| Megas logothetes | |
|---|---|
| Appointer | Byzantine Emperor |
| Precursor | logothetes ton sekreton |
| First holder | Strategopoulos |
| Final holder | George Sphrantzes (Byzantine Empire) George Amiroutzes (Empire of Trebizond) |
| Abolished | 1453/1461 |
Themegas logothetes (Greek:μέγας λογοθέτης,lit. 'GrandLogothete'[a]) was an official who served as effectiveforeign minister of theByzantine Empire, in the period fromc. 1250 toc. 1350, after which it continued as an honorific dignity. The office evolved from theKomnenian-eralogothetes ton sekreton, and was established during theEmpire of Nicaea. Its holders were frequently distinguished scholars, who played a prominent role in the civil and military affairs of their time; three of its holders also served in tandem as the head of the civil administration and effective prime minister (mesazon) of the Empire. The title was also used in theEmpire of Trebizond. After thefall of Constantinople, it was adopted in theDanubian Principalities as an honorific title for laymen in theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
The post originated as thelogothetes ton sekreton, established by EmperorAlexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) in an attempt to improve the coordination of the various fiscal departments (sekreta).[1][2] In the late 12th century, thelogothetes ton sekreton had risen to a pre-eminent position among the civil administrators, and was increasingly called themegas logothetes to indicate this.[3] The all-powerfullogothetes ton sekretonTheodore Kastamonites, maternal uncle andde facto regent of the Empire during the early reign ofIsaac II Angelos (r. 1185–1195, 1203–1204), was the first to be officially calledmegas logothetes in achrysobull of 1192, although as a honorific rather than an actual new title.[4]
Thelogothetes ton sekreton was not formally replaced by the designationmegas logothetes until after1204, in theEmpire of Nicaea (1204–1261) and under the revivedByzantine Empire under the Palaiologos dynasty (1261–1453).[5] As seen in the case of the first knownmegas logothetes, Strategopoulos, inc. 1217, the post apparently retained its previous role: Strategopoulos is mentioned as president of the imperial tribunal, apparently the same body attested in 1196 under the presidency of thelogothetes ton sekreton.[6][7]
By the middle of the 13th century, however, its functions had evolved to become completely different from his antecedent: themegas logothetes assumed the conduct of foreign affairs and headed thechancery involved with diplomatic correspondence, previously the purview of thelogothetes tou dromou.[7][8][9] Themegas logothetes was thus unique among thelogothetes in retaining both its exalted position and an active function during the early Palaiologan period: theBook of Offices ofpseudo-Kodinos, one of the main sources for the late Byzantine court and administration, records thelogothetes tou genikou,logothetes tou dromou,logothetes tou stratiotikou, andlogothetes ton agelon as purely honorific titles without a function. Pseudo-Kodinos wrote shortly after the middle of the 14th century, but the situation he records is likely of even earlier date.[10]
Since the publication ofCharles Diehl's study on thelogothetes ton sekreton in 1933, a generation of scholars considered themegas logothetes as thede facto chief minister of the Palaiologan-era Byzantine Empire.[11] This view, however, has been proven as mistaken by later studies: numerous sources show that the position of chief minister during that time was designated by the title ofmesazon, an office that supervised the imperial chancery and was in charge of state administration and justice.[12][13][14] Indeed, Pseudo-Kodinos explicitly points out that the "proper function" of themegas logothetes was to supervise "theprostagmata andchrysoboulla sent by the emperor to all kings,sultans andtoparchs", while themesastikion (the function of amesazon) "is carried out by whoever the emperor commands".[15] Only threemegaloi logothetai are known to have held themesastikion—Theodore Mouzalon,Theodore Metochites, andJohn Gabalas—and indeed appear to have been appointed asmesazon before being promoted tomegas logothetes, thereby demonstrating the distinct nature of the two titles.[11][16] Already during pseudo-Kodinos's time, however, the purview of foreign affairs had been transferred to themesazon, and themegas logothetes was thereafter reduced to a mostly honorific position; the early 15th-century writerMazaris describes it as a 'prize' (γέρας) without particular attributes.[7]
In hisUntersuchungen zur spätbyzantinischen Verfassungs- und Wirtschaftsgeschichte, the German scholarErnst Stein proposed that in the early 14th century, themegas logothetes also exercised the functions of the formerEparch of Constantinople in overseeing the administration of the imperial capital, untilAndronikos III Palaiologos (r. 1328–1341), seeking to secure his throne after winning thecivil war of 1321–1328, assigned them to theprotostrator. Stein's assumption relies on reading themesastikion in the passage of Pseudo-Kodinos as a compound denoting theMese boulevard (which Stein considered as the centre of the capital's administration) and the rest of the city, rather than relating it with the office ofmesazon; Stein's interpretation has been disproved by scholars such as Hans-Georg Beck and Léon-Pierre Raybaud.[17][18]
Originally, the title ranked twelfth in the overall hierarchy of the palace, between themegas konostaulos and theprotosebastos, but in March/April 1321 EmperorAndronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328), wishing to exalt his favourite Theodore Metochites, promoted him fromlogothetes tou genikou and raised the rank further to ninth place, above themegas stratopedarches and below theprotostrator. It appears that the rank retained this high position for the remainder of the Byzantine Empire's existence.[19][20]
