Kanikleios
Encyclopedia
The kanikleios more formally chartoularios
tou kanikleiou or epi tou kanikleiou was one of the most senior offices
in the Byzantine
imperial chancery. Its holder was the keeper of the imperial inkstand
, the kanikleion, which was shaped as a little dog and contained the scarlet ink with which the emperor signed state documents. The office first appears in the 9th century, and was usually held in tandem with other government offices.
His proximity to the imperial person and the nature of his task made the kanikleios very influential, especially in formulating imperial chrysobulls. The office was often given to trusted aides by the emperors, who functioned as effective chief ministers: most notably Theoktistos
under Michael III
, Nikephoros Ouranos
in the early reign of Basil II
, the powerful Theodore Styppeiotes under Manuel I Komnenos
, Nikephoros Alyates under John III Vatatzes and Michael VIII, and the scholar Nikephoros Choumnos
, who also held the post of prime minister (mesazōn
) under Andronikos II Palaiologos
. The last recorded holder of this office was Alexios Palaiologos Tzamplakon in ca. 1438.
In Constantinople
, there also was a quarter on the shore of the Golden Horn
named ta Kanikleiou, which took its name from the palatial residence built there by Theoktistos.
Chartoularios
The chartoularios or chartularius , Anglicized as chartulary, was a late Roman and Byzantine administrative official, entrusted with administrative and fiscal duties, either as a subaltern official of a department or province or at the head of various independent bureaus.-History:The title derives...
tou kanikleiou or epi tou kanikleiou was one of the most senior offices
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...
in the Byzantine
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...
imperial chancery. Its holder was the keeper of the imperial inkstand
Inkstand
An inkstand is a stand or tray used to house writing instruments, with a tightly-capped inkwell and a sand shaker for rapid drying. A penwiper would often be included, and from the mid-nineteenth century, a compartment for steel nibs, which replaced quill pens...
, the kanikleion, which was shaped as a little dog and contained the scarlet ink with which the emperor signed state documents. The office first appears in the 9th century, and was usually held in tandem with other government offices.
His proximity to the imperial person and the nature of his task made the kanikleios very influential, especially in formulating imperial chrysobulls. The office was often given to trusted aides by the emperors, who functioned as effective chief ministers: most notably Theoktistos
Theoktistos
Theoktistos was an influential senior Byzantine official during the reigns of Michael II and his son Theophilos, and regent for the underage Michael III...
under Michael III
Michael III
Michael III , , Byzantine Emperor from 842 to 867. Michael III was the third and traditionally last member of the Amorian-Phrygian Dynasty...
, Nikephoros Ouranos
Nikephoros Ouranos
Nikephoros Ouranos was a high-ranking Byzantine official and general during the reign of Emperor Basil II. One of the emperor's closest associates, he was active in Europe in the wars against the Bulgarians, scoring a major victory at Spercheios, and against the Arabs in Syria, where he held...
in the early reign of Basil II
Basil II
Basil II , known in his time as Basil the Porphyrogenitus and Basil the Young to distinguish him from his ancestor Basil I the Macedonian, was a Byzantine emperor from the Macedonian dynasty who reigned from 10 January 976 to 15 December 1025.The first part of his long reign was dominated...
, the powerful Theodore Styppeiotes under Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos
Manuel I Komnenos was a Byzantine Emperor of the 12th century who reigned over a crucial turning point in the history of Byzantium and the Mediterranean....
, Nikephoros Alyates under John III Vatatzes and Michael VIII, and the scholar Nikephoros Choumnos
Nikephoros Choumnos
Nikephoros Choumnos was a Byzantine scholar and official of the early Palaiologan period, one of the most important figures in the flowering of arts and letters of the so-called "Palaiologan Renaissance"...
, who also held the post of prime minister (mesazōn
Mesazon
The mesazōn was a high dignitary and official during the last centuries of the Byzantine Empire, who acted as the chief minister and principal aide of the Emperor.- History and functions :...
) under Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos
Andronikos II Palaiologos , Latinized as Andronicus II Palaeologus, was Byzantine emperor from 1282 to 1328. He was the eldest surviving son of Michael VIII Palaiologos and Theodora Doukaina Vatatzina, grandniece of John III Doukas Vatatzes...
. The last recorded holder of this office was Alexios Palaiologos Tzamplakon in ca. 1438.
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:...
, there also was a quarter on the shore of the Golden Horn
Golden Horn
The Golden Horn is a historic inlet of the Bosphorus dividing the city of Istanbul and forming the natural harbor that has sheltered Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and other ships for thousands of...
named ta Kanikleiou, which took its name from the palatial residence built there by Theoktistos.