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{{Short description|Byzantine administrative title}}
'''Logothete''' ({{langx|el|λογοθέτης}}, ''logothétēs'', pl. λογοθέται, ''logothétai''; Med. {{langx|la|logotheta}}, pl. ''logothetae''; {{langx|bg|логотет}}; {{langx|it|logoteta}}; {{langx|ro|logofăt}}; {{langx|sr|логотет}}, ''logotet'') was an administrative title originating in the eastern [[Roman Empire]]. In the middle and late [[Byzantine Empire]], it rose to become a senior [[Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy|administrative title]], equivalent to a [[Minister (government)|minister]] or [[secretary of state]]. The title spread to other states influenced by Byzantine culture, such as [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]], [[Kingdom of Sicily|Sicily]], [[Serbia in the Middle Ages|Serbia]], and the [[Danubian Principalities]].

==Byzantine Empire==

===Origin and development===
In [[Greek language|Greek]], ''logothetēs'' means "one who accounts, calculates or ratiocinates", literally "one who sets the word". The exact origin of the title is unclear; it is found in [[papyrus|papyri]] and works of the [[Church Fathers]] denoting a variety of junior officials, mostly charged with fiscal duties.<ref name="Logothetes">{{harvnb|ODB|loc="Logothetes" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1247}}.</ref> The ancestors of the middle Byzantine logothetes were the fiscal officials known as ''[[rationalis|rationales]]'' during [[Late Antiquity]]. The office dates back to at least the time of Emperor [[Septimius Severus]] ({{reign|193|211}}), where a ''[[procurator (Roman)|procurator]] a rationibus'' is attested. In late Roman times, the ''rationales'' were officials attached to the [[praetorian prefecture]]s and charged with supervising the state treasury and the emperor's private domains.{{sfn|Guilland|1971|pp=5–6}} The first notable official titled as a logothete was [[Marinus (praetorian prefect)|Marinus]], the future praetorian prefect and chief minister of Emperor [[Anastasius I (emperor)|Anastasius I]] ({{reign|491|518}}).{{sfn|Guilland|1971|pp=6–7}} In the 6th century, under Emperor [[Justinian I]] ({{reign|527|565}}), the logothetes gained in prominence and power, as they were placed in charge of the emperor's revenue-gathering measures and dispatched as fiscal agents to the provinces or accompanied military expeditions. They were allowed to keep a twelfth of the sums they would gather for the treasury, and some, such as the notorious [[Alexander (discussor)|Alexander "Scissors"]], amassed considerable fortunes in this way.{{sfn|Evans|1996|p=153}}{{sfn|Guilland|1971|pp=7–8}}{{sfn|Treadgold|1997|p=257}}

The major transformation of the office came in the early 7th century: during the [[Heraclian dynasty]], the administrative machinery of the state, inherited from the time of [[Diocletian]] and [[Constantine the Great]], was thoroughly reformed. Thus the three chief financial "departments" of the old system, the Praetorian Prefecture, the [[comes sacrarum largitionum|Sacred Largesses]] (''sacrae largitiones'') and the [[comes rerum privatarum|Private Domains]] (''res privata'') were replaced by smaller specialized departments titled ''logothesia'' (sing. ''logothesion'') or ''sekreta'' (sing. ''sekreton'').{{sfn|Bury|1911|pp=82–83}}{{sfn|Haldon|1997|p=180}} This process was the result of severe territorial loss and the need to rationalize revenue collection during the final [[Byzantine–Sasanian War of 602–628]] and the [[early Muslim conquests]], but had already been presaged by Emperor Justinian's reforms in the 6th century, when the ''res privata'', responsible for the managing of imperial estates, had been divided by kind into five separate departments.{{sfn|Haldon|2009|p=540}} By the mid-7th century, the ''sacrae largitiones'' too disappeared altogether, while its various sections, as those of the praetorian prefecture, were separated and set up as autonomous departments, some of them headed by a logothete. These were under the supervision of the ''[[sakellarios]]'', who functioned as a "general [[comptroller]] of finances", and ultimately of the emperor himself.<ref name="Logothetes"/>{{sfn|Haldon|2009|p=540}}{{sfn|Laiou|2002|pp=915, 988–989}}

The first mention of a logothete in a senior position was the "most glorious logothete and [[patrikios|patrician]]" Theodosios in 626, possibly either in charge of the ''genikon'' or the ''stratiōtikon''.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=86}}{{sfn|Laiou|2002|p=989}}{{sfn|Guilland|1971|p=8}} Although the first concrete evidence for the existence of many of the subsequent offices is often of a much later date, the chief departments, the ''genikon'', the ''(e)idikon'', the ''stratiōtikon'' and the ''dromos'' were in place by the late 7th century.{{sfn|Laiou|2002|p=989}} There were also logothetes in the church, assisting the patriarch and the [[metropolitan bishop]]s, while a ''logothetēs tou praitoriou'' was a senior official under the [[Eparch of Constantinople]].<ref name="Logothetes"/>

Under Emperor [[Alexios I Komnenos]] ({{reign|1081|1118}}), the logothete of the bureaux (''logothetēs tōn sekretōn'') was instituted, who supervised all state departments, evolving eventually into the Grand Logothete (''megas logothetēs'') of the late Byzantine Empire.<ref name="Logothetes"/>{{sfn|Haldon|2009|p=544}} By the [[Palaiologan period]], the various logothetes had vanished or were converted into purely honorary titles.

