Cubicularius
Encyclopedia
Cubicularius, Hellenized
as koubikoularios , was a title used for the eunuch
chamberlains
of the imperial palace in the later Roman Empire
and in the Byzantine Empire
. The feminine version, used for the ladies-in-waiting
of the empresses, was koubikoularia (Greek: κουβικουλαρία).
, Empress Theodora
's retinue
numbered as many as 4,000 patrikioi and koubikoularioi. They were placed under the command of the praepositus sacri cubiculi
and the primicerius sacri cubiculi, while the other palace servants came either under the castrensis sacri palatii or the magister officiorum
. There were also special cubicularii/koubikoularioi for the empress (sometimes including female koubikoulariai), and the office was introduced into the Roman Church
as well, probably under Pope Leo I
.
In Byzantium, they played a very important role, holding senior palace offices such as parakoimōmenos
or the epi tēs trapezēs
, but also served in posts in the central financial departments, as provincial administrators and sometimes even as generals. Gradually, in the 7th-8th centuries, the eunuchs of the imperial bedchamber proper (in Greek known as the , [basilikos] koitōn) were separated from the other koubikoularioi and, distinguished as the koitōnitai (Greek: ), came under the authority of the parakoimōmenos. At the same time, the imperial wardrobe (basilikon vestiarion) and its officials also became a separate department under the prōtovestiarios
. The remainder continued as the "koubikoularioi of the kouboukleion" (Greek: ), still under the praepositus (Greek: , praipositos tou eusebestatou koitōnos in Greek), with the primicerius (Greek: , primikērios tou kouboukleiou) continuing as his chief aide. The office was eventually abandoned by the Byzantines, but it is not clear when: Nikolaos Oikonomides
suggested the latter half of the 11th century, but Rodolphe Guilland supported its continued existence until the early 13th century.
By the 9th century, aside from its general use denoting a eunuch palace servant, koubikoularios had also acquired a more technical meaning as a grade or dignity in the Byzantine palace hierarchy: according to the Klētorologion
of 899, the rank of koubikoularios was the second-lowest among those reserved for the eunuchs, coming after the spatharokoubikoularios and before the nipsistiarios
. Again according to the Klētorologion, the distinctive insignia of the rank were a kamision (an over-cape similar to the paenula
) edged with purple, and a paragaudion (tunic).
Hellenization
Hellenization is a term used to describe the spread of ancient Greek culture, and, to a lesser extent, language. It is mainly used to describe the spread of Hellenistic civilization during the Hellenistic period following the campaigns of Alexander the Great of Macedon...
as koubikoularios , was a title used for the eunuch
Eunuch
A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
chamberlains
Chamberlain (office)
A chamberlain is an officer in charge of managing a household. In many countries there are ceremonial posts associated with the household of the sovereign....
of the imperial palace in the later Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and in the Byzantine Empire
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. The feminine version, used for the ladies-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
of the empresses, was koubikoularia (Greek: κουβικουλαρία).
History
The term derives from their service in the sacrum cubiculum, the emperor's "sacred bedchamber". In the late Roman period, the cubicularii/koubikoularioi were very numerous: according to John MalalasJohn Malalas
John Malalas or Ioannes Malalas was a Greek chronicler from Antioch. Malalas is probably a Syriac word for "rhetor", "orator"; it is first applied to him by John of Damascus .-Life:Malalas was educated in Antioch, and probably was a jurist there, but moved to...
, Empress Theodora
Theodora (6th century)
Theodora , was empress of the Roman Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Like her husband, she is a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November 14...
's retinue
Retinue
A retinue is a body of persons "retained" in the service of a noble or royal personage, a suite of "retainers".-Etymology:...
numbered as many as 4,000 patrikioi and koubikoularioi. They were placed under the command of the praepositus sacri cubiculi
Praepositus sacri cubiculi
The praepositus sacri cubiculi was one of the senior palace offices in the late Roman Empire. Its holder was usually a eunuch, and acted as the grand chamberlain of the palace, wielding considerable authority and influence. In the 7th or 8th century, the title was also given to an order of rank...
and the primicerius sacri cubiculi, while the other palace servants came either under the castrensis sacri palatii or the magister officiorum
Magister officiorum
The magister officiorum was one of the most senior administrative officials in the late Roman Empire and the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire...
. There were also special cubicularii/koubikoularioi for the empress (sometimes including female koubikoulariai), and the office was introduced into the Roman Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
as well, probably under Pope Leo I
Pope Leo I
Pope Leo I was pope from September 29, 440 to his death.He was an Italian aristocrat, and is the first pope of the Catholic Church to have been called "the Great". He is perhaps best known for having met Attila the Hun in 452, persuading him to turn back from his invasion of Italy...
.
In Byzantium, they played a very important role, holding senior palace offices such as parakoimōmenos
Parakoimomenos
The parakoimōmenos was a Byzantine court position, usually reserved for eunuchs. Many of its holders, especially in the 9th and 10th centuries, functioned as the Byzantine Empire's chief ministers.-History and functions:...
or the epi tēs trapezēs
Epi tes trapezes
The epi tēs trapezēs was a Byzantine court post, responsible for the imperial banquets.-History:The office, more fully known as the domestikos tēs basilikēs trapezēs , epi tēs basilikēs trapezēs or epi tēs trapezēs tou despotou , is first mentioned as extant...
, but also served in posts in the central financial departments, as provincial administrators and sometimes even as generals. Gradually, in the 7th-8th centuries, the eunuchs of the imperial bedchamber proper (in Greek known as the , [basilikos] koitōn) were separated from the other koubikoularioi and, distinguished as the koitōnitai (Greek: ), came under the authority of the parakoimōmenos. At the same time, the imperial wardrobe (basilikon vestiarion) and its officials also became a separate department under the prōtovestiarios
Protovestiarios
Protovestiarios was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs.-History and functions:The title is first attested in 412, as the comes sacrae vestis, an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" , coming under the praepositus sacri cubiculi...
. The remainder continued as the "koubikoularioi of the kouboukleion" (Greek: ), still under the praepositus (Greek: , praipositos tou eusebestatou koitōnos in Greek), with the primicerius (Greek: , primikērios tou kouboukleiou) continuing as his chief aide. The office was eventually abandoned by the Byzantines, but it is not clear when: Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos Oikonomides
Nikolaos or Nikos Oikonomides was a Greek-Canadian Byzantinist, and one of the leading experts in the field of Byzantine administration.- Biography :Oikonomides was born in Athens....
suggested the latter half of the 11th century, but Rodolphe Guilland supported its continued existence until the early 13th century.
By the 9th century, aside from its general use denoting a eunuch palace servant, koubikoularios had also acquired a more technical meaning as a grade or dignity in the Byzantine palace hierarchy: according to the Klētorologion
Kletorologion
The Klētorologion of Philotheos , is the longest and most important of the Byzantine lists of offices and court precedence . It was published in September of 899 during the reign of Emperor Leo VI the Wise by the otherwise unknown prōtospatharios and atriklinēs Philotheos...
of 899, the rank of koubikoularios was the second-lowest among those reserved for the eunuchs, coming after the spatharokoubikoularios and before the nipsistiarios
Nipsistiarios
The nipsistiarios was a Byzantine court position and rank reserved for eunuchs.The office is first attested in a 7th-century seal, but was abandoned well before the 14th century, since it is not mentioned in the Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos...
. Again according to the Klētorologion, the distinctive insignia of the rank were a kamision (an over-cape similar to the paenula
Paenula
The paenula was a cloak worn by the Romans, akin to the poncho of the modern Spaniards and Spanish Americans...
) edged with purple, and a paragaudion (tunic).