Logothetes tou genikou explained

The (λογοθέτης τοῦ γενικοῦ, often called or simply (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ὁ γενικός [λογοθέτης], 'the general [logothete]'), and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete, was in charge of the 'general financial ministry', the of the middle Byzantine Empire.^[1]

History and functions

The was responsible for general taxation and revenue, and also served as a court for financial cases.^[1] As such, it broadly fulfilled the tasks of the earlier Latin: [[comes sacrarum largitionum|sacrae largitiones]], although it was mostly derived from the "general department" of the praetorian prefecture. The first attested, the monk Theodotos, is mentioned in 692, but the post may have been instituted as early as 626.^[1] The bureau of the and its logothete remained one of the chief ministries for the entire middle Byzantine period (7th–12th centuries). During the Komnenian period, its importance declined, but recovered under the Angeloi. Following the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, the office of the was retained as a purely honorary title by the successor state of Nicaea and the restored Palaiologan Empire after 1261.^[1]

The mid-14th century writer Pseudo-Kodinos records him in the 20th place in the imperial hierarchy, between the of the imperial bedchamber and the . His distinctive court dress and insignia during this time were a brimmed hat called of white silk, a silk long kaftan-like, and for ceremonies and festivities, a domed hat of white and gold silk, with gold-wire embroidery and decorated with images of the emperor in the front and back. Unlike other officials, he bore no staff of office . Amongst the Palaiologan-era holders were significant intellectuals and statesmen, such as George Akropolites and Theodore Metochites. The last recorded was a certain John Androuses in 1380.^[1] By that time, however, its original functions had long been forgotten; as the Pseudo-Kodinos records, "the function of the General Logothete is unknown".

Subordinate officials

The subordinates of the logothetēs tou genikou were:

• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: χαρτουλάριοι μεγάλοι τοῦ σεκρέτου, 'great chartularies of the department'), the heads of the various departments.
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: χαρτουλάριοι τῶν ἀρκλῶν, where Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἀρκλα means '[money] box"' i.e. 'treasury') or (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἔξω χαρτουλάριοι, 'outer chartularies'). As their name signifies, they were the senior treasury officials posted in the provinces ('outer', i.e. outside Constantinople).
• The of the (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἐπόπται τῶν θεμάτων), who were the officials charged with control of taxation in the provinces.
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κόμητες ὑδάτων, 'counts of the waters'), officials probably in charge of aqueducts and water supply in the provinces.
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: χαρτουλάριος τοῦ οἰκιστικοῦ) or simply, whose precise functions are unknown. It is attested that he was in charge of tax exemptions, and had various juridical duties in some in the 11th century; the office may have been associated with the imperial domains . By the 11th century, the office had become an independent bureau, but vanishes after that.
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κομμερκιάριοι), who were customs officials. Attested since the early 6th century, they are likely the successors of the Latin: comes commerciorum mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. Initially stationed at the frontier, after the 7th century they were placed at ports or in charge over entire or individual islands.
• The [of the {{transl|grc|basilikoi oikoi}}] (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: ἐπί τῆς κουρατωρίας [τῶν βασιλικῶν οἴκων], 'in charge of the curatorship [of the imperial domains]'), who supervised the imperial estates.
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: κόμης τῆς λαμίας), an official probably in charge of the mines and gold bullion (cf. Latin: lamina/lamna, 'gold, precious metals'). It is therefore usually assumed that he is the successor of the old Latin: comes metallorum per [[Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum|Illyricum]]. From sigillographic evidence through the 11th century, this office was sometimes combined with the positions of ('in charge of the ", a class of senior courtiers) and of one of the of the .
• The (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: διοικηταὶ), officials who supervised the collection of taxes, assisted by a number of ('agents').
• The (κομ[β]εντιανός), an official of unknown function.
• A number of (Greek, Ancient (to 1453);: καγκελλάριοι, from Latin: cancellarius) under a . Originally senior officials in the praetorian prefecture, in the middle Byzantine period they were mid-level secretaries in the various ministries.

Sources

• • Guilland. Rodolphe. Rodolphe Guilland. 1971. Les Logothètes: Etudes sur l'histoire administrative de l'Empire byzantin. The Logothetes: Studies on the Administrative History of the Byzantine Empire. Revue des études byzantines. 29. 5–115 . 10.3406/rebyz.1971.1441. fr.
    • Book: Verpeaux. Jean. Pseudo-Kodinos, Traité des Offices . Paris. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. 1966.

Notes and References

1. .