View source for Sebastokrator

{{Short description|Byzantine court title}}
'''''Sebastokrator''''' ({{langx|grc-x-medieval|Σεβαστοκράτωρ|Sevastokrátor|August Ruler}}, {{IPA|grc-x-byzant|sevastoˈkrator|link=yes}}; {{langx|bg|севастократор|sevastokrator}}; {{langx|sh|sevastokrator}}), was a senior court title in the late [[Byzantine Empire]]. It was also used by other rulers whose states bordered the Empire or were within its sphere of influence (Bulgarian Empire, [[Serbian Empire]]). The word is a [[compound (linguistics)|compound]] of ''[[sebastos|sebastós]]'' ({{lit.|venerable}}, the Greek equivalent of the [[Latin language|Latin]] ''[[Augustus (honorific)|Augustus]]'') and ''krátōr'' ('ruler', the same element as is found in ''[[autokrator]]'', 'emperor'). The wife of a ''Sebastokrator'' was named '''''sebastokratorissa''''' ({{lang|grc|σεβαστοκρατόρισσα}}, ''sevastokratórissa'') in Greek, '''''sevastokratitsa''''' ({{lang|bg|севастократица}}) in Bulgarian and '''''sevastokratorica''''' in Serbian.

== Eastern Roman Empire ==
The title was created by Emperor [[Alexios I Komnenos]] ({{reign|1081|1118}}) to honour his elder brother [[Isaac Komnenos (brother of Alexios I)|Isaac Komnenos]].<ref name="ODB">{{harvnb|ODB|loc="Sebastokrator" (A. Kazhdan), p. 1862}}.</ref> According to [[Anna Komnene]], Alexios did this to raise Isaac above the rank of ''[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]'', which he had already promised to his brother-in-law, [[Nikephoros Melissenos]]. Anna Komnene compares the rank of ''sebastokratōr'' to "a second emperor", and also records that along with the ''Caesar'' a ''sebastokratōr'' was granted the right to wear a crown (but not the imperial diadem).<ref>[[Anna Komnene]]. ''[[Alexiad]]'', [[s:The Alexiad/Book III#Chapter IV|3.4]].</ref> During the [[Komnenian dynasty]] (1081–1185), the title continued to be the highest below that of Emperor until 1163, when Emperor [[Manuel I Komnenos|Manuel I]] created the title of ''[[Despot (court title)|despotes]]''. During that period, it was given exclusively to members of the imperial family, chiefly younger sons of the emperor.<ref name="ODB"/>

After the dismemberment of the Byzantine Empire by the [[Fourth Crusade]] in 1204, the title was adopted in the [[Latin Empire]], the [[Empire of Nicaea]], and the [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgarian Empire]]. In Nicaea and the post-1261 restored Byzantine Empire, the title remained one of the highest court dignities, and was almost always restricted to members of the imperial family. The last known holder of the title was [[Demetrios I Kantakouzenos|Demetrios Kantakouzenos]], a ruler in the [[Peloponnese]] in the late 14th century.<ref name="ODB"/>

According to the sources, the distinctive colour associated with the title was blue: the ''sebastokratōr''′s [[Byzantine dress|ceremonial costume]] included blue [[stockings]] and blue [[Boot|boots]]. In circa 1260, according to [[George Akropolites]], the ''sebastokratores'' who were members of the imperial family were distinguished from those who were not by having embroidered golden [[eagle]]s on their shoes.<ref>{{harvnb|Macrides|2007|pp=350, 366–367}}.</ref> By the time of [[pseudo-Kodinos]] in the mid-14th century, the insignia associated with the rank were a ''skiadion'' hat in red and gold, decorated with gold-wire embroideries, with a veil bearing the wearer's name and [[Pendilia|pendants]] identical to those of the ''despotēs''. He wore a red tunic (''rouchon'') similar to the emperor's, but without the ''rizai'' decorations and the insignia of military power. His mantle (''tamparion'') was no longer known, but the stockings were blue; under [[John VI Kantakouzenos]] ({{reign|1347|1354}}), however, when the emperor raised his brothers-in-law Manuel and John Asanes to the rank, he permitted them to wear ''tamparia'' and stockings like those of the ''despotēs''. The ''sebastokratōr''{{'}}s shoes and stockings were blue, with gold-embroidered eagles on red background; and his [[horse tack]] was also of blue, his [[saddle blanket]] featuring furthermore four red-embroidered eagles. His tent was white with blue decorations. The form of the domed ''skaranikon'', on the other hand, for the ''sebastokratōr'' was unknown to pseudo-Kodinos.{{sfn|Verpeaux|1966|pp=147–148}} The ''sebastokratōr'' also had the prerogative of signing documents with a special blue [[ink]].<ref name="ODB"/>

==Bulgaria==
[[Kaloyan (sebastocrator)|Kaloyan]] inherited the title possibly from his father Aleksandar (d. after 1232), a son of [[Tsar]] [[Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria]] ({{reign|1189|1196}}).{{sfn|Bakalov|Kumanov|2003}}

==Serbia==
{{see also|Medieval Serbian noble titles}}
This title was also adopted in the court of medieval [[Serbia]], under the [[Nemanjić dynasty]], the [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbian Kings]] and [[Serbian Empire|Emperors]] (1217–1346; 1346–1371).

