Category: Glossary of Byzantine Terms

Caesaropapism: system whereby the monarch exercised unfettered control over the church in his dom...

Diadem: originally a head-band, then imperial Roman symbol of majesty from the fourth century on;...

Autokrator: Greek equivalent of the Latin imperator, emperor, used especially after the 7th centu...

Turkmen (Turkoman, Turcoman): Turkish nomadic tribesmen from Central Asia who streamed into Anato...

Zealots: strongly iconophile monks in the late eighth to tenth century; midfourteenth century gro...

tribunus (s.), tribuni (pl.): term for indigenous local rulers in southern Italy, which fell out ...

Rus: People of Scandinavian origin who formed a political structure in eastern Europe, between th...

Hexagram: Silver coin introduced by Heraclius, lit. “six grams,” 12 to a nomisma. Although issued...

Eunuch: Castrated male who could occupy any position in the imperial system; some offi ces were r...

Genikon(sekreton): The general treasury and main fiscal department of government after the 7th ce...

Genikon Logothesion: The general treasury and main fiscal department of government after the seve...

Illustris: Until the middle of the 6th century the highest grade of senatorial rank.

Despotes: High imperial title in the later Byzantine period, generally reserved for members of th...

Doux: Originally in the later Roman period a commander of a military unit; commander of a unit of...

Origenism:Attempt to fuse the fundamentals ofGreek philosophy with the Christian creed, interpret...

Chrysotriklinos: ‘golden hall’, from ‘gold’ (chrysos) and ‘hall’ (triklinos): large reception hal...

Alloy containing silver and gold in a Byzantine coin.

Augustus (m.), Augusta (f.) senior emperor within a group of coemperors, or within a single famil...

Romania: ‘land of the Romans’ (i.e. Byzantines); by the seventh century, a term for the Christian...