# Decanus

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Ancient Roman and ecclesiastical rank

This article is about the use of the term in the Roman and Byzantine empires. For the various Western ecclesiastic and university offices, see [Dean (religion)](/source/Dean_(religion)) and [Dean (education)](/source/Dean_(education)).

***Decanus*** means "chief of ten" in [Late Latin](/source/Late_Latin). The term originated in the [Roman army](/source/Roman_army) and became used thereafter for [subaltern](/source/Subaltern_(military)) officials in the [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire), as well as for various positions in the Church, whence derives the [English](/source/English_language) title "[dean](/source/Dean_(Christianity))". It is unrelated to the position of [deacon](/source/Deacon) (Latin *diaconus*, Greek *διάκονος*).

## History and functions

The *decanus* was originally the leader of a 10-man *[contubernium](/source/Contubernium_(Roman_army_unit))*, which consisted of the squad of eight [legionaries](/source/Roman_legion) who lived in the same tent, plus the two support units/servants of the contubernium.[1] The title must not be confused with the *[decurio](/source/Decurio)*, which was a title given to civic officials and to leaders of 30-strong squadrons (*[turmae](/source/Turma)*) of [cavalry](/source/Roman_cavalry). *Decanus* is equivalent to the rank of the *dekarchos* ("commander of ten") in [Greek](/source/Greek_language) texts.

From the 4th century AD the term *decanus* became used for palace [messengers](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/messenger), particularly those in the service of Roman empresses. *Decani* also apparently served as [guards](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/guard) at gates, and in the 6th century, [John Lydus](/source/John_Lydus) equates them with the ancient [lictors](/source/Lictor).[2] In the 899 [*Klētorologion* of Philotheos](/source/Kletorologion), the *decanus* (transcribed into Greek as δεκανός, ***dekanos***) was a mid-level functionary, serving under the *[protasekretis](/source/Protasekretis)*. According to the mid-10th century *[De Ceremoniis](/source/De_Ceremoniis)* of Emperor [Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos](/source/Constantine_VII_Porphyrogennetos) (r. 913–959), a *decanus* was "in charge of the imperial papers" when the Byzantine emperor was on campaign.[3] [Sigillographic](/source/Sigillographic) evidence for the Byzantine *dekanoi* is relatively rare, although some are depicted in illuminated [manuscripts](/source/Manuscript), where their appearance varies considerably, in accord with their varying and changing functions.[2]

In the [Christian Church](/source/Christian_Church), the term came into use in [monasteries](/source/Monastery) for heads of groups of ten other monks, for low-ranking subaltern officials of the [Patriarchate of Constantinople](/source/Patriarchate_of_Constantinople), and for the ecclesiastic *fossores* ("grave-diggers").[2]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Vegetius. *De Re Militari* [2.8.13](http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/vegetius2.html).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ODB_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ODB_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-ODB_2-2) [Kazhdan & Cutler 1991](#CITEREFKazhdanCutler1991), p. 601.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Bury 1911](#CITEREFBury1911), p. 98.

## Sources

- [Bury, J. B.](/source/J._B._Bury); [Philotheus](/source/Kletorologion) (1911). [*The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century (With a Revised Text of the Kletorologion of Philotheos)*](https://archive.org/stream/imperialadminist00buryrich/). London: Oxford University Press.

- [Kazhdan, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Kazhdan); Cutler, Anthony (1991). "Dekanos". In [Kazhdan, Alexander](/source/Alexander_Kazhdan) (ed.). *[The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium](/source/Oxford_Dictionary_of_Byzantium)*. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press. p. 601. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-19-504652-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-19-504652-8).

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