Hierarchy of Offices and Dignities Before the Fourth Crusade

I would love your input on these lists of the offices and dignities extant circa 1200 AD that I put together for a tabletop roleplaying game I am writing. Where possible, I’ve provided a description of the office in parentheses and linked to their respective Wikipedia entry.

I am writing a tabletop game setting that takes place on the eve of the Fourth Crusade in the Byzantine Empire. I’ve previously posted an introduction to the setting as well as a list of noble houses I developed for the game. I call the setting Born to the Purple, and it is built upon the Forged in the Dark system, specifically Rebel Crown developed by u/narrativedynamics. You can also check out my map and gazetteer.

The tier structure comes from Blades in the Dark and is meant to give my players an idea of how powerful and important an NPC they meet might be. As far as the vibe goes, I aim for as much historical verisimilitude as possible while still making it accessible to a wide player base. In some cases, the scholarship didn’t know the exact responsibilities of a position or when it fell from usage. The standard I applied to a position’s inclusion and tier placement was “reasonable to assume.”

Some weird things you may notice are terms like Institutions of Empire (Bureaucracy, Church, Emperor, Military, and Senate). The players need to win the favor of at least three of these if they hope to successfully seize the throne. Also, the section on the Senate is largely my own invention.

Hierarchy

The imperial elite derive their status and power from what offices, or archai, and dignities, axiai, they hold. An office, arche, is a salaried position of responsibility within the Bureaucracy and Military. A dignity, axia, is a honorific title that conveys a person’s status in court earned through merit, influence, or close familial relations with the Emperor. Jurisdictions and responsibilities of both offices and dignities shifted over the course of a millennia. Some positions have fallen into abeyance, shifted in their respective hierarchies, or been completely transformed.

The power of an individual is frequently determined by how well they can accumulate both offices and dignities and leverage them together. In this way, a middle tier office occupied by someone with high dignity can exceed the traditional limits of their authority and vice versa. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Imperial Household where access to the Emperor can transform a lowly sounding position like “bedchamber servant” into one of the most powerful people in the Empire.

Offices

The actual offices of the state within the Bureaucracy and Military. These tier rankings provide a general idea of where a person ranks in the imperial hierarchy. More important postings (such as the Kourator of a major imperial palace) might merit a higher tier mechanically.

Administrative (Capital)

The following are positions within the imperial Bureaucracy based in Constantinople. They enjoy greater prestige and support than those based in themata.

I: Notarios (Court Clerk), Skribas (Probate Clerk), Libelisios (Petition Clerk), Taxiotes (City Guardsman), Diermeneutes (Interpretor)

II: Antigrapheus (Recorder), Grammatikos (Secretary), Parathalassites (Customs Officer), Boullotes (Excise Officer), Kankellarios (Chancery Officer), Mandator (Bureaucrat with Jurisdiction), Protonotarios (Principal Clerk), Kommerkiarios (Municipal Tax Collector)

III: Epi tou eidikou (Special Secretary of Industry), Logothetes ton hydaton (Minister of Water and Sanitation), Epoptes (Auditor), Geitoniarches (Ward Supervisor), Primikerios (Department Head)

IV: Logothetes ton agelon (Master of the Horse), Logothetes ton oikeiakon (Chamberlain), Chartoularios tou genikou (Finance secretaries), Exō chartoularioi (Thematic finance secretaries), Chartoularioi tou stratiotikou (Defense secretaries), Chartoularioi tou dromou (Foreign secretaries), Megas Logariastes (Comptroller), Logothetes tou praitoriou (Chief Warden), Symponos (Guild Supervisor), Nykteparchos (Night Prefect),

V: Logothetes tou genikou (Finance Minister), Logothetes tou stratiotikou (Defense Minister), Logothetes tou dromou (Foreign Minister and Postmaster), Eparch of the City

VI: Logothetes ton sekreton (Prime Minister)

Administrative (Thematic)

The offices of the Bureaucracy in the themata can shift in tier based on the conditions on the ground. In some areas of the Empire, centralized authority is weak and an office is an empty title. In others, officials might rule their jurisdictions like a fiefdom.

