Vestiaritai
Encyclopedia
The Vestiaritai were a corps of imperial bodyguards and fiscal officials in the Byzantine Empire
, attested from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
, probably initially raised as guard detachments for it. From circa 1080 on, they were formally distinguished into two groups: the "inner" or "household" vestiaritai (esō or oikeioi vestiaritai), attached to the Byzantine emperor's private treasury (the esō/oikeiakon vestiarion) under a megas primikērios, and the "outer" (exō vestiaritai) under a primikērios, who were probably under the public or state treasury (basilikon vestiarion). Gradually, they replaced various other groups of armed guards that the Byzantine emperors had employed in Constantinople
, such as the manglabitai or the pantheōtai, and became the exclusive corps of the Byzantine emperor's confidential agents. As the princess and historian Anna Komnene
writes, they were the courtiers "closest" to the Byzantine emperor. With the military crisis of the 1070s, they were also formed into a regular palace guard regiment, serving alongside the Varangian Guard
in the Komnenian-era army.
The vestiaritai are attested as late as 1387, and likely continued to exist after. In the 13th and 14th centuries, however, their role was chiefly fiscal: they were responsible for levying soldiers and wagons from the provinces, under the control of the domestikos
of the themes of the East. The chief of the vestiaritai was called prōtovestiaritēs (Greek: πρωτοβεστιαρίτης) in the 13th and 14th centuries (not to be confused with the much older and more important office of prōtovestiarios
). It is attested as late as 1451, when it was held by the historian George Sphrantzes
. In the mid-14th century Book of Offices of Pseudo-Kodinos, the title ranks nineteenth in the order of precedence, following the parakoimōmenos
of the bedchamber. According to the same work, its insignia
were: a wooden staff
(dikanikion) with gold and red-gold knobs, a skiadion hat with embroidery
of the klapotōn type, another type of hat called skaranikon of white and gold silk
with gold-wire embroidery and images of the Byzantine emperor in the front and back, and a silk robe of office or kabbadion.
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...
, attested from the 11th to the 15th centuries.
History and functions
The vestiaritai appear in the mid-11th century, with the first known vestiaritēs, John Iberitzes, attested in 1049. As their name indicates, they had a connection to the imperial wardrobe and treasury, the vestiarionVestiarion
The vestiarion , sometimes with the adjectives basilikon or mega , was one of the major fiscal departments of the Byzantine bureaucracy. In English, it is often known as the department of the Public Wardrobe...
, probably initially raised as guard detachments for it. From circa 1080 on, they were formally distinguished into two groups: the "inner" or "household" vestiaritai (esō or oikeioi vestiaritai), attached to the Byzantine emperor's private treasury (the esō/oikeiakon vestiarion) under a megas primikērios, and the "outer" (exō vestiaritai) under a primikērios, who were probably under the public or state treasury (basilikon vestiarion). Gradually, they replaced various other groups of armed guards that the Byzantine emperors had employed in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, such as the manglabitai or the pantheōtai, and became the exclusive corps of the Byzantine emperor's confidential agents. As the princess and historian Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene
Anna Komnene, Latinized as Comnena was a Greek princess and scholar and the daughter of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos of Byzantium and Irene Doukaina...
writes, they were the courtiers "closest" to the Byzantine emperor. With the military crisis of the 1070s, they were also formed into a regular palace guard regiment, serving alongside the Varangian Guard
Varangian Guard
The Varangian Guard was an elite unit of the Byzantine Army in 10th to the 14th centuries, whose members served as personal bodyguards of the Byzantine Emperors....
in the Komnenian-era army.
The vestiaritai are attested as late as 1387, and likely continued to exist after. In the 13th and 14th centuries, however, their role was chiefly fiscal: they were responsible for levying soldiers and wagons from the provinces, under the control of the domestikos
Domestikos
Domestikos , in English sometimes [the] Domestic, was a civil, ecclesiastic and military office in the late Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire.-Military usage:...
of the themes of the East. The chief of the vestiaritai was called prōtovestiaritēs (Greek: πρωτοβεστιαρίτης) in the 13th and 14th centuries (not to be confused with the much older and more important office of prōtovestiarios
Protovestiarios
Protovestiarios was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs.-History and functions:The title is first attested in 412, as the comes sacrae vestis, an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" , coming under the praepositus sacri cubiculi...
). It is attested as late as 1451, when it was held by the historian George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete...
. In the mid-14th century Book of Offices of Pseudo-Kodinos, the title ranks nineteenth in the order of precedence, following the parakoimōmenos
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:...
of the bedchamber. According to the same work, its insignia
Insignia
Insignia or insigne pl -nia or -nias : a symbol or token of personal power, status or office, or of an official body of government or jurisdiction...
were: a wooden staff
Quarterstaff
A quarterstaff , also short staff or simply staff is a traditional European pole weapon and a technique of stick fighting, especially as in use in England during the Early Modern period....
(dikanikion) with gold and red-gold knobs, a skiadion hat with embroidery
Embroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
of the klapotōn type, another type of hat called skaranikon of white and gold silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
with gold-wire embroidery and images of the Byzantine emperor in the front and back, and a silk robe of office or kabbadion.