Discussion Pages

A type of annuity administered by monasteries which provided (elderly) laity with a regular allot...

Monothelitism: (from monos and thelein ‘to will’) doctrine recognising the existence of one ‘will...

Iconoclasm: Rejection of the honoring of sacred images as a form of idolatry. Condemned as a here...

Synodikon: An inventory in a church or monastery that registered items donated and the commemorat...

Berbers: name given to several ethnic groups indigenous to north-west Africa; known in Arab sourc...

Ecumenical councils: (from oikoumenikos, ‘worldwide’) conferences of the bishops of the whole chu...

Gastald: Lombard royal official in Italy in charge of a gastaldate, with civil and military power...

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

Sasanians: Persian ruling dynasty which overthrew the Parthian Arsacid dynasty in the early third...

Dioiketes: Fiscal administrator responsible for the land-tax, usually in a single diocese, from t...

Thelematarioi: “Volunteers,” soldiers/watchmen who served on the basis of grants of land given by...

Turkic-speaking nomadic warriors who appeared in the north Black Sea steppe in the sixth century,...

Circus factions: associations that staged circus games; fervent supporters’ associations of one o...

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

Ekklesiarches: The sacristan of a church, responsible for preparing for services by setting out t...

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

Visigoths (western Goths): Groupings of Goths who raided into Roman territory in the fourth and f...

Franks: A Germanic grouping from the lower Rhine, frequently recruited into the Roman army; unite...

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