# Rhaiktor

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{{Short description|Byzantine Empire court position}}''For the attempted Byzantine usurper, see [Raiktor](/source/Raiktor)''[[File:Seal of Basil the Rhaiktor (Schlumberger, 1891).png|thumb|right|Seal of an 11th-century {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} Basil. Legend: K[ΥΡΙ]E B[ΟΗΘΕΙ] TΩ CΩ Δ[ΟΥΛΩ] / ΒΑCΙΛΕΙΩ ΡΑΙΚΤΩΡΙ ΑΜΗΝ.]]

The '''{{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}}''' ({{langx|grc-x-medieval|ῥαίκτωρ}}, the Hellenized form of {{langx|la|rector}}) was a high-ranking court position of the middle [Byzantine Empire](/source/Byzantine_Empire).

== History and functions ==
[J. B. Bury](/source/J._B._Bury) assumed that the post was created either under [Leo VI the Wise](/source/Leo_VI_the_Wise) ({{reign|886|912}}) or his father [Basil I the Macedonian](/source/Basil_I_the_Macedonian) ({{reign|867|886}}),{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=115}} but [Nicolas Oikonomides](/source/Nicolas_Oikonomides) restored it in the text of the ''[Taktikon Uspensky](/source/Taktikon_Uspensky)'' of {{circa|843}}.{{sfn|Oikonomides|1972|p=308}} The title is also found in seals of the 7th and 8th centuries, but with a different sense; thus a "{{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} of [Calabria](/source/Calabria)" was the administrator of the local estates of the [See of Rome](/source/See_of_Rome) in Calabria.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}}

The ''[Kletorologion](/source/Kletorologion)'' of 899 includes the {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} among the 'special dignities' ({{Transliteration|grc|axiai eidikai}}).{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}}{{sfn|Bury|1911|pp=115, 138}} The exact functions of the office are not clear, but, as J. B. Bury wrote, they probably "consisted in exercising some authority over the Imperial household".{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=115}}{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}} Earlier authors suggested that the title was related, or even identical, to the later title of {{Transliteration|grc|[proedros](/source/proedros)}}, but the theory was rejected by [Rodolphe Guilland](/source/Rodolphe_Guilland).{{sfn|Guilland|1967|pp=212–213}} His ceremony of appointment is recorded in [Constantine VII](/source/Constantine_VII)'s ''[De Ceremoniis](/source/De_Ceremoniis)''.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=115}} The reports of the ambassador to the Byzantine court [Liutprand of Cremona](/source/Liutprand_of_Cremona) show the {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} as playing an important role in court ceremonies under Constantine VII.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=116}}

The post could be held by court [eunuch](/source/eunuch)s as well as clerics, even priests, but was also often combined with other high offices, such as {{Transliteration|grc|[stratopedarches](/source/stratopedarches)}} or {{Transliteration|grc|[logothetes tou genikou](/source/logothetes_tou_genikou)}}.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}} In the lists of precedence to the imperial banquets of the 9th–10th centuries he occupied a very prominent place, coming right after the {{Transliteration|grc|[magistroi](/source/magistros)}} and before the {{Transliteration|grc|[synkellos](/source/synkellos)}} and the {{Transliteration|grc|[patrikioi](/source/patrikios)}}.{{sfn|Oikonomides|1972|pp=136, 142, 262}}{{sfn|Bury|1911|pp=146, 148}} The title disappears from the sources after the reign of [Constantine IX Monomachos](/source/Constantine_IX_Monomachos) ({{reign|1042|1055}}).{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}}{{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=216}}

At the same time, the title also appears as a family name: the {{Transliteration|grc|magistros}} and {{Transliteration|grc|[logothetes tou dromou](/source/logothetes_tou_dromou)}} Michael Rhektor was a member of the regency council appointed on the death of [Romanos II](/source/Romanos_II) in 963, while under [Nikephoros III](/source/Nikephoros_III) ({{reign|1078|1081}}) a monk called Rhektor pretended to be [Michael VII Doukas](/source/Michael_VII_Doukas) ({{reign|1071|1078}}) and tried to overthrow the emperor.{{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=216}}

