Epi ton deeseon
Encyclopedia
The epi tōn deēseōn was a Byzantine
office, whose holder was responsible for receiving and answering petitions to the Byzantine emperor. Subordinate officials with the same title also existed in the provinces, and the Patriarch of Constantinople
also had an epi ton deeseon.
The office is usually considered (cf. Bury) as the direct continuation of the late Roman magister memoriae, but this identification is not certain. The title is first attested in a 7th-century seal. In the lists of precedence like the Klētorologion
, he was counted among the judicial officials (kritai), and surviving seals show that until the 11th century, its holders held relatively mid-ranking dignities, no higher than protospatharios
. From the latter half of the 11th century however and during the 12th, the office rose much in importance, with its holders receiving higher titles and being drawn from among the Empire's nobility. The last named holder, George Chatzikes, is attested in 1321, but the office is still mentioned as active a century later by pseudo-Kodinos.
It is unknown if he had a dedicated staff (officium), or what its composition may have been; it is absent in the Klētorologion, but a seal of a notary of the petitions is known. Seals also attest to the existence of provincial officials titled epi ton deeseon, as in Sicily
and the Peloponnese
.
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, whose holder was responsible for receiving and answering petitions to the Byzantine emperor. Subordinate officials with the same title also existed in the provinces, and the Patriarch of Constantinople
Patriarch of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarch is the Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome – ranking as primus inter pares in the Eastern Orthodox communion, which is seen by followers as the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church....
also had an epi ton deeseon.
The office is usually considered (cf. Bury) as the direct continuation of the late Roman magister memoriae, but this identification is not certain. The title is first attested in a 7th-century seal. In the lists of precedence like the 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...
, he was counted among the judicial officials (kritai), and surviving seals show that until the 11th century, its holders held relatively mid-ranking dignities, no higher than protospatharios
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:...
. From the latter half of the 11th century however and during the 12th, the office rose much in importance, with its holders receiving higher titles and being drawn from among the Empire's nobility. The last named holder, George Chatzikes, is attested in 1321, but the office is still mentioned as active a century later by pseudo-Kodinos.
It is unknown if he had a dedicated staff (officium), or what its composition may have been; it is absent in the Klētorologion, but a seal of a notary of the petitions is known. Seals also attest to the existence of provincial officials titled epi ton deeseon, as in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
.