Discussion Pages

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

Ecloga: “Selections” from Roman law, interpreted in the light of its own time and codifi ed as a ...

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

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

Boukellarioi: theme formed in the later eighth century in north-west Asia Minor, taking its name ...

Demesne: Western form of land tenure, referring to the lands retained by a lord for his own use (...

Davidic of or pertaining to David, king of Israel, or to his family

Ducat: Two types of coin from the duchy of Venice: (1) the thirteenthand early fourteenth-century...

Fatimids: Shiite dynasty based in Cairo from the later tenth century; their dominions included no...

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

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

Charistikiarios: A person or institution that was granted administrative responsibilities over a ...

Koinobion: A type of monastery which emphasized a communal lifestyle, including attendance at chu...

Psychika: Gifts made to monasteries in exchange for the monks’ commemoration of the donors and/or...

Stratiotes: A soldier; by derivation from the 10th century a holder of “military” land, subject t...

Strategos: A general; in Byzantine times usually the governor of a military district or thema, an...

Nomisma: Lat. solidus, the gold coin introduced by Constantine I which remained the basis for the...

Kapnikon: Tax on “hearths” or households, introduced probably during the later 7th or 8th century.

Diocese: Lat. dioecesa, Gk. Dioikêsis, an administrative unit consisting of several provinces; fr...

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