Sebastos
Encyclopedia
Sebastos was an honorific
used by the ancient Greeks
to render the Roman imperial title
of Augustus
. From the late 11th century on, during the Komnenian period, it and variants derived from it formed the basis of a new system of court titles
for the Byzantine Empire
. The female form of the title was sebastē (Greek: σεβαστή). It also formed the basis for the creation of the title of sebastokratōr
.
from the 1st century onwards. This association also was carried over to the naming of cities in honor of the Roman emperor, such as Sebaste
, Sebasteia and Sebastopolis
. Following the adoption of the term basileus
as the main imperial title in the 7th century, the epithet fell out of use, but it was revived in the mid-11th century by Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
(r. 1042–1055) for his mistress Maria Skleraina. Thereafter, the title began to be conferred upon members of the nobility favored by the Byzantine emperor, including Bagrat IV of Georgia
, George II of Georgia
, and the future Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118). When the latter assumed the Byzantine throne in 1081, he set about to reorganize the old system of court dignities, with the sebastos as the basis for new titles, which primarily signalled the closeness of their holders' familial relationship to the Byzantine emperor. This use of the imperial sebastos set the imperial family apart at the top of the imperial hierarchy, making them, in the words of historian Paul Magdalino, "partners in, rather than executives of, imperial authority." In this context, it is useful to note that the scholar L. Stiernon calculated that over 90 percent of the sebastoi belonged to the ruling Komnenos
family.
In 12th-century Byzantium, the sebastoi were divided in two groups: the simple sebastoi and the sebastoi gambroi. The latter were members of various aristocratic families tied to the Byzantine emperor via marriage
to his female relatives (gambros means "son in law" in Greek). The gambroi thus formed the upper layer of the sebastoi class. The title was also conferred to foreign rulers, and spread to neighboring, Byzantine-influenced states, like Bulgaria
, where a sebastos was the head of an administrative district, and Serbia, where the title was employed for various officials. In Byzantium itself, the title lost its pre-eminence in the late 12th century, and in the following centuries the sebastos was a title reserved for commanders of ethnic units.
. It was also conferred on Sergius VI of Naples
and his son, John VI
, at about the same time. Later, during the 12th century, it was given to close relatives of the Byzantine emperor, such as the sons of a sebastokratōr. The title remained relatively important during the Palaiologan period as well, being listed by pseudo-Kodinos as coming after the megas logothetes
and before the pinkernes
("cupbearer").
. The title remained very important through to the Palaiologan era, following the megas domestikos, the overall army commander. Perhaps the most notable of its holders was John VI Kantakouzenos
, who held the title before his proclamation as Byzantine emperor in 1341.
Honorific
An honorific is a word or expression with connotations conveying esteem or respect when used in addressing or referring to a person. Sometimes, the term is used not quite correctly to refer to an honorary title...
used by the ancient Greeks
Ancient Greece
Ancient Greece is a civilization belonging to a period of Greek history that lasted from the Archaic period of the 8th to 6th centuries BC to the end of antiquity. Immediately following this period was the beginning of the Early Middle Ages and the Byzantine era. Included in Ancient Greece is the...
to render the Roman imperial title
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....
of Augustus
Augustus (honorific)
Augustus , Latin for "majestic," "the increaser," or "venerable", was an Ancient Roman title, which was first held by Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus , and subsequently came to be considered one of the titles of what are now known as the Roman Emperors...
. From the late 11th century on, during the Komnenian period, it and variants derived from it formed the basis of a new system of court titles
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...
for 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 female form of the title was sebastē (Greek: σεβαστή). It also formed the basis for the creation of the title of sebastokratōr
Sebastokrator
Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence. The word is a compound of "sebastos" Sebastokratōr was a senior court title in the late Byzantine Empire. It was also used...
.
Sebastos
The term was used in the Hellenistic East as an honorific for the Roman emperorsRoman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
from the 1st century onwards. This association also was carried over to the naming of cities in honor of the Roman emperor, such as Sebaste
Sebaste
Sebaste was a common placename in classical Antiquity. Sebaste was the Greek equivalent of the Latin Augusta. Ancient towns by the name sought to honor Augustus or a later Roman emperor.- Places :* Elaiussa Sebaste in Mersin Province, Turkey...
, Sebasteia and Sebastopolis
Sebastopolis
Sebastopolis may refer to:* Sulusaray, Turkey* Sukhumi, Abkhazia* Sebastopolis * Sebastopolis * Myrina...
. Following the adoption of the term basileus
Basileus
Basileus is a Greek term and title that has signified various types of monarchs in history. It is perhaps best known in English as a title used by the Byzantine Emperors, but also has a longer history of use for persons of authority and sovereigns in ancient Greece, as well as for the kings of...
as the main imperial title in the 7th century, the epithet fell out of use, but it was revived in the mid-11th century by Emperor Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos
Constantine IX Monomachos, Latinized as Constantine IX Monomachus , c. 1000 – January 11, 1055, reigned as Byzantine emperor from June 11, 1042 to January 11, 1055. He had been chosen by the Empress Zoe as a husband and co-emperor in 1042, although he had been exiled for conspiring...