===Logothetes===
*The ''[[logothetes tou dromou|logothetēs tou dromou]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τοῦ δρόμου}}), in English usually rendered as Logothete of the Course/Drome/''Dromos'' or Postal Logothete, responsible for the imperial post, diplomacy and intelligence. In the 10th–11th centuries, its holder often functioned as the Byzantine Empire's chief minister.{{sfn|Bury|1911|pp=91–92}}{{sfn|ODB|loc="Logothetes tou dromou" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 1247–1248}}
*The ''[[logothetes tou genikou|logothetēs tou genikou]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τοῦ γενικοῦ}}), often called ''genikos logothetēs'' or simply ''ho genikos'' ({{lang|grc|ὁ γενικός}}), and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete. He was in charge of the "general financial ministry", the ''genikon logothesion'', responsible for general [[taxation]] and [[revenue]].{{sfn|ODB|loc="Genikon" (A. Kazhdan), pp. 829–830}}
*The ''[[logothetes tou stratiotikou|logothetēs tou stratiōtikou]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ}}), the Logothete of the Military [Fisc], was in charge of the pay and provisioning of the [[Byzantine army]], although his exact duties are somewhat obscure.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=90}}{{sfn|ODB|loc="Logothetes tou stratiotikou" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1248}}
*The ''[[logothetes ton agelon|logothetēs tōn agelōn]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τῶν ἀγελῶν}}), in English the Logothete of the Herds, was responsible for the state-run estates (''[[metaton|mētata]]'') in western [[Asia Minor]] that reared [[horse]]s and [[mule]]s for the army and the imperial Public Post.{{sfn|ODB|loc="Logothetes ton agelon" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1247}}{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=111}}
*The ''[[epi tou eidikou]]'' or simply the ''eidikos'' ("the one responsible for the Special Affairs Department"): responsible for the ''(e)idikon logothesion'', which supervised the imperial treasury, [[factory|factories]], storehouses, and monopolies. According to some scholars, an evolution of the Roman ''[[comes rerum privatarum]]''.{{sfn|ODB|loc="Eidikon" (A. Kazhdan), p. 681}}
*The ''[[logothetes tou praitoriou|logothetēs tou praitōriou]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τοῦ πραιτωρίου}}) or Logothete of the Praetorium, one of the two principal aides of the Eparch of Constantinople, probably charged with judicial and policing duties.<ref name="Logothetes"/>{{sfn|Bury|1911|pp=70–71}}
*The ''logothetēs tōn hydatōn'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τῶν ὑδάτων}}), the "logothete of the waters", an obscure official who is mentioned only once. Possibly to be identified with the ''komēs hydatōn'' ("Count of the Waters"), an official in charge of the [[aqueduct (water supply)|aqueducts]].{{sfn|ODB|loc="Komes hydaton" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1139; "Logothetes ton hydaton" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1247}}
*The ''[[logothetes ton oikeiakon|logothetēs tōn oikeiakōn]]'' ({{lang|grc|λογοθέτης τῶν οἰκιακῶν}}), in charge of the ''oikeiakoi'' ("of the household") class of palace officials, and carrying out a variety of fiscal and judicial duties.{{sfn|ODB|loc="Oikeiakos" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1515}}
*The ''[[megas logothetes|megas logothetēs]]'' (μέγας λογοθέτης) or "Grand Logothete", originally established as the ''[[Logothetes ton sekreton|logothetēs tōn sekretōn]]'' (λογοθέτης τῶν σεκρέτων) by Alexios I Komnenos to supervise and coordinate the other government departments (''sekreta'').<ref name="Logothetes"/>

==Logothetes outside Byzantium==
===Serbia===
The title '''''logotet''''' ({{lang-sr-cyr|логотет}}) was used in [[Serbia in the Middle Ages]] since the rule of King [[Stefan Milutin]] ({{reign|1282|1321}}). Notable title-holders include [[Rajko (logotet)|Rajko]], [[Joanikije II|Joanikije]], [[Pribac Hrebeljanović|Pribac]], [[Gojko Mrnjavčević|Gojko]], [[Vojihna|Voihna]], [[Pachomius the Serb|Pahomije]] and [[Stefan Ratković]].

