Demarchos
The dēmarchos (Greek: δήμαρχος, plural δήμαρχοι, dēmarchoi) in the Byzantine Empire was the leader of one of the racing factions (dēmoi) of the Hippodrome of Constantinople. Largely concerned with ceremonial in the early centuries, from the 11th century the title was applied to various administrative positions in Constantinople, until the end of the empire.
Background
The dēmoi (δήμοι, sing. δήμος, dēmos) were associations responsible for the organization of games and races in Late Antiquity. There were usually four, known by their colours as the Blues (Βένετοι, Venetoi), Greens (Πράσινοι, Prasinoi), Whites (Λευκοὶ, Leukoi), and Reds (Ῥούσιοι, Rhousioi). The Blues and Greens were the most important, with the Whites and Reds as their respective junior partners.[1] In Late Antiquity, they were widespread across the Byzantine Empire, and even played an important political role, both as leading ceremonial acclamations to the emperor in the Hippodrome of Constantinople, and as organizing factors in urban riots, notably the Nika revolt in Constantinople.[1] However, after the Muslim conquests and the crisis of the 7th century, the demoi were restricted to Constantinople and were reduced to a purely ceremonial role as integral parts of the administration: their personnel had court ranks, and were paid salaries by the praipositos.[1]
Acording to the Klētorologion of 899, only the Blues and Greens survived, separated further into those "of the city" (πολιτικοὶ, politikoi), under a dēmarchos, and the "suburban" (περατικοὶ, peratikoi), under a demokratēs, a role which was entrusted to senior military officials: the Domestic of the Schools for the Blues, and the Domestic of the Excubitors for the Greens. All of these were grouped under the generic label of demokratai.[2]
History and functions of the dēmarchos
The title of dēmarchos is first securely attested in 602. The 10th-century Patria of Constantinople refer to two dēmarchoi under Theodosius II (r. 408–450), but this is most likely an anachronism.[3]In popular usage, they are sometimes called dioikētai (διοικηταὶ).[3]
Their exact role is unclear: in view of their ceremonial role in later centuries, Alan Cameron suggested that they were claque conductors, whereas G. Manojlovic considered them as military commanders of a dēmoi-based militia.[3] By the mid-9th century, the dēmarchos was a government official, as attested in the Taktikon Uspensky and seals of office, holding the dignities such as hypatos or prōtospatharios in the court hierarchy.[3] The Klētorologion records their staff of subaltern officials:
- a deputy (δευτερεύων, deutereuōn, "the second one")[2][4]
- a secretary (χαρτουλάριος, chartoularios) and a notary (νοτάριος, notarios)[4][5]
- a poet (ποιητής, poiētēs) and a composer (μελιστής, melistēs) for the acclamations during ceremonies[4][5]
- a master (ἅρχων, archōn) and the "first ones" (τὰ πρωτεῖα, ta prōteia), whose role is obscure[4][5]
- a "neighbourhood supervisor" (γειτονιάρχης, geitoniarchēs), whose exact duties are unclear[3][6][7]
- the charioteers (ἡνίοχοι, hēniochoi), specifically the officials known as the faktionarios (φακτιονάριος) of the Blues and Greens and the mikropanitēs (μικροπανίτης) of the Whites and Reds[4][7]
- the ordinary members (δημῶται, dēmōtai)[4][7]
The actual personnel of the Hippodrome were not part of their staff.[7][8] In the De ceremoniis of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos, the ceremonies of promotion for the dēmarchoi are recorded, as well as for their subalterns.[3]
In the 11th century, the dēmarchoi that appear in seals hold offices in the administration, such as symponos and logariastēs. The continuity with their 9th–10th century forebears is unclear.[3] The title survived into the Palaiologan period, charged with various administrative duties in Constantinople: according to a letter of Patriarch Athanasius I of Constantinople (1289–1293 and 1303–1309), two dēmarchoi were responsible for supervising the grain trade and bread production, while later in the 14th century the dēmarchoi administered the quarters (geitoniai) of the city.[3] In the book of ceremonies of pseudo-Kodinos, the banners (φλάμουλα, phlamoula) of the dēmarchoi are mentioned as following behind those of all the other officials in processions.[9]
During the final siege of Constantinople in 1453, the dēmarchoi assumed the role of military commanders.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 ODB, "Factions" (M. McCormick), pp. 773–774.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bury 1911, p. 105.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 ODB, "Demarchos" (A. Kazhdan, M. McCormick, A.-M. Talbot), pp. 602–603.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Oikonomides 1972, p. 326.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Bury 1911, pp. 105–106.
- ↑ ODB, "Geitoniarches" (A. Kazhdan), p. 826.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Bury 1911, p. 106.
- ↑ Oikonomides 1972, pp. 326–327.
- ↑ Verpeaux 1966, p. 196.
Sources
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