(r. 1042–1055) for his mistress Maria Skleraina. Thereafter, the title began to be conferred upon members of the nobility favored by the Byzantine emperor, including Bagrat IV of Georgia
Bagrat IV of Georgia
Bagrat IV , of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the King of Georgia from 1027 to 1072. During his long and eventful reign, Bagrat sought to repress the great nobility and to secure Georgia's sovereignty from the Byzantine and Seljuqid empires...
, George II of Georgia
George II of Georgia
George II , of the Bagrationi Dynasty, was a king of Georgia from 1072 to 1089. He was a son and successor of Bagrat IV and his wife Borena of Alania...
, and the future Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos
Alexios I Komnenos, Latinized as Alexius I Comnenus , was Byzantine emperor from 1081 to 1118, and although he was not the founder of the Komnenian dynasty, it was during his reign that the Komnenos family came to full power. The title 'Nobilissimus' was given to senior army commanders,...
(r. 1081–1118). When the latter assumed the Byzantine throne in 1081, he set about to reorganize the old system of court dignities, with the sebastos as the basis for new titles, which primarily signalled the closeness of their holders' familial relationship to the Byzantine emperor. This use of the imperial sebastos set the imperial family apart at the top of the imperial hierarchy, making them, in the words of historian Paul Magdalino, "partners in, rather than executives of, imperial authority." In this context, it is useful to note that the scholar L. Stiernon calculated that over 90 percent of the sebastoi belonged to the ruling Komnenos
Komnenos
Komnenós or Comnenus was the name of a ruling family of the Eastern Roman Empire , who halted the political decline of the Empire from c.1081 to c.1185.-Origins:...
family.
In 12th-century Byzantium, the sebastoi were divided in two groups: the simple sebastoi and the sebastoi gambroi. The latter were members of various aristocratic families tied to the Byzantine emperor via marriage
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
to his female relatives (gambros means "son in law" in Greek). The gambroi thus formed the upper layer of the sebastoi class. The title was also conferred to foreign rulers, and spread to neighboring, Byzantine-influenced states, like Bulgaria
Second Bulgarian Empire
The Second Bulgarian Empire was a medieval Bulgarian state which existed between 1185 and 1396 . A successor of the First Bulgarian Empire, it reached the peak of its power under Kaloyan and Ivan Asen II before gradually being conquered by the Ottomans in the late 14th-early 15th century...
, where a sebastos was the head of an administrative district, and Serbia, where the title was employed for various officials. In Byzantium itself, the title lost its pre-eminence in the late 12th century, and in the following centuries the sebastos was a title reserved for commanders of ethnic units.
Protosebastos
The title of prōtosebastos was probably created by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118), and first conferred to his brother AdrianosAdrianos Komnenos
Adrianos Komnenos , sometimes anglicized as Adrian or latinized as Adrianus Comnenus, was a Byzantine aristocrat and general, and a younger brother of the Emperor Alexios I Komnenos .- Life :...
. It was also conferred on Sergius VI of Naples
Sergius VI of Naples
Sergius VI was the Duke of Naples from 1077 or 1082 to his death. He was the son of the senator John, and thus nephew and successor of John's elder brother Sergius V. His reign is very obscure on the basis of slight documentary evidence...
and his son, John VI
John VI of Naples
John VI was the Duke of Naples from 1097 or 1107 to his death. He was the son and successor of Sergius VI. His reign is very obscure on the basis of slight documentary evidence. He followed his father's policy of close relations with Byzantium in light of Norman attacks, and was at some point...
, at about the same time. Later, during the 12th century, it was given to close relatives of the Byzantine emperor, such as the sons of a sebastokratōr. The title remained relatively important during the Palaiologan period as well, being listed by pseudo-Kodinos as coming after the megas logothetes
Megas logothetes
The megas logothetēs or Grand Logothete, was an official supervising all the sekreta ....
and before the pinkernes
Pinkernes
Pinkernes was a high Byzantine court position. The term, deriving from the Greek verb , signified the Byzantine emperor's cup-bearer. The position is attested in Philotheos's Kletorologion of 899, where a pinkernes of the Byzantine emperor and of the Augusta are listed amongst the eunuchs of...
("cupbearer").
Panhypersebastos
The title of panhypersebastos was also created by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118), and conferred to members of aristocratic families closely allied to the imperial family. Michael Taronites, Alexios's brother-in-law, was first awarded this title and regarded as almost equal to a CaesarCaesar (title)
Caesar is a title of imperial character. It derives from the cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator...
. The title remained very important through to the Palaiologan era, following the megas domestikos, the overall army commander. Perhaps the most notable of its holders was John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos
John VI Kantakouzenos or Cantacuzenus was the Byzantine emperor from 1347 to 1354.-Early life:Born in Constantinople, John Kantakouzenos was the son of a Michael Kantakouzenos, governor of the Morea. Through his mother Theodora Palaiologina Angelina, he was a descendant of the reigning house of...
, who held the title before his proclamation as Byzantine emperor in 1341.