==List of holders==
{{expand list|date=February 2014}}

=== Albania ===
* [[Andrea I Muzaka]], Albanian nobleman, Sevastocrator & Marshal of Albania, c. 1279–1319.
*[[Paul Mataranga]], Albanian nobleman, Sevastocrator
*[[Blasius Matarango]] (fl. 1358–67), Albanian nobleman, Sevastocrator
*[[Gjon Zenebishi]], Albanian nobleman, Sevastocrator

=== Byzantium ===

*[[Isaac Komnenos (brother of Alexios I)]], 1081–1102/04.
*[[Isaac Komnenos (son of Alexios I)]], 1118–a. 1152.
*[[Isaac Komnenos (son of John II)]], c. 1122–a. 1146.
* [[Andronikos Komnenos (son of John II)]], c. 1122–1142.
* [[Manuel I Komnenos]], c.1122–1143.
* [[John Doukas (sebastokrator)|John Doukas]], uncle of [[Isaac II Angelos]], c. 1185–c. 1200.
* [[Stefan the First-Crowned]], husband of [[Eudokia Angelina]], c. 1190–1217.

* [[Alexios III Angelos]], brother of [[Isaac II Angelos]], named c. 1190–1195.
* [[Isaac Komnenos Vatatzes]], son-in-law of [[Alexios III Angelos]], c. 1195–1196.
* [[John Petraliphas]], Byzantine, late 12th/early 13th century

==== [[Frankokratia]] ====

* [[Empire of Nicaea]]
** [[Sabas Asidenos]], ''sympetheros'' of [[Theodore I Laskaris]], a. 1206–c. 1216
** [[Nikephoros Kontostephanos]], c. 1217.<ref>Macrides (2007), p. 218.</ref>
** [[Alexios Laskaris]], brother of [[Theodore I Laskaris]], a. 1207–1224.
** [[Isaac Laskaris]], brother of [[Theodore I Laskaris]], b. 1221–1224.
** [[George Laskaris]], brother of [[Theodore I Laskaris]], b. 1211–1224?.<ref>Macrides (2007), pp. 167-168</ref>
** [[Isaac Doukas Vatatzes]], brother of [[John III Doukas Vatatzes]], c. 1253- b. 1261.
** [[John Palaiologos (brother of Michael VIII)]], 1259–1260.
** [[Constantine Palaiologos (half-brother of Michael VIII)]], 1260–1271.
** [[Constantine Tornikios (sebastokrator)|Constantine Tornikios]], father-in-law of [[John Palaiologos (brother of Michael VIII)|John Palaiologos]], 1260–1274.

* [[Latin Empire]]
** [[Conon de Béthune]], regent for [[Peter II of Courtenay]], c.1217– 1219.

* [[John Tornikios]], relative of [[Constantine Tornikios (sebastokrator)|Constantine Tornikios]], a. 1261.<ref>Macrides (2007), p.24.</ref>

* [[John I Doukas of Thessaly]], husband of [[Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene]], c. 1272–1289.
* [[Constantine Doukas of Thessaly]], son of [[Anna Palaiologina Kantakouzene]], c. 1295–1303.
* [[Theodore Angelos]], son of [[John I Doukas of Thessaly]], c. 1295–c. 1299.
* [[John II Doukas of Thessaly]], son-in-law of [[Andronikos II Palaiologos]], c. 1315–1318.
* [[Stephen Gabrielopoulos]], ruler of Thessaly, b. 1325–1332/33.
* [[Hrelja (protosebastos)|Hrelja]] (fl. 1330s), semi-independent [[feudal]] lord in the region of northeastern [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and [[Rila]] mountain, Byzantine magnate
* [[John Angelos (sebastokrator)|John Angelos]], ruler of Thessaly, c. 1342–1348.
*[[Momchil]], brigand in Rhodopes, 1344–1345.
*[[Manuel Komnenos Raul Asanes]], brother-in-law of [[John VI Kantakouzenos]], c. 1347–c. 1354.<ref>Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1506.</ref>
*[[John Asanes]], brother of [[Manuel Komnenos Raul Asanes]], c. 1347–1355.<ref>Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1499.</ref>

* [[Andronikos Asanes]], son of [[Manuel Komnenos Raul Asanes]], c. 1354.<ref>Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 1487.</ref>
* [[Nikephoros Kantakouzenos]], relative of [[John VI Kantakouzenos]], 1351–1355.<ref>Prosopographisches Lexikon der Palaiologenzeit, 10986.</ref>

* [[Demetrios I Kantakouzenos]], son of [[Matthew Kantakouzenos]], 1357–c. 1383.

