De Ceremoniis
Encyclopedia
De Ceremoniis is the Latin title of a description of ceremonial protocol at the court of the Eastern Roman emperor in Constantinople. It is sometimes called De ceremoniis aulae byzantinae. Its original title in Greek
is Περί τῆς Βασιλείου Τάξεως ("On the Imperial Order").
The book was written by, or produced for, emperor Constantine VII
(913
-959
), and was partially revised or updated under Nikephoros II
(963
-969
), perhaps under the supervision of Basil Lekapenos
, the imperial Parakoimomenos
.
It is a detailed description of ceremonial procedure for court functionaries, lays out how exactly they should conduct them, and addresses other matters affecting daily routines of court life in the Great Palace of Constantinople
. It is therefore a manual of protocol consultation and instruction for high officials and courtiers.
One of the book's appendices is the Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions
, a war manual written by Constantine VII for his son and successor, Romanos II
.
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
is Περί τῆς Βασιλείου Τάξεως ("On the Imperial Order").
The book was written by, or produced for, emperor Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
(913
913
Year 913 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Africa :* The Shiite Fatimid state in modern day Tunisia launches a failed military campaign against Egypt.- Religion :...
-959
959
Year 959 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* October 1 – King Eadwig of England dies, and is succeeded by his brother Edgar, who effectively completes the unification of England.* Dunstan becomes bishop of Worcester, England and London.* Bruno I,...
), and was partially revised or updated under Nikephoros II
Nikephoros II
Nikephoros II Phokas was a Byzantine Emperor whose brilliant military exploits contributed to the resurgence of Byzantine Empire in the tenth century.-Early exploits:...
(963
963
Year 963 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Turkish Khan Sebük Tigin establishes his empire in modern day Afghanistan....
-969
969
Year 969 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* December 11 – John I Tzimiskes becomes Byzantine Emperor after assassinating Nikephoros II Phokas....
), perhaps under the supervision of Basil Lekapenos
Basil Lekapenos
Basil Lekapenos was the chief administrator of the Byzantine Empire from 945 until 985.An illegitimate son of the emperor Romanos I Lekapenos, he was castrated when young....
, the imperial Parakoimomenos
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:...
.
It is a detailed description of ceremonial procedure for court functionaries, lays out how exactly they should conduct them, and addresses other matters affecting daily routines of court life in the Great Palace of Constantinople
Great Palace of Constantinople
The Great Palace of Constantinople — also known as the Sacred Palace — was the large Imperial Byzantine palace complex located in the south-eastern end of the peninsula now known as "Old Istanbul", modern Turkey...
. It is therefore a manual of protocol consultation and instruction for high officials and courtiers.
One of the book's appendices is the Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions
Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions
The Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions is the conventional title given to a Byzantine literary treatise on warfare associated with Byzantine emperor Constantine Porphyrogennetos , giving advice on how an emperor should prepare and mount a military campaign...
, a war manual written by Constantine VII for his son and successor, Romanos II
Romanos II
Romanos II was a Byzantine emperor. He succeeded his father Constantine VII in 959 at the age of twenty-one, and died suddenly in 963.-Life:...
.