Logothetes tou genikou

The logothetēs tou genikou (Greek: λογοθέτης τοῦ γενικοῦ), often called genikos logothetēs or simply ho genikos (Greek: ὁ γενικός), and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete, was in charge of the "general financial ministry", the genikon logothesion of the middle Byzantine Empire.^[1]

History and functions

The genikon was responsible for general [7]

Subordinate officials

The subordinates of the logothetēs tou genikou were:

• The chartoularioi megaloi tou sekretou (χαρτουλάριοι μεγάλοι τοῦ σεκρέτου, "great chartularies of the department"), the heads of the various departments.^[8]
• The chartoularioi tōn arklōn (χαρτουλάριοι τῶν ἀρκλῶν)^[9] or exō chartoularioi (ἔξω χαρτουλάριοι, "outer chartularies"). As their name signifies, they were the senior treasury officials posted in the provinces ("outer", i.e. outside Constantinople).^[8][10]
• The epoptai of the themata (ἐπόπται τῶν θεμάτων), who were the officials charged with control of taxation in the provinces.^[8]
• The komētes hydatōn ( κόμητες ὑδάτων, "counts of the waters"), officials probably in charge of aqueducts and water supply in the provinces.^[8][11]
• The chartoularios tou oikistikou (χαρτουλάριος τοῦ οἰκιστικοῦ) or simply ho oikistikos, whose precise functions are unknown. It is attested that he was in charge of tax exemptions, and had various juridical duties in some themata in the 11th century; the office may have been associated with the imperial domains (oikoi). By the 11th century, the office had become an independent bureau, but vanishes after that.^[12][13]
• The kommerkiarioi (κομμερκιάριοι), who were customs officials. Attested since the early 6th century, they are likely the successors of the comes commerciorum mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. Initially stationed at the frontier, after the 7th century they were placed at ports or in charge over entire themata or islands.^[12][14]
• The epi tēs kouratōrias of the basilikoi oikoi (ἐπί τῆς κουρατωρίας [τῶν βασιλικῶν οἴκων], "in charge of the curatorship [of the imperial domains]"), who supervised the imperial estates.^[15]
• The komēs tēs lamias (κόμης τῆς λαμίας), an official probably in charge of the mines and gold bullion (cf. Latin: lamina/lamna, "gold, precious metals"). It is therefore usually assumed that he is the successor of the old comes metallorum per Illyricum. From sigillographic evidence through the 11th century, this office was sometimes combined with the positions of epi tōn oikeiakōn ("in charge of the oikeiakoi", a class of senior courtiers) and of one of the chartoularioi megaloi of the genikon.^[11][16]
• The dioikētai (διοικηταὶ) where officials who supervised the collection of taxes, assisted by a number of praktores ("agents").^[16]
• The kom[v]entianos (κομ[β]εντιανός), an official of unknown function.^[17]
• A number of kankellarioi (καγκελλάριοι, from Latin: cancellarius) under a prōtokankellarios. Originally senior officials in the praetorian prefecture, in the middle Byzantine period they were mid-level secretaries in the various ministries.^[18][19]

References

Sources

Further reading