logothetes tou stratiotikou

File:Histamenon of Michael VI (Cropped).jpg served as Military Logothete before his brief reign as Byzantine Emperor in 1056–1057.]]

This duty was originally exercised by the praetorian prefecture, but the military chest ({{lang|grc|το στρατιωτικόν}}, {{Transliteration|grc|to stratiotikon}}) was eventually detached and formed as a separate {{Transliteration|grc|logothesion}} (department). The first attested {{Transliteration|grc|logothetes tou stratiotikou}} was Julian, the "most glorious {{Transliteration|grc|apo hypaton}} and {{Transliteration|grc|patrikios}}" in 680.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=90}}{{harvnb|ODB|loc="Logothetes tou stratiotikou" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1248}}.

The exact sphere of duties of the Military Logothete is somewhat obscure. The only direct evidence as to his functions comes from the De Ceremoniis of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos ({{reign|913|959}}), according to which he oversaw the imposition and exemption from taxes on the households of soldiers. It is also known that by the 11th century, he exercised some juridical functions. Several scholars (notably Ernst Stein) have argued that the Military Logothete supervised military affairs in general, such as the levying of troops, the construction of fortifications and the overall military expenditure. This hypothesis, however, cannot be proved.

The subordinates of the {{Transliteration|grc|logothetes tou stratiotikou}} were:

• The {{Transliteration|grc|chartoularioi}} of the {{Transliteration|grc|sekreton}} ({{lang|grc|χαρτουλάριοι τοῦ σεκρέτου}}), the senior subaltern officials of the department.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=90}}
• The {{Transliteration|grc|chartoularioi}} of the {{Transliteration|grc|themata}} ({{lang|grc|χαρτουλάριοι τῶν θεμάτων}}) and the {{Transliteration|grc|tagmata}} ({{lang|grc|χαρτουλάριοι τῶν ταγμάτων}}), supervising the financial affairs of the thematic troops and the imperial {{Transliteration|grc|tagmata}}, respectively.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=90}}
• A number of {{Transliteration|grc|legatarioi}} ({{lang|grc|λεγατάριοι}}), whose exact function is unknown.{{sfn|ODB|loc="Legatarios" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1202}}{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=91}}
• The {{Transliteration|grc|optiones}} ({{lang|grc|ὀπτίονες}}, from Latin {{lang|la|optio}}), officials responsible for the distribution of pay to the troops.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=91}}
• A number of {{Transliteration|grc|kankellarioi}} under a {{Transliteration|grc|protokankellarios}}.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=91}}
• A number of {{Transliteration|grc|mandatores}} ('messengers').{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=91}}

Rodolphe Guilland also lists some 6th-century officials, who served under Justinian I and were in charge of the army pay chest, as predecessors of the later office of {{Transliteration|grc|logothetes tou stratiotikou}}: Alexander "Scissors", active in Greece and Italy in {{circa|540–541}};{{sfn|Guilland|1971|p=29}}{{sfn|Martindale|1992|pp=43–44}} the {{Transliteration|grc|patrikios}} and former praetorian prefect Archelaus, who accompanied Belisarius as his quartermaster in the Vandalic War;{{sfn|Guilland|1971|p=29}}{{sfn|Martindale|1980|pp=133–134}} and the senator Symmachus, who was sent to Africa as praetorian prefect and quartermaster for Germanus in 536–539.{{sfn|Guilland|1971|p=31}}{{sfn|Martindale|1992|p=1213}}

{{reflist|24em}}

{{Portal|Byzantine Empire}}

• {{The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century}}
• Carr, M. (2015). "Crossing Boundaries in the Mediterranean: Papal Trade Licences from the Registra supplicationum of Pope Clement VI (1342-1352)." Journal of Medieval History 41, 107-29.
• {{cite journal|last=Guilland|first=Rodolphe|author-link=Rodolphe Guilland|title=Les Logothètes: Etudes sur l'histoire administrative de l'Empire byzantin|trans-title=The Logothetes: Studies on the Administrative History of the Byzantine Empire|journal=Revue des études byzantines|volume=29|year=1971|pages=5–115|doi=10.3406/rebyz.1971.1441|url=http://www.persee.fr/doc/rebyz_0766-5598_1971_num_29_1_1441|language=fr}}
• {{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|ref={{harvid|ODB}}}}
• {{Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire|volume=2}}
• {{Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire|volume=3}}
• {{Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit}}

{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos}}

{{Byzantine Empire topics}}

Category:Byzantine fiscal offices

Category:Byzantine military offices