===Sicily===
Holy Roman Emperor [[Emperor Otto III|Otto III]] ({{reign|996|1002}}), the son of the Byzantine princess [[Theophanu]], bestowed it on his chancellor, [[Leo of Vercelli]] (999–1026). In the end, it only became firmly established in [[Sicily]], where the logothete occupied the position of chancellor elsewhere, his office being equal if not superior to that of the ''Magnus Cancellarius''. Thus, the title was borne for example by [[Pietro della Vigna]], the all-powerful minister of Holy Roman Emperor [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] ({{reign|1220|1250}}),  king of Sicily.

===Romanian principalities===
[[File:Chevalier Auguste de Henikstein - Negocians et Bojars d'un rang inferieur. Logothet (cropped).jpg|thumb|150px|A [[Wallachia]]n Logothete, 1827.]]
The title was also borrowed in the internal organization of the medieval Romanian countries, [[Moldavia]] and [[Wallachia]]. In Moldavia, the Great Logothete (''mare logofăt'') was the chief minister of the prince and head of the chancellery, while in Wallachia, he was the second-most senior member of the prince's council, after the [[ban (title)|ban]].<ref name="DEX">{{DEX|logofăt}}</ref>

Several other officials were also called logothetes:<ref name="DEX"/>
*Second Logothete (''logofăt al doilea''), deputy of the Great Logothete.
*Third Logothete (''logofăt al treilea''), secretary of the Great Logothete.
*Logothete of the Treasury (''logofăt de vistierie'').
*Logothete of the Chamber (''logofăt de cămară'').
*Logothete of the Ceremonies (''logofăt de obiceiuri'')
*Logothete of the Secrets (''logofăt de taină'') or Royal Logothete (''Logofăt domnesc''), private secretary of the prince.

===Modern era===
Former [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Theodore Roosevelt]] accused then-President [[Woodrow Wilson]] of being a "Byzantine logothete." The epithet insinuated that, like pencil-pushing Byzantine logothetes, or administrators, Wilson was dillydallying by not declaring America's participation in [[World War I]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2012/byzantium-and-islam/blog/cultural-connections/posts/byzantine|title=Byzantine, adj.: The Evolution of a Word|date=2 July 2012|first=Grace|last=Labatt|website=The Metropolitan Museum of Art}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy]]
*[[Chancellor]]
*[[Lord Chancellor]]
*[[Vestiarion]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==Sources==
* {{cite book | last=Bury | first=John Bagnell | author-link=J. B. Bury | title=The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century - With a Revised Text of the Kletorologion of Philotheos | year=1911 | location=London | publisher=Oxford University Press | url=https://archive.org/details/imperialadminist00buryrich }}
*{{cite book|last=Evans|first=James Allan Stewart|title=The Age of Justinian: The Circumstances of Imperial Power|location=New York|publisher=Routledge|year=1996|isbn=0-415-02209-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1-0ac8p8fM4C}}
* {{cite journal|last=Guilland|first=Rodolphe|author-link=Rodolphe Guilland|year=1971|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|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}}
*{{cite book|last=Haldon|first=John F.|title=Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture|year=1997|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-31917-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSHmT1G_5T0C}}
*{{Warfare, State and Society in the Byzantine World, 565–1204}}
*{{cite book|last=Haldon|first=John F.|title=The Oxford Handbook of Byzantine Studies|chapter=The State - 1. Structures and Administration|editor1-first=Elizabeth|editor1-last=Jeffreys|editor1-link=Elizabeth Jeffreys|editor2-last=Haldon|editor2-first=John|editor3-last=Cormack|editor3-first=Robin|location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2009|isbn=978-0-19-925246-6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Pnkxofhi4mQC}}
*{{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|ref={{harvid|ODB}}}}
*{{cite book|editor-last=Laiou |editor-first=Angeliki E. |editor-link=Angeliki Laiou |title=The Economic History of Byzantium from the Seventh through the Fifteenth Century |year=2002 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Dumbarton Oaks |isbn=0-88402-288-9 |url=http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/EHB.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101111704/http://www.doaks.org/publications/doaks_online_publications/EHB.html |archive-date=2011-01-01 }}
*{{cite book|last=Magdalino|first=Paul|author-link=Paul Magdalino|title=The Empire of Manuel I Komnenos, 1143–1180|location=Cambridge|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2002|orig-year=1993|isbn=0-521-52653-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0cWZvqp7q18C}}
*{{A History of the Byzantine State and Society}}

{{Byzantine Empire topics|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Byzantine administrative offices]]
[[Category:Titles]]
[[Category:Logothetes| ]]