According to pseudo-Kodinos, the insignia of office were a rich silkkabbadion (akaftan-like tunic), a golden-red brimmed hat (skiadion) decorated with embroideries in theklapoton style, without veil, or a domedskaranikon hat, again in red and gold and decorated with golden wire, with a portrait of the emperor standing in front, and another of him enthroned in the rear. Unlike most officials of the court, he bore no staff of office (dikanikion).[21]
Following theFall of Constantinople in 1453, the title was used in theDanubian principalities ofMoldavia andWallachia. In the former, the Great Logothete (mare logofăt) was the chief minister of the prince and head of thechancellery, while in Wallachia, he was the second-most senior member of the prince's council, after theban.[22] To this day, the leading rank among thelayarchons of theEcumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople bears the title of "Grand Logothete".[23]
| Name | Tenure | Appointed by | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strategopoulos | c. 1217 | Theodore I Laskaris | Thesebastos andmegas logothetes Strategopoulos (first name unknown) is attested as presiding over a court decision in a dispute between two communities in the area ofMiletus. The tribunal was obviously the same as that presided over by thelogothetes ton sekreton in 1196, proving the evolutionary link between the two offices. | [6] |
| George Akropolites | 1255–1282 | Theodore II Laskaris Michael VIII Palaiologos | A scholar and historian, Akropolites enjoyed a rapid ascent in the imperial bureaucracy, rising tologothetes tou genikou by 1246. As a protégé ofTheodore II Laskaris, he was promoted tomegas logothetes in 1255. In that capacity he played a major role in political and military affairs, until his capture during a campaign againstMichael II of Epirus in 1257. He was released in 1260. Following thereconquest of Constantinople in 1261, he asked EmperorMichael VIII Palaiologos to relieve him of his political functions so that he could dedicate himself to the revival of higher education in the imperial capital. Until his death in 1282, he served Michael VIII in a number of diplomatic missions. | [24][25][26] |
| Theodore Mouzalon | 1282–1294 | Michael VIII Palaiologos Andronikos II Palaiologos | A very well-educated man, Mouzalon was namedmegas logothetes after Akropolites' death, shortly before Michael VIII's own death. Mouzalon exercised great influence over the new emperor, Andronikos II. He not only served as the effective prime minister, but was even allowed to wear a gold-embroidered scarlet cap, similar to those borne by imperial princes. In 1291, Andronikos II elevated him to the rank ofprotovestiarios as well, and later married his sonConstantine to Mouzalon's daughter. Following the onset of the illness that would lead to his death in March 1294, Mouzalon requested to be relieved of his administrative duties. On his advice, the emperor handed them over toNikephoros Choumnos. | [27][28] |
| Constantine Akropolites | c. 1305/06–1321 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | Eldest son of George Akropolites and a scholar himself, he was namedlogothetes tou genikou by 1282, which he kept at least untilc. 1294. The exact date of his appointment asmegas logothetes is uncertain. The title was mostly honorific, as conduct of affairs remained in the hands of themesazon Nikephoros Choumnos, and thenTheodore Metochites. | [29][30][31] |
| Theodore Metochites | 1321–1328 | Andronikos II Palaiologos | A noted scholar, Metochites successively advanced fromlogothetes ton agelon (1290) tologothetes ton oikeiakon (1295/96),logothetes tou genikou (1305), and finallymegas logothetes in 1321, although he had replaced Nikephoros Choumnos as thede facto prime minister (mesazon) since 1305. Following the deposition of Andronikos II in thecivil war of 1321–1328, Metochites was dismissed and exiled, ending his days as a monk. | [32][33][34] |
| John Gabalas | 1343–1344 | John V Palaiologos | Originally a partisan ofJohn VI Kantakouzenos, themegas droungarios John Gabalas defected to the regency for John V during thecivil war of 1341–1347. He was promoted toprotosebastos and eventuallymegas logothetes, before falling out with the head of the regency,Alexios Apokaukos, and being imprisoned. | [35][36] |
| John Palaiologos Raoul | 1344 | John V Palaiologos | Uncle of John V, attested asmegas logothetes in two acts concerning the monasteries ofZographou andPhilotheou in October–November 1344. Guilland considers him identical to John Gabalas. | [35][37] |
| Nikephoros Laskaris Metochites | c. 1355–1357 | John VI Kantakouzenos John V Palaiologos | Son of Theodore Metochites, partisan ofAndronikos III Palaiologos during the civil war of 1321–1328, and of John Kantakouzenos during the civil war of 1341–1347. He is attested asmegas logothetes in 1355–1357, but was evidently appointed by John VI and retained by John V after Kantakouzenos' resignation in 1354. | [38][39] |
| George Sphrantzes | 1451/52–1453 | Constantine XI Palaiologos | After a succession of civil and diplomatic functions underManuel II Palaiologos andConstantine XI Palaiologos, including as governor ofPatras,Mystras, andSelymbria, Sphrantzes was appointed as the lastmegas logothetes of the Byzantine Empire. During theFall of Constantinople he was taken captive, but was ransomed and continued to travel in the Balkans and Italy. He wrote a chronicle, theChronicon Minus, based on his diary, covering the events of 1413–1477. | [40][41][42] |
| Name | Tenure | Appointed by | Notes | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Scholarios | c. 1363 | Alexios III Megas Komnenos | Attested in a treatise ofGeorge Gemistos Plethon. | [43] |
| George Amiroutzes | c. 1458–1461 | David Megas Komnenos | A noted philosopher and theologian, he served as the last prime minister of theEmpire of Trebizond, with the titles ofmegas logothetes andprotovestiarios. Considered pro-Turkish by contemporaries, he is accused of persuading Emperor David to surrender to the Ottomans during theSiege of Trebizond (1461). He spent the rest of his life as philosophy tutor of the Ottoman SultanMehmed II. | [44][45] |
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