Protasekretis
Encyclopedia
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 post evolved gradually. The first asēkrētai are attested from the 6th century, and several patriarchs of Constantinople and one emperor (Anastasios II
, reigned 713–715) were drawn from their ranks. Aside from possibly anachronistic references to Maximus the Confessor
being a prōtasēkrētis under Heraclius
(r. 610–641), the earliest confirmed occurrence (as proto a secreta) comes from the Liber Pontificalis
for the year 756. As head of the imperial chancery (the effective successor of the late Roman primicerius notariorum), the position was highly influential: in the 899 Klētorologion
, a list of precedence of imperial officials, he is placed seventh among the sekretikoi, the financial ministers of the state. From documents and sigillographic evidence, the prōtasēkrētai held the dignities of prōtospatharios
, patrikios and anthypatos
. Among others, the Patriarch Photios (858–867 and 877–886) held the post.
His subordinates included not only the asēkrētai, but also the inferior class of the imperial notarioi, under their head, the prōtonotarios, as well as the official known as dekanos, placed "in charge of the imperial papers" according to the De Ceremoniis
. The prōtasēkrētis seems also to have been in charge of preparing the imperial chrysobulls. After 1106 however, he was moved from the chancery and assumed judicial duties, heading one of the four highest courts of the Empire (along with the megas droungarios, the dikaiodotēs and the koiaistōr
). Although the class of the asēkrētai is not attested after the 12th century, the post of prōtasēkrētis survived into the Palaiologan period.
Latinisation (literature)
Latinisation is the practice of rendering a non-Latin name in a Latin style. It is commonly met with for historical personal names, with toponyms, or for the standard binomial nomenclature of the life sciences. It goes further than Romanisation, which is the writing of a word in the Latin alphabet...
as protasecretis or protoasecretis, was a senior official in the Byzantine
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
bureaucracy
Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy
The Byzantine Empire had a complex system of aristocracy and bureaucracy, which was inherited from the Roman Empire. At the apex of the pyramid stood the Emperor, sole ruler and divinely ordained, but beneath him a multitude of officials and court functionaries operated the administrative...
. The title means "first asēkrētis", illustrating his position as the head of the order of the asēkrētai, the senior class of imperial notaries.
The post evolved gradually. The first asēkrētai are attested from the 6th century, and several patriarchs of Constantinople and one emperor (Anastasios II
Anastasios II (emperor)
Artemius Anastasius , known in English as Anastasios II or Anastasius II, , was Byzantine emperor from 713 to 715....
, reigned 713–715) were drawn from their ranks. Aside from possibly anachronistic references to Maximus the Confessor
Maximus the Confessor
Maximus the Confessor was a Christian monk, theologian, and scholar. In his early life, he was a civil servant, and an aide to the Byzantine Emperor Heraclius...
being a prōtasēkrētis under Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
(r. 610–641), the earliest confirmed occurrence (as proto a secreta) comes from the Liber Pontificalis
Liber Pontificalis
The Liber Pontificalis is a book of biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the Liber Pontificalis stopped with Pope Adrian II or Pope Stephen V , but it was later supplemented in a different style until Pope Eugene IV and then Pope Pius II...
for the year 756. As head of the imperial chancery (the effective successor of the late Roman primicerius notariorum), the position was highly influential: in the 899 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...
, a list of precedence of imperial officials, he is placed seventh among the sekretikoi, the financial ministers of the state. From documents and sigillographic evidence, the prōtasēkrētai held the dignities of prōtospatharios
Protospatharios
Prōtospatharios was one of the highest court dignities of the middle Byzantine period , awarded to senior generals and provincial governors, as well as to foreign princes.-History:...
, patrikios and anthypatos
Anthypatos
Anthypatos is the translation in Greek of the Latin proconsul. In the Greek-speaking East, it was used to denote this office in Roman and early Byzantine times, surviving as an administrative office until the 9th century...
. Among others, the Patriarch Photios (858–867 and 877–886) held the post.
His subordinates included not only the asēkrētai, but also the inferior class of the imperial notarioi, under their head, the prōtonotarios, as well as the official known as dekanos, placed "in charge of the imperial papers" according to the 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...
. The prōtasēkrētis seems also to have been in charge of preparing the imperial chrysobulls. After 1106 however, he was moved from the chancery and assumed judicial duties, heading one of the four highest courts of the Empire (along with the megas droungarios, the dikaiodotēs and the koiaistōr
Quaestor
A Quaestor was a type of public official in the "Cursus honorum" system who supervised financial affairs. In the Roman Republic a quaestor was an elected official whereas, with the autocratic government of the Roman Empire, quaestors were simply appointed....
). Although the class of the asēkrētai is not attested after the 12th century, the post of prōtasēkrētis survived into the Palaiologan period.