Merarches
Encyclopedia
The merarchēs sometimes Anglicized as Merarch, was a Byzantine
military rank roughly equivalent to a divisional general
.
words meros (Greek: μέρος, "part, division") and archein . The term merarchēs is attested for the first time in the late 6th century in the Stratēgikon, a military manual attributed to the Byzantine emperor Maurice
(r. 582–602), although the historian Warren Treadgold has suggested that the rank and the corresponding formation date back to the reign of Emperor Zeno
(r. 474–499). In the time of the Stratēgikon, a field army (commanded by a stratēgos
) comprised usually three merē, each probably some five to seven thousand-strong. The meros in turn was divided into several moirai consisting of a number of tagmata
or banda
, each commanded by a doux
.
This division was maintained in the later Byzantine army, although already from the 7th century, the term merarchēs became used less frequently, being dropped in favour of tourmarchēs; likewise, the tourma replaced the meros both in technical and common parlance. The equivalence of the two terms is explicitly attested in the Taktika
of Emperor Leo VI the Wise
(r. 886–912). The tourmai were now the major territorial and tactical subdivisions of a provincial army corps (thema). Each thema, again under a stratēgos, was normally divided into three tourmai, which in turn were further divided into droungoi
(analogous to the older moirai) and then banda. Depending on the size of the thema, the number of the banda varied, and consequently the numerical strength for each meros/tourma could range from circa 1,000 to 5,000 men.
Since the merarchēs – also found in the corrupted form meriarchēs (Greek: μεριάρχης) – is sometimes distinguished in the sources (e.g. the Klētorologion
of Philotheos) from the other tourmarchai, the scholar John B. Bury
suggested that in the 9th and 10th centuries, the merarchēs was a distinct post, held by the tourmarchēs attached as an aide and deputy to the thematic stratēgos with no geographical area under his command, as opposed to the two "regular" tourmarchai. The discovery of a seal of a merarchēs of Knossos
shows that they did hold territorial assignments, leading Alexander Kazhdan
to reject Bury's hypothesis in the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
. John Haldon, in his edition of the Three Treatises on Imperial Military Expeditions
, in essence agreed with Bury's proposition, regarding the merarchēs as the commander of the tourma comprising the district where the thematic headquarters were located. According to Haldon, this would also explain his apparently lower rank relatively to the other tourmarchai, since he was a member of the stratēgoss staff and not an independent commander.
The title has been revived in the modern Hellenic Army
, where merarchos (Greek: μέραρχος) is the term used for the CO of a Division
or merarchia (Greek: μεραρχία), regardless of his actual rank.
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...
military rank roughly equivalent to a divisional general
Divisional General
Divisional General is a rank used in many armies to denote a rank of general, corresponding to command of a division. For convenience Divisional General is almost always translated into English as Major-General, the equivalent rank used by the UK, USA, etc., although this translation is, strictly...
.
History
The title derives from the GreekGreek 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;...
words meros (Greek: μέρος, "part, division") and archein . The term merarchēs is attested for the first time in the late 6th century in the Stratēgikon, a military manual attributed to the Byzantine emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(r. 582–602), although the historian Warren Treadgold has suggested that the rank and the corresponding formation date back to the reign of Emperor Zeno
Zeno (emperor)
Zeno , originally named Tarasis, was Byzantine Emperor from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491. Domestic revolts and religious dissension plagued his reign, which nevertheless succeeded to some extent in foreign issues...
(r. 474–499). In the time of the Stratēgikon, a field army (commanded by a stratēgos
Strategos
Strategos, plural strategoi, is used in Greek to mean "general". In the Hellenistic and Byzantine Empires the term was also used to describe a military governor...