=== Bulgaria ===

*[[Strez]] (fl. 1207–1214), Bulgarian
*[[Aleksandar Asen]] (d. after 1232), Bulgarian prince
*[[Kaloyan (sebastocrator)|Kaloyan]] (fl. 1259), [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian]] magnate, held [[Sofia|Sredets (modern Sofia)]]
*[[Peter (sevastokrator)|Peter]] (f. 1253), sebastokrator of Sredets, [[Second Bulgarian Empire|Bulgaria]]

=== Serbia ===
*[[Jovan Oliver]], Serbian, under [[Dušan the Mighty]] (r. 1331–1355)
*[[Branko Mladenović]] (<abbr>fl.</abbr> 1331–65), Serbian
*[[Dejan (magnate)|Dejan]] (fl. 1346-1356), Serbian magnate, held Žegligovo and Preševo, and the Upper [[Struma (river)|Struma river]] with [[Kyustendil|Velbužd (modern Kyustendil)]]
*[[Vlatko Paskačić]], Serbian under the [[Mrnjavčevići]] (1366–1395)

==Gallery==
<gallery class="center">
File:Kalojan desislava.jpg|Donor portrait of the [[Bulgaria]]n ''sebastokratōr'' [[Kaloyan (sebastocrator)|Kaloyan]] and his wife Desislava, fresco from the [[Boyana Church]] (1259).
File:Constantine Palaiologos sebastokrator and Eirene.jpg|The ''sebastokratōr'' [[Constantine Palaiologos (half-brother of Michael VIII)|Constantine Palaiologos]] and his wife Eirene. [[Donor portrait]] from an early 14th-century monastery ''[[typikon]]''.<ref>Note the distinctive ''stephanos'', as well as the red ''chlamys'' embroidered with golden [[double-headed eagle]]s, worn over the ''kabbadion'' kaftan.</ref>
File:Isaac Komnenos the Porphyrogennetos.jpg|A Byzantine [[fresco]] in the [[Chora Church]] depicting the ''sebastokratōr'' [[Isaac Komnenos (son of Alexios I)|Isaac Komnenos]], son of Emperor [[Alexios I Komnenos]].
File:Jovan Oliver.jpg|The ''Sevastokrator'' [[Jovan Oliver]], fresco from the [[Lesnovo monastery]].
File:ManuelAsanandAnnaDoukaina.jpg|Manuel Asanes and his wife Anna Doukaina Synadene
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Sources==
{{Portal|Byzantine Empire}}
* {{cite book |title=Електронно издание "История на България" |language=bg |last1=Bakalov |first1=Georgi |last2=Kumanov |first2=Milen |publisher=Trud, Sirma |location=Sofia |year=2003 |isbn=954528613X |chapter=КАЛОЯН (неизв.-след 1259)}}
* {{cite journal|last=Ferjančić|first=Božidar|author-link=Božidar Ferjančić|title=Севастократори у Византији |trans-title=Sebastocrators in Byzantium|journal=Zbornik Radova Vizantološkog Instituta|volume=XI |pages=141–192 |location=Belgrade|publisher=Institute for Byzantine Studies of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts|issn=0584-9888|year=1968}}
* {{cite journal|last=Ferjančić|first=Božidar|author-link=Božidar Ferjančić|title=Севастократори и кесари у Српском царству|trans-title=Sebastocrators and Caesares in the Serbian Empire|year=1970|journal=Зборник Филозофског факултета|location=Belgrade|pages=255–269}}
*{{Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium|ref={{harvid|ODB}}}}
*{{cite book|last=Macrides|first=Ruth|year=2007|title=George Akropolites: The History|location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-921067-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v_0LdWboHXwC}}
*{{cite book|last=Parani|first=Maria G.|title=Reconstructing the Reality of Images: Byzantine Material Culture and Religious Iconography (11th to 15th Centuries)|year=2003|location=Leiden|publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-12462-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r9gfY--ZVYgC}}
* {{cite book | editor-first = Jean | editor-last = Verpeaux | title = Pseudo-Kodinos, Traité des Offices | publisher = Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | year = 1966 | language = fr }}

{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos}}

[[Category:Sebastokrators| ]]
[[Category:Byzantine court titles]]
[[Category:Byzantine imperial titles]]
[[Category:Bulgarian noble titles]]
[[Category:Greek noble titles]]
[[Category:Serbian noble titles]]