theWestern Roman Empire, the post continued in existence until its fall, and was also used in the court of theOstrogoth kingTheodoric the Great, where it was held by aGoth, Triwila. In the mid-6th century, however, the supervision of the Cappadocian estates was entrusted to a separate official in charge of the imperial patrimony,[4] and its authority declined.[2]
In the 7th-8th centuries, paralleling changes in many other administrative offices, the position ofpraepositus, orpraipositos in Greek, was much reduced in power, as parts of hisofficium were split off. Thecubicularii of the bedchamber (distinguished asκοιτωνῖται,koitōnitai in Greek) were separated under theparakoimōmenos, while the imperial wardrobe (Latin:vestiarium,Greek:[βασιλικὸν] βεστιάριον,[basilikon] vestiarion) under its head, theprōtovestiarios, was also made into a separate department. Thepraipositos continued to supervise the remainder of thekoubikoularioi, with theprimikērios tou kouboukleiou as his chief aide.[1] He retained a considerable role in court ceremonies, and ranked in the higher class of thepatrikioi. According toConstantine VII (r. 913–959), thepraipositos, together with theprōtomagistros and theeparch of Constantinople used to form aregency in the emperor's absence.[5]
The continuing actual office ofpraipositos, however, is not to be confused with the dignity (διὰ βραβείου ἀξία,dia brabeiou axia) of the same name, which was a court rank created in the 7th or 8th century and restricted to eunuchs. According to Philotheos'sKlētorologion of 899, it ranked below the dignity ofpatrikios and above that ofprōtospatharios, and the insignia (brabeion) of the office wereivory tablets.[6] The title is last attested in 1087.[2]
