Akolouthos
Encyclopedia
Akolouthos anglicized as Acolyte, was a Byzantine
office with varying functions over time. Originally a subaltern officer of the imperial tagma
of the Vigla
, it was associated with the command over the famed Varangian Guard
in the 11th-12th centuries.
The title is first attested in the 9th century, where the Kletorologion
lists him as one of the senior officers of the Vigla guard regiment
under the droungarios. From the early 11th century however, the droungarios of the Vigla was entrusted with judicial and police duties in the capital, Constantinople
, and the post of akolouthos became independent, its holders being entrusted with command of foreign mercenary contingents. In this time the post became especially associated with the Varangian Guard
, whose command the akolouthos had. In the 12th century however, the akolouthoi are mentioned chiefly in connection with diplomatic missions. The [megas] akolouthos ("[grand] akolouthos") is still named as the chief of the Varangians in the mid-14th century Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos, but the entry may well be anachronistic, as the last attested holder of the post is a certain John Nomikopoulos in 1199.
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...
office with varying functions over time. Originally a subaltern officer of the imperial tagma
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...
of the Vigla
Vigla (tagma)
The Vigla , also known as the Arithmos and in English as the Watch, was one of the elite tagmata of the Byzantine army. It was established in the latter half of the 8th century, and survived until the late 11th century...
, it was associated with the command over the famed 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 11th-12th centuries.
The title is first attested in the 9th century, where the 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...
lists him as one of the senior officers of the Vigla guard regiment
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...
under the droungarios. From the early 11th century however, the droungarios of the Vigla was entrusted with judicial and police duties in the capital, 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:...
, and the post of akolouthos became independent, its holders being entrusted with command of foreign mercenary contingents. In this time the post became especially associated with 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....
, whose command the akolouthos had. In the 12th century however, the akolouthoi are mentioned chiefly in connection with diplomatic missions. The [megas] akolouthos ("[grand] akolouthos") is still named as the chief of the Varangians in the mid-14th century Book of Offices of pseudo-Kodinos, but the entry may well be anachronistic, as the last attested holder of the post is a certain John Nomikopoulos in 1199.