I: Oikodespotes (Village Elder), Notarios (Court Clerk)

II: Episketites or Kourator (Imperial Land Administrator) , Kommerkiarios (Municipal Tax Collector), Pronoetes (Individuals With Rights to Collect Taxes from Peasants), Mandator (Bureaucrat with Jurisdiction), Protonotarios (Principal Clerk)

III: Anagrapheus (Registrar), Epoptes (Auditor), Kastrophylax (Fortress Commander), Prokathemenos (Chief City Administrator), Praktor (Chief Tax Collector and Land Assessor), Protomandator (Regional Bureau Chief), Kritēs (Judge)

IV: Archon (Regional Governor), Megas Dioiketes (A Direct Report of a Constantinopolitan Logothete), Logothetes (Regional Department Head), Exō chartoularioi (Thematic finance secretaries), Krites tou thematos (Chief Thematic Justice)

V: Praetor; Doux (Thematic Chief Executives)

Military

The ranks of military offices, the stratiotikai archai, are more clearly defined due to the necessity of a chain of command. That said, the number and quality of the troops under an officer’s command can boost their relative authority. Some dignities also contain implicit command authority which can overlap–and subsequently lead to conflict with–career military officers.

0: Stratiotes (Militia Soldier), Kabalarios (Lancer), Toxotes (Archer), Psilos (Skirmisher), Akontistes (Javalineer), Semeiophoros (Standard bearer), Prosalentes (Naval militia), Nautes (Sailor), Kopelates (rover), Epibates (Marine), Kontophoros (Lancer), Semissalis (Lancer Corporal), Circitor (Watch Corporal), Tetrarches, Pentarches, Dekarchos, Pentekontarches, Hekatontarches (Corporal Based on Unit Size)

I: Kentarches (Infantry Captain), Lochagos (Cavalry Captain), Allagator (Tagma Captain)

II: Komes, Protōkentarchos, Paraphylax (Field Guard Commander), Abydikos (Naval Commander of the Hellespont), Archon tou allagiou (Palace Guard Commander), Hetaireiarches (Captain of a Hetaireia)

III: Droungarios, Kleisourarches (Margrave), Megas Hetaireiarches (Commander of the Hetaireia Unit), Akolouthos (Commander of the Varangian Guard), Topoteretes (Deputy Commander), Tzaousios (Commander of Native Anatolian Units), Protovestiarites (Commander of the Vestiaritai), Domestikos ton Scholon (Commander of the Scholai)

IV: Tourmarches, Chiliarch/Taxiarchos (Half Size Tourma), Epi tou stratou (Adjunct General),

V: Doux, Stratopedarches (Logistical Commander), Domestikos (Theater Commander), Strategos Autokrator (Regional Commander),

VI: Megas Doux (Commander-in-Chief of the Navy), Grand Domestic (Commander-in-Chief of the Army)

Judiciary

The judicial system of the Empire centers on Constantinople. There, four supreme courts resolve disputes among the citizenry and before the Institutions of Empire. There are three minor courts as well. While the themata possess their own judiciaries overseen by a krites tou thematos, citizens can appeal cases to one of the Constantinopolitan courts. The jurisdictions of the courts are not clearly delineated, overlap, and are often negotiated rather than fixed. The first step towards a favorable ruling often involves getting the case before the right court and judge. Bribes and blackmail to accomplish this are common.

The mix of overlapping jurisdictions, centuries of case law, and corruption makes putting a matter before the Constantinopolitan judiciary an intimidating prospect. The environment helped the College of Notaries, also called the Taboullarioi or Tablet Keepers, become one of the most powerful guilds in the City. Private citizens with matters before the court can represent themselves, or seek out the assistance of a synegoroi (lawyer) or taboullarioi (Private notary). It’s said, however, that such individuals often contribute as much corruption to the system as they help their clients avoid.

