Vestes
Encyclopedia
VestēsVestēs ( was a Byzantine
court title
used in the 10th and 11th centuries.
The term is etymologically connected to the vestiarion
, the imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts to connect the vestai and the related title of vestarchēs
, the head of the class of the vestai, with the officials of the vestiarion (cf. Bréhier), no such relation appears to have existed.
The title is first attested for the reign of John I Tzimiskes
(r. 969–976), when it was held by Nikephoros Phokas, son of the kouropalatēs Leo Phokas
. The title remained high in the imperial hierarchy throughout most of the 11th century, being often combined with the title of magistros and awarded to prominent generals, among others Isaac Komnenos
(emperor in 1057–1059) when he was stratopedarchēs
of the East, Leo Tornikios
and Nikephoros Botaneiates (emperor in 1078–1081) during his tenure as doux of Eddessa
and Antioch
. The Escorial Taktikon
, a list of offices and court tiles and their precedence compiled in ca. 975, distinguishes between "bearded" (barbatoi) vestai, who also held the titles of patrikios or magistros, and the eunuch (ektomiai) vestai, who held the title of praipositos.
As with other titles, the prestige of the vestēs declined towards the end of the 11th century, when it is attested as being held by lower-ranking officials. To counter this devaluation, the superior title of prōtovestēs (πρωτοβέστης, "first vestēs") appeared at the same time. Both titles however do not appear to have survived the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
(r. 1081–1118).
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...
court title
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...
used in the 10th and 11th centuries.
The term is etymologically connected to the vestiarion
Vestiarion
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...
, the imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts to connect the vestai and the related title of vestarchēs
Vestarches
Vestarchēs was a senior Byzantine honorific dignity in use from the late 10th to the early 12th centuries.Vestarchēs means "head of the vestai", another group of high court dignitaries...
, the head of the class of the vestai, with the officials of the vestiarion (cf. Bréhier), no such relation appears to have existed.
The title is first attested for the reign of John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes
John I Tzimiskes or Tzimisces, was Byzantine Emperor from December 11, 969 to January 10, 976. A brilliant and intuitive general, John's short reign saw the expansion of the empire's borders and the strengthening of Byzantium itself.- Background :...
(r. 969–976), when it was held by Nikephoros Phokas, son of the kouropalatēs Leo Phokas
Leo Phokas the Younger
Leo Phokas or Phocas was a prominent Byzantine general who scored a number of successes in the eastern frontier in the mid-10th century alongside his older brother, the Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas...
. The title remained high in the imperial hierarchy throughout most of the 11th century, being often combined with the title of magistros and awarded to prominent generals, among others Isaac Komnenos
Isaac Komnenos
Isaac Komnenos or Isaac Comnenus may refer to:* Isaac I Komnenos , emperor* Isaac Komnenos , nephew of Isaac I Komnenos and elder brother of Alexios I...
(emperor in 1057–1059) when he was stratopedarchēs
Stratopedarches
Stratopedarchēs , sometimes Anglicized as stratopedarch, was a Greek term used with regard to high-ranking military commanders from the 1st century BC on, becoming a proper office and later an honorary title during the Byzantine Empire.-History:...
of the East, Leo Tornikios
Leo Tornikios
Leo Tornikios was a mid-11th century Byzantine general and noble, who in 1047 rebelled against the Byzantine emperor Constantine IX Monomachos ....
and Nikephoros Botaneiates (emperor in 1078–1081) during his tenure as doux of Eddessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
and Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
. The Escorial Taktikon
Escorial Taktikon
The Escorial Taktikon , also known as the Taktikon Oikonomides after Nicolas Oikonomides who first edited it, is a list of Byzantine offices, dignities, and titles composed in Constantinople during the 970s...
, a list of offices and court tiles and their precedence compiled in ca. 975, distinguishes between "bearded" (barbatoi) vestai, who also held the titles of patrikios or magistros, and the eunuch (ektomiai) vestai, who held the title of praipositos.
As with other titles, the prestige of the vestēs declined towards the end of the 11th century, when it is attested as being held by lower-ranking officials. To counter this devaluation, the superior title of prōtovestēs (πρωτοβέστης, "first vestēs") appeared at the same time. Both titles however do not appear to have survived the reign of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos
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).