) comprised usually three merē, each probably some five to seven thousand-strong. The meros in turn was divided into several moirai consisting of a number of tagmata
Tagma (military)
The tagma is a term for a military unit of battalion or regiment size. The best-known and most technical use of the term however refers to the elite regiments formed by Byzantine emperor Constantine V and comprising the central army of the Byzantine Empire in the 8th–11th centuries.-History and...
or banda
Bandon (Byzantine Empire)
The bandon was the basic military and territorial administrative unit of the middle Byzantine Empire. Its name derived from Latin bandum, "ensign, banner", which in turn had a Germanic origin. The term was used already in the 6th century as a term for a battle standard, and soon came to be applied...
, each commanded by a doux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
.
This division was maintained in the later Byzantine army, although already from the 7th century, the term merarchēs became used less frequently, being dropped in favour of tourmarchēs; likewise, the tourma replaced the meros both in technical and common parlance. The equivalence of the two terms is explicitly attested in the Taktika
Tactica of Emperor Leo VI the Wise
The Tactica is a military treatise written by or on behalf of Byzantine Emperor Leo VI the Wise in ca. 895-908. Drawing on earlier authors such as Aelian, Onasander and the Strategikon of emperor Maurice, it is one of the major works on Byzantine military tactics, written on the eve of Byzantium's...
of Emperor Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI the Wise
Leo VI, surnamed the Wise or the Philosopher , was Byzantine emperor from 886 to 912. The second ruler of the Macedonian dynasty , he was very well-read, leading to his surname...
(r. 886–912). The tourmai were now the major territorial and tactical subdivisions of a provincial army corps (thema). Each thema, again under a stratēgos, was normally divided into three tourmai, which in turn were further divided into droungoi
Droungos
Droungos or drungus is a late Roman and Byzantine term for a battalion-sized military unit, and later for a local command guarding mountain districts. Its commander was a droungarios or drungarius.-History and functions:...
(analogous to the older moirai) and then banda. Depending on the size of the thema, the number of the banda varied, and consequently the numerical strength for each meros/tourma could range from circa 1,000 to 5,000 men.
Since the merarchēs – also found in the corrupted form meriarchēs (Greek: μεριάρχης) – is sometimes distinguished in the sources (e.g. 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 Philotheos) from the other tourmarchai, the scholar John B. Bury
J. B. Bury
John Bagnell Bury , known as J. B. Bury, was an Irish historian, classical scholar, Byzantinist and philologist.-Biography:...
suggested that in the 9th and 10th centuries, the merarchēs was a distinct post, held by the tourmarchēs attached as an aide and deputy to the thematic stratēgos with no geographical area under his command, as opposed to the two "regular" tourmarchai. The discovery of a seal of a merarchēs of Knossos
Knossos
Knossos , also known as Labyrinth, or Knossos Palace, is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and probably the ceremonial and political centre of the Minoan civilization and culture. The palace appears as a maze of workrooms, living spaces, and store rooms close to a central square...
shows that they did hold territorial assignments, leading Alexander Kazhdan
Alexander Kazhdan
- Soviet :Born in Moscow, Kazhdan was educated at the Pedagogical Institute of Ufa and the University of Moscow, where he studied with the historian of medieval England, Evgenii Kosminskii...
to reject Bury's hypothesis in the Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium
The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium is a three volume historical dictionary published by the English Oxford University Press. It contains comprehensive information in English on topics relating to the Byzantine Empire. It was edited by the late Dr. Alexander Kazhdan, and was first published in 1991...
. John Haldon, in his edition of 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...
, in essence agreed with Bury's proposition, regarding the merarchēs as the commander of the tourma comprising the district where the thematic headquarters were located. According to Haldon, this would also explain his apparently lower rank relatively to the other tourmarchai, since he was a member of the stratēgoss staff and not an independent commander.
The title has been revived in the modern Hellenic Army
Hellenic Army
The Hellenic Army , formed in 1828, is the land force of Greece.The motto of the Hellenic Army is , "Freedom Stems from Valor", from Thucydides's History of the Peloponnesian War...
, where merarchos (Greek: μέραρχος) is the term used for the CO of a Division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
or merarchia (Greek: μεραρχία), regardless of his actual rank.