0: Synegoros (Private Lawyer), Taboullarios (Private Notary), Nomikos (Paralegal)

I: Notarios (Court Clerk), Skribas (Probate Clerk), Libelisios (Petition Clerk), Taxiotes (City Guardsman)

II: Skeptor (Court Reporter), Antigrapheus (Recorder), Grammatikos (Secretary), Parathalassites (Customs Officer), Boullotes (Excise Officer), Kankellarios (Chancery Officer), Protonotarios (Principal Clerk)

III: Krites (Judge), Dekanos (Subaltern Court Clerk), Epoptes (Auditor), Geitoniarches (Ward Supervisor)

IV: Protasekretis (Superior Chancery Judge), Dikaiodotes (Superior Legal Archivist), Katholikos (Superior Fiscal Judge), Logothetes tou praitoriou (Chief Warden), Symponos (Guild Supervisor), Nykteparchos (Night Prefect), Krites tou velou (Judicial Advisor to the Imperial Household), Krites tou Stratopedou (Military Court Judge), Krites tou thematos (Chief Thematic Justice)

V: Eparch of the City, Droungarios of the Vigla, Koiaistōr, Epi ton kriseon (Supreme Judges)

Imperial Household

The servants of the Imperial Household blur the line between offices and dignities due to their proximity and access to the Emperor. They fall under the Institution of the Emperor. At the highest tiers its officers wield power equal to that of the Bureaucracy secretaries.

In the distant past, eunuchs dominated the palace staff and, indeed, the Bureaucracy itself. As the empire fell into decline, however, ambitious dynatoi sought proximity to power, and the Barbati were born. A propaganda campaign by the Barbati transformed the reputation of the eunuchs from impartial, loyal civil servants to lascivious schemers that stink of urine. Eunuchs are still used in roles where freedom from noble scheming is paramount.

0: Loustes (Bath Servant), Landelaptes (Lamp Lighter), Kaldarios (Stoker), Horologos (Timekeeper), Paidopoulos (Page),

I: Kastresios (Table Servant, Eunuch), Nipsistiarios (Valet, Eunuch), Vestitor (Wardrobe Valet), Diermeneutes (Interpretor)

II: Spatharokoubikoularios (Imperial Swordbearer, Eunuch), Silentiarius (Valet, Barbati),

Koitonarios (Subaltern chamberlain), Diaitarios (Room Chamberlain), Paroinochoos (Assistant Cupbearer), Ostiarios (Usher, Eunuch), Cubicularius (Subaltern of the Praipositos, Eunuch), Sebastophoros (Standard bearer), Atriklines (Imperial Herald)

III: Chartoularios tou vestiariou (Keeper of the Public Wardrobe), Epi tes trapezes (Chamberlain of Feasts, Master of Ceremonies, Eunuch), Aktouarios (Household Bursar), Mystographos (Scribe), Mystolektes (Translator/Analyst)

IV: Parakoimomenos tou koitōnos (Butler, Chamber Servant), Parakoimōmenos tēs sphendonēs (Imperial Signet), Protovestiarios (Keeper of the Sacred Wardrobe), Papias (Palace Warden, Eunuch), Pinkernes (Imperial Cupbearer), Epi tes katastaseos (Master of Ceremonies),

V: Mystikos (Imperial Secretary and Paymaster), Praipositos (Palace Chamberlain, Eunuch)

VI: Logothetes ton oikeiakon

Church

The Orthodox church lacks the centralized hierarchy of the Latin church. Metropolitans and archbishops are often the highest authority to which one can appeal in a given diocese, with the Patriarch of Constantinople arbitrating disputes between dioceses or presiding over churchwise synods or ecumenical councils. For the most part, however, bishops enjoy a great deal of autonomy within their jurisdictions. Some monasteries are stauropegic, bypassing the usual hierarchy and subject directly to an archbishop or the Patriarch.

0: Monachos (Monk), Monache (Nun), Hermit, Deacon (Presbyter Assistant)

I: Presbyter (Priest), Archeiophylax (Scribe and Archivist), Great Schema (Honored Monk), Notarios (Clerk), Hieromonk (Ordained Monk)

II: Synkellos (Bishop’s Confessor), Referendarios (Bishop’s Envoy), Kanstresios (Subaltern Stewart), Protonotarios (Senior Clerk)

III: Archimandrite (Superior of Several Monasteries), Hegoumenos (Abbot), Protopapas (Subaltern to a Bishop), Protopresbyter, (Senior Priest), Protos (Senior Monk), Chartophylax (Senior Archivist and Registrar), Oikonomos (Stewart), Skeuophylax (Custodian of Relics), Sakellarios (Treasurerer, Kouboukleisios (Ecclesiastical Chamberlain)

IV: Bishop, Protosynkellos (Heir-Apparent to the Patriarch), Nomophylax (Chief Theologian-Jurist), Dikaiophylax (Ecclesiastical Justice)

V: Metropolitan (Regional Archbishop), Autocephalous Archbishop (Independent Archbishop), Megas Oikonomos (Patriarchal Stewart), Megas Sakellarios (Patriarchal Treasurer), Megas Skeuophylax (Patriarchal Custodian)

VI: Patriarch of Constantinople

Dignities

General

Since the time of the Komnenoi, tier ranks above II generally require a connection to the ruling dynasty through blood or marriage.

