Eunuchs, Patriarchs and Macedonians: Studies on Byzantine Social History (7th-11th c.)

Pratsch, ThomasEunuchs, Patriarchs and MacedoniansStudies on Byzantine Social History (7th–11th c.)Reihe:Mainzer Veröffentlichungen zur ByzantinistikBandnummer: 19Umfang/Format: XXII, 208 pagesSprache: EnglishAusstattung: Book (Hardback)Abmessungen: 17.00 × 24.00 cmGewicht: 579gErscheinungsdatum: 28.01.2026ISBN: 978-3-447-12496-6Eunuchs, Patriarchs and Macedonians is an investigation into different aspects of the Middle-Byzantine society from the 7th to the 11th century. It is subdivided into four topics, the first of which deals with “Women and Eunuchs (a Contribution to Gender Studies)”. This chapter examines quantitative and qualitative aspects of women and eunuchs in relation to the male population. The focus is also on the networking capabilities of these social groups, which differ significantly. A completely new approach is the reconstruction of the hierarchy of the ladies-in-waiting at the imperial court and of the ceremonial role of other female title holders. The second topic refers to the relationship between “Clergy and Laity”. Here, too, quantitative and qualitative aspects of these social groups are taken into consideration. Monastic as well as laical-clerical networks are thoroughly analyzed. The latter in particular led to the formation of a Middle-Byzantine elite. The third topic refers to “Ethnicities and Gentes”. The analysis wants to find out, which indigenous ethnical-cultural groups from the Balkans and Asia Minor are still tangible in den Middle-Byzantine period. Macedonians, Thracians, Capadocians and Lycaonians deserve special attention in this context. The fourth topic is titled “Youth and Old Age”.Thomas Pratsch substantiates our considerations about life expectancy in Byzantium with a more detailed analysis of the average life expectancy of privileged social groups such as emperors, patriarchs, and saints. This leads to a more detailed assessment about the life expectancy of these groups without very much changing the general assumption of a probable average life expectancy in Byzantium of approximately 40 years.Table of ContentsPreface ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… IXBibliography ……………………………………………………………………………………………… XI1. Sigla ………………………………………………………………………………………………… XI2. Sources …………………………………………………………………………………………….. XII3. Literature ……………………………………………………………………………………….. XVIIIntroduction ……………………………………………………………………………………………….11. The State of Research ………………………………………………………………………… 12. The Sources ……………………………………………………………………………………… 53. The Research Objectives …………………………………………………………………….. 8A. Women and Eunuchs (a Contribution to Gender Studies)1. Women …………………………………………………………………………………………………. 121.1. Women: the Quantitative Aspect ………………………………………………………. 121.2. Women: the Qualitative Aspect ………………………………………………………… 151.3. Women: the Exceptions …………………………………………………………………… 28Theodora of Thessalonica ………………………………………………………………… 28Theoktiste of Lesbos ……………………………………………………………………….. 29Maria the Younger of Bizye ……………………………………………………………… 30Theoktiste, Mother of Theodoros Studites ………………………………………….. 33The Widow Danelis ………………………………………………………………………… 35Maria Patrikia the Martyr …………………………………………………………………. 37Pankalo, Mother of Basileios I. …………………………………………………………. 38The Poetess Kassia ………………………………………………………………………….. 39Glykeria of Skyros ………………………………………………………………………….. 40Kalida ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 41Kale ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 421.4. Women: the Female Titleholders ………………………………………………………. 421.4.1. Foreign Dignitaries (Archontissai) ……………………………………………. 431.4.2 Byzantine Ladies-in-waiting …………………………………………………….. 46Zoste Patrikia – ζωστή πατρικία ………………………………………………………… 46Parakathistria – παρακαθίστρια …………………………………………………………. 50Primikerissa – πριμικήρισσα ……………………………………………………………… 51Kubikularia – κουβικουλάρια ……………………………………………………………. 