Decanus
Encyclopedia
Decanus means "chief of ten" in Late Latin
. The term originated in the Roman army
and became used thereafter for subaltern officials in the Byzantine Empire
, as well as for various positions in the Church, whence derives the English
title "dean
".
The decanus was originally the leader of a contubernium
, the squad of eight (8) legionaries
that lived in the same tent. It must not be confused with the decurio
, which was a title given to civic officials and to leaders of 30-strong squadrons (turmae
) of cavalry
. In Greek
texts, it is equivalent to the rank of dekarchos ("commander of ten").
From the 4th century, it became used for palace messengers
, particularly those in the service of the Roman empress. They also apparently served as guards
at gates, and in the 6th century, John Lydus equates them with the ancient lictors
. In the 899 Kletorologion
of Philotheos
, the decanus (transcribed into Greek as δεκανός, dekanos) was a mid-level functionary, serving under the protasekretis
. According to the mid-10th century De Ceremoniis
of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), he was "in charge of the imperial papers" when the Byzantine emperor was on campaign. Sigillographic evidence for the Byzantine dekanoi is relatively rare, although some are depicted in illuminated manuscripts
, where their appearance varies considerably, in accord with their varying and changing functions.
In the Church, the term was used in monasteries
for heads of groups of ten (10) other monks, for low-ranking subaltern officials of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and for the ecclesiastic fossores ("grave-diggers").
Late Latin
Late Latin is the scholarly name for the written Latin of Late Antiquity. The English dictionary definition of Late Latin dates this period from the 3rd to the 6th centuries AD extending in Spain to the 7th. This somewhat ambiguously defined period fits between Classical Latin and Medieval Latin...
. The term originated in the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
and became used thereafter for subaltern officials 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...
, as well as for various positions in the Church, whence derives the English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
title "dean
Dean (religion)
A dean, in a church context, is a cleric holding certain positions of authority within a religious hierarchy. The title is used mainly in the Anglican Communion and the Roman Catholic Church.-Anglican Communion:...
".
The decanus was originally the leader of a contubernium
Contubernium
The contubernium was the smallest organized unit of soldiers in the Roman Army and was composed of eight legionaries. The men within the contubernium were known as contubernales. Ten contubernia were grouped into a centuria...
, the squad of eight (8) legionaries
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
that lived in the same tent. It must not be confused with the decurio
Decurio
Decurio was an official title in Ancient Rome, used in various connections:# A member of the senatorial order in the Italian towns under the administration of Rome, and later in provincial towns organized on the Italian model . The number of decuriones varied in different towns, but was usually 100...
, which was a title given to civic officials and to leaders of 30-strong squadrons (turmae
Turma
A turma was a cavalry squadron in the Roman army of the Republic and Empire. In the Byzantine Empire, it became applied to the larger, regiment-sized military-cum-administrative divisions of a thema....
) of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
. In Greek
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;...
texts, it is equivalent to the rank of dekarchos ("commander of ten").
From the 4th century, it became used for palace messengers
Messenger
Courier, or messenger, is a person or thing that carries a message.Messenger or Messengers may also refer to:-Biology and chemistry:* Chemical messenger, such as a hormone or neurotransmitter, a molecule used for cellular signalling...
, particularly those in the service of the Roman empress. They also apparently served as guards
Guard
-Professional occupations:* Bodyguard, who protects an individual from personal assault* Crossing guard, who stops traffic so pedestrians can cross the street* Life guard, who rescues people from drowning* Prison guard, who supervises prisoners in a prison or jail...
at gates, and in the 6th century, John Lydus equates them with the ancient lictors
Lictor
The lictor was a member of a special class of Roman civil servant, with special tasks of attending and guarding magistrates of the Roman Republic and Empire who held imperium, the right and power to command; essentially, a bodyguard...
. In the 899 Kletorologion
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 Philotheos
Philotheos
- People :* Philotheos Bryennios , Greek Orthodox bishop* Pope Philotheos of Alexandria, in office 979-1003* Philotheus of Pskov , Russian abbot* Philotheus of Samosata, a companion in martyrdom of Romanus of Samosata...
, the decanus (transcribed into Greek as δεκανός, dekanos) was a mid-level functionary, serving under the protasekretis
Protasekretis
The prōtasēkrētis , also found as prōtoasēkrētis and latinized as protasecretis or protoasecretis, was a senior official in the Byzantine bureaucracy. The title means "first asēkrētis", illustrating his position as the head of the order of the asēkrētai, the senior class of imperial notaries.The...
. According to the mid-10th century De Ceremoniis
De Ceremoniis
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...
of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), he was "in charge of the imperial papers" when the Byzantine emperor was on campaign. Sigillographic evidence for the Byzantine dekanoi is relatively rare, although some are depicted in illuminated manuscripts
Manuscript
A manuscript or handwrite is written information that has been manually created by someone or some people, such as a hand-written letter, as opposed to being printed or reproduced some other way...
, where their appearance varies considerably, in accord with their varying and changing functions.
In the Church, the term was used in monasteries
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
for heads of groups of ten (10) other monks, for low-ranking subaltern officials of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and for the ecclesiastic fossores ("grave-diggers").