I: Spatharios, Kandidatos, Spatharokandidatos,

II: Patrikios, Vestarches (Permitted in Imperial Apartments), Protospatharios, Hypatos, Anthypatos, Magistros, Nobelissimos,

III: Sebastos, Protopatrikios, Protovestarches, Proedros, Zoste Patrikia (Woman), Protonobelissimos

IV: Panhypersebastos, Protosebastos, Kouropalates, Protonobelissimohypertatos

V: Sebastokrator, Caesar, Basileopator, Augusta (Empress)

VI: Despot

Special

Similar to the ranks of the Imperial Household, these dignities carry with them some official responsibilities. Titles with an equestrian bent such as Strator, Konostaulos, Protostrator may serve in the Military or under the Logothetes ton agelon. The Orphanotrophos controls a massive charitable endowment ostensibly for the orphanages of Constantinople but which offers ample opportunity for corruption. Some military ranks are included to convey the inherent dignity granted by the position. This may differ from the power actually granted by the office.

I: Strator (Groom)

II: Konostaulos (Constable), Protoierakarios (Court Falconer), Protokynegos (First Huntsman)

III: , Megas Hetaireiarches (Commander of the Hetaireia), Protovestiarites (Commander of the Vestiaritai), Megas Primikerios (Commander of the Vardariotai),

IV: Protostrator (First Groom), Orphanotrophos (Curator of the Imperial Orphanage), Droungarios of the Vigla (Commander of the Vigla and Taxiotai), Akolouthos (Commander of the Varangians), Domestikos ton Scholon (Commander of the Scholai)

V: Megas Doux (Commander-in-Chief of the Navy), Grand Domestic (Commander-in-Chief of the Army)

Senate

Institutionally, the Byzantine Senate is practically moribund. Offices that once commanded the empire in its infancy are now mere dignities. It instead functions primarily as a social club for the empire’s elite. Most of its 2,000 seats are filled with aristocratic dynatoi who inherited their memberships. If a house has no members in the body, it is considered functionally extinct. Commonborn also occasionally seek membership in the body due to the prestige and connections it confers. These individuals might be Constantinopolitan socialites, guild masters (Exarchoi), or officials seeking rise further than their ancestry would normally allow.

The Senate retains some official functions. It can offer resolutions or draft edicts that the Emperor can enact or ignore. It funds some games and public feasts. Senators often serve on judicial tribunals and occasionally the Senate itself holds high profile trials. Dynatoi often seek to become senators after retiring from professional life, which means the body counts the Empire’s richest and most influential individuals among its membership. The Emperor will often consult with the Senate when he wishes to take the temperature of the aristocracy on a given matter. In conjunction with the Military, the Senate also appoints the emperor, though succession is usually presented to them fait accompli for them to affirm.

By far the most useful power of the Senate is the ability to induct new members. By custom, spektabiloi may sponsor candidates, illoustrioi may formally present them to the body, and iglorioi may elevate protégés by personal declaration, subject only to imperial objection. In this way senators act as gatekeepers into the ranks of the imperial elite. This privilege can be used to build patronage networks or stymie rivals, but mostly it serves as a means for the senators to enrich themselves at the expense of those seeking membership.

Within the confines of the Senate, courtly intrigue, romantic affairs, and blood feuds are an entertaining spectator sport. One can see the latest fashions and hear masters of rhetoric debate one another. A lawsuit between members will usually have surprise witnesses, dramatic reveals, and an audience chamber packed to capacity. They are more akin to a dramatic play than staid courtroom proceedings. Scandals among the dynatoi often come to a head within the Senate and can result in real consequences such as mutilation or exile.

I: Klarissimos

II: Spektabilis

III: Illoustrios

IV: Iglorios

V: Eparch of the City