51Parakoimomene – παρακοιμωμένη …………………………………………………….. 53Protobestiaria – πρωτοβεστιάρια ………………………………………………………. 54Koitonitissa – κοιτωνίτισσα ……………………………………………………………… 541.4.3. Other Female Titleholders ………………………………………………………. 561.4.3.1. Historical Women Holding Titles …………………………………………. 60Magistrissa – μαγίστρισσα ……………………………………………………………….. 61Logothetissa – λογοθέτισσα ……………………………………………………………… 61Patrikia – πατρικία ………………………………………………………………………….. 62Protospatharia – πρωτοσπαθαρία ………………………………………………………. 63Hypatissa – ὑπάτισσα ………………………………………………………………………. 64Spatharia – σπαθαρία ………………………………………………………………………. 64Strategissa – στρατήγισσα ……………………………………………………………….. 65Additional Titleholders …………………………………………………………………… 651.5. Women: Summary …………………………………………………………………………. 682. Eunuchs ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 692.1. Eunuchs: the Quantitative Aspect …………………………………………………….. 692.2. Eunuchs: the Qualitative Aspect ………………………………………………………. 702.3. Eunuchs: the Historical Evidence …………………………………………………….. 722.3.1. In the Church Hierarchy …………………………………………………………. 722.3.2. In the Imperial Service …………………………………………………………… 762.4. Eunuchs: Summary ………………………………………………………………………… 813. Networks of Women and Eunuchs …………………………………………………………… 823.1. Networks of Women ………………………………………………………………………. 823.1.1. Family Networks …………………………………………………………………… 823.1.2. Professional Networks ……………………………………………………………. 833.1.3. Social Status Networks …………………………………………………………… 843.2. Networks of Eunuchs ……………………………………………………………………… 86B. Clergy and Laity1. The Clergy ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 881.1. Clerics: the Quantitative Aspect ……………………………………………………….. 881.2. Clerics: the Qualitative Aspect …………………………………………………………. 902. Clerics in Networks ……………………………………………………………………………….. 912.1. Monastic Networks ………………………………………………………………………… 912.1.1. The Network of Stephanos the Younger of Mount Auxentios(the Auxentites or Auxentiotes) ………………………………………………. 932.1.2. The Network of Petros of Atroa ………………………………………………. 962.1.3. The Network of Theodoros Studites (the Studites) …………………….. 972.1.4. The Organisation of the Monastic Networks …………………………….1002.1.5. The Function of the Monastic Networks …………………………………. 1022.2. Laical-Clerical Networks ………………………………………………………………. 1102.2.1. The Network of Theodoros Studites’ Family ……………………………1112.2.1.1 Titles of the Monastic Faction ………………………………………………1182.2.1.2. Titles of the Courtly Faction ………………………………………………. 1192.2.2. The Network of the Early Macedonian Emperors …………………….. 1202.2.3. The Network of the Lakapenos-Family ……………………………………1223. The Formation and Structure of a Byzantine Elite ………………………………..128C. Ethnicities and Gentes1. The Historical Background ……………………………………………………………………. 1351.1. The Balkans ………………………………………………………………………………… 1351.1.1. Macedonians ………………………………………………………………………. 1381.1.1.1. The Macedonian Dynasty …………………………………………………… 1411.1.1.2. The Macedonian Guard ……………………………………………………… 1431.1.1.3. Language Testimonies……………………………………………………….. 1451.1.2. Thracians ……………………………………………………………………………. 1471.1.3. Summary ……………………………………………………………………………. 1501.2. Asia Minor ………………………………………………………………………………….. 1511.2.1. Cappadocians ……………………………………………………………………… 1521.2.2. Lycaonians …………………………………………………………………………. 1571.3. Further Ethnic Groups and Gentes ………………………………………………….. 1601.4. Summary …………………………………………………………………………………….. 161D. Youth and Old Age1. The communis opinio …………………………………………………………………………… 1631.1. The Emperors and Empresses of the Middle Byzantine Period …………… 1631.2. The Higher Clergy and the Patriarchs of Constantinople ……………………. 1681.3. The Saints …………………………………………………………………………………… 1771.4. The Funerary Inscriptions ……………………………………………………………… 1831.4.1. Individuals Who Died at a Young Age …………………………………… 1831.5. The Contribution of Archaeology …………………………………………………… 1881.6. Summary …………………………………………………………………………………….. 189Index nominum ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 193Index rerum ……………………………………………………………………………………………. 201