== List of known ''rhaiktores'' ==
{| class="wikitable"  width="100%"
|- bgcolor="#FFDEAD"
|-
! width="18%" | Name
! width="15%" | Tenure
! width="18%" | Appointed by
! width="44%" | Notes
! width="5%"  | Refs
|-
| [John Lazares](/source/John_Lazares)
| 912–913
| [Alexander](/source/Alexander_(Byzantine_emperor))
| Raised to the post on the accession of Alexander, he became a member of the regency council for [Constantine VII](/source/Constantine_VII) but was soon dismissed by Empress-regent [Zoe Karbonopsina](/source/Zoe_Karbonopsina).
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| [John the Rhaiktor](/source/John_the_Rhaiktor)
| {{circa|922}}
| [Romanos I Lekapenos](/source/Romanos_I_Lekapenos)
| A cleric, he was {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} and {{Transliteration|grc|[paradynasteuon](/source/paradynasteuon)}} of Romanos, he was forced to retire to a monastery. He led a diplomatic mission to Bulgaria {{circa|929}}, and was blinded and exiled along with others in 946 for plotting against Constantine VII.
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}{{sfn|PmbZ|loc=Ioannes (#22937)}}
|-
| Michael Lekapenos
| after 945
| [Constantine VII](/source/Constantine_VII)
| Son of Romanos I's eldest son and co-emperor [Christopher Lekapenos](/source/Christopher_Lekapenos), according to ''[Theophanes Continuatus](/source/Theophanes_Continuatus)'' he was named {{Transliteration|grc|[magistros](/source/magistros)}} and {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} by Constantine VII.
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| Basil
| {{circa|970}}
| [John I Tzimiskes](/source/John_I_Tzimiskes)
| Was instrumental in suppressing a coup attempt by [Leo Phokas the Younger](/source/Leo_Phokas_the_Younger) against Tzimiskes and arresting the ringleaders. Possibly to be identified with [Basil Lekapenos](/source/Basil_Lekapenos).
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| Basil
| {{circa|993}}
| [Basil II](/source/Basil_II)
| Recorded only in two acts of the [Great Lavra](/source/Great_Lavra) monastery as {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} and {{Transliteration|grc|[genikos logothetes](/source/genikos_logothetes)}}.
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| Niketas 
| {{circa|1035}} (?)
| unknown
| Only mentioned briefly in the ''Peira'' of [Eustathios Rhomaios](/source/Eustathios_Rhomaios).
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| Sagmatas
| later 11th century
| unknown
| Addressee of a letter of [Michael Psellos](/source/Michael_Psellos), later apparently advanced to the posts of {{Transliteration|grc|[synkellos](/source/synkellos)}} and {{Transliteration|grc|[logothetes tou dromou](/source/logothetes_tou_dromou)}}.
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}}
|-
| Nikephoros
| {{circa|1050}}
| [Constantine IX Monomachos](/source/Constantine_IX_Monomachos)
| A eunuch and former monk, he became a court favourite of Constantine IX, who named him {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} and {{Transliteration|grc|[stratopedarches](/source/stratopedarches)}}. Sent to command against the [Pechenegs](/source/Pechenegs), he was heavily defeated in battle near the [Iron Gates](/source/Iron_Gates).
| {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=215}}
|-
|}

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

==Sources==
* {{The Imperial Administrative System of the Ninth Century}}
* {{Recherches sur les institutions byzantines | volume = 2 | chapter = Le Recteur | pages = 212–219}}
* {{ODB | last=Kazhdan | first=Alexander | authorlink=Alexander Kazhdan | title=Rhaiktor | pages=1787–1788 }}
* {{PMBZ | volume=online}}
* {{cite book | last=Oikonomides | first=Nicolas | authorlink=Nicolas Oikonomides | title=Les listes de préséance byzantines des IXe et Xe siècles | location=Paris | publisher=Editions du Centre national de la recherche scientifique | year=1972 | language=French | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFdmAAAAMAAJ }}

Category:Byzantine palace offices
Category:Byzantine court titles

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Rhaiktor](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaiktor) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhaiktor?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.