Archontopouloi
Encyclopedia
The archontopouloi were an elite military formation of the Byzantine army during the Komnenian era, in the 11th-12th centuries. They were founded by Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118) as part of his military reforms and were recruited among the orphans
of Byzantine officers who were killed in battle.
after the Battle of Manzikert
(1071), there were increased numbers of orphans that led Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) to initiate rescue efforts. These orphans were later recruited to form a distinct military unit, known as the archontopouloi, the "sons of the archons
(leaders)". It was a cavalry unit and numbered circa 2,000 men. They were specifically recruited among the orphans of the Byzantine officers that died in battle. They were also armed and trained by the state and in the process became the elite troops of the Byzantine emperor. The archontopouloi are considered to be the only Byzantine orphan care institution directly influenced by ancient Greek
policies (Classical Athens
). Although Emperor Alexios's daughter and biographer, Anna Komnene
, compared her father's archontopouloi to a Spartan
institution, the better documented Athenian tradition to aid the children of deceased warriors was the probable inspiration for Alexios.
The archontopouloi as a regiment disappear from Byzantine sources after the death of Emperor Alexios in 1118. However, people termed archontopouloi continue to be recorded later in Byzantine history. The later archontopouloi appear to have belonged to two perhaps related groups. The first group consists of young aristocrats attached to the Byzantine imperial court who may have had a military function, and the second group consists of a type of provincial "pronoiar", an elite soldier who held an imperial land-grant in return for military service. The latter group were possibly recruited from the former, following their training at the Byzantine imperial court.
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) as part of his military reforms and were recruited among the orphans
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
of Byzantine officers who were killed in battle.
History
During the Seljuq invasion of Byzantine Asia MinorAsia Minor
Asia Minor is a geographical location at the westernmost protrusion of Asia, also called Anatolia, and corresponds to the western two thirds of the Asian part of Turkey...
after the Battle of Manzikert
Battle of Manzikert
The Battle of Manzikert , was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Seljuq Turks led by Alp Arslan on August 26, 1071 near Manzikert...
(1071), there were increased numbers of orphans that led Emperor Alexios I Komnenos (r. 1081–1118) to initiate rescue efforts. These orphans were later recruited to form a distinct military unit, known as the archontopouloi, the "sons of the archons
Archon
Archon is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy, and anarchy.- Ancient Greece :In ancient Greece the...
(leaders)". It was a cavalry unit and numbered circa 2,000 men. They were specifically recruited among the orphans of the Byzantine officers that died in battle. They were also armed and trained by the state and in the process became the elite troops of the Byzantine emperor. The archontopouloi are considered to be the only Byzantine orphan care institution directly influenced by ancient Greek
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...
policies (Classical Athens
Classical Athens
The city of Athens during the classical period of Ancient Greece was a notable polis of Attica, Greece, leading the Delian League in the Peloponnesian War against Sparta and the Peloponnesian League. Athenian democracy was established in 508 BC under Cleisthenes following the tyranny of Hippias...
). Although Emperor Alexios's daughter and biographer, 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...
, compared her father's archontopouloi to a Spartan
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
institution, the better documented Athenian tradition to aid the children of deceased warriors was the probable inspiration for Alexios.
The archontopouloi as a regiment disappear from Byzantine sources after the death of Emperor Alexios in 1118. However, people termed archontopouloi continue to be recorded later in Byzantine history. The later archontopouloi appear to have belonged to two perhaps related groups. The first group consists of young aristocrats attached to the Byzantine imperial court who may have had a military function, and the second group consists of a type of provincial "pronoiar", an elite soldier who held an imperial land-grant in return for military service. The latter group were possibly recruited from the former, following their training at the Byzantine imperial court.