{{Short description|Byzantine court position}} {{italic title}} {{distinguish|text=the Palaiologan-era office of Protovestiarites}} '''''Protovestiarios''''' ({{langx|el|πρωτοβεστιάριος}}, {{lit|first ''vestiarios''}}) was a high Byzantine court position, originally reserved for eunuchs. In the late Byzantine period (12th–15th centuries), it denoted the Empire's senior-most financial official, and was also adopted by the medieval Serbian state as protovestiyar (прото-вестијар).
==History and functions== The title is first attested in 412, as the '''''comes sacrae vestis''''', an official in charge of the Byzantine emperor's "sacred wardrobe" ({{langx|la|sacra vestis}}), coming under the ''praepositus sacri cubiculi''. In Greek, the term used was ''oikeiakon vestiarion'' ({{lang|grc|οἰκειακόν βεστιάριον}}, "private wardrobe"), and by this name it remained known from the 7th century onward. As such, the office was distinct from the public or imperial wardrobe, the ''basilikon vestiarion'', which was entrusted to a state official, the ''chartoularios tou vestiariou''.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=125}}{{sfn|Haldon|1997|p=181}} The private wardrobe also included part of the Byzantine emperor's private treasury, and controlled an extensive staff.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=125}}
[[File:Seal of a protovestiarios and megas stratopedarches (Schlumberger, 1900).png|thumb|Seal of an anonymous, Palaiologan-era ''protovestiarios'' and ''megas stratopedarches'']] Consequently, the holders of this office came second only to the ''parakoimomenos'' in court hierarchy, functioning as the latter's aides. Until the 11th century, it was reserved for eunuchs, but in the 9th–11th centuries, several ''protovestiarioi'' were appointed as generals and ambassadors.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=1749}} In the 11th century, the title rose further in importance, eclipsing the ''kouropalates'';{{sfn|Gibbon|1860|p=242}} transformed into an honorary title, it also began being given to non-eunuchs, including members of the imperial family.{{sfn|Holmes|2005|p=84}} As such, the title survived until the late Palaiologan period, its holders including high-ranking ministers and future emperors.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=1749}} The mid-14th century ''Book of Offices'' of Pseudo-Kodinos lists the rank in the sixth place in the palace hierarchy, between the ''panhypersebastos'' and the ''megas doux''.{{sfn|Verpeaux|1966|p=137}} The insignia of the ''protovestiarios'' as a golden and green staff of office (''dikanikion'') with gold and coloured glass, green shoes and a green mantle (''tamparion''), and a green saddle with gold braid similar to the ''panhypersebastos''.{{sfn|Verpeaux|1966|p=153}}
The female equivalent was the '''''protovestiaria''''' ({{langx|el|πρωτοβεστιαρία}}), the head of the empress' servants. ''Protovestiarioi'' are also attested for private citizens, in which case again the title refers to their head servant and treasurer.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|p=1749}}
===Notable ''protovestiarioi''=== * Constantine Leichoudes, later patriarch 1059–63, as Constantine III * Andronikos Doukas (fl. 1071–77), served Romanos IV and Michael VII * Alexios Raoul, under John III Vatatzes * George Mouzalon, chief minister of Theodore II Laskaris and short-lived regent * Alexios V Doukas, briefly emperor in 1204 * John III Vatatzes, Emperor of Nicaea 1222–54 * Michael Tarchaneiotes, nephew of Michael VIII Palaiologos and general * Michael Apsaras, chief minister of Despot of Epirus, Thomas Preljubović
==In Serbia== The title was also adopted in the medieval Serbian states as ''protovestijar'' ({{lang-sr-cyr|протовестијар/протовистијар}}, archaic: протовистіар<ref>{{harvnb|Blagojević|2001|p=119}}</ref>), and likewise entailed fiscal responsibilities, being the equivalent to a "finance minister".<ref name=Novakovic1966-pv>{{harvnb|Novaković|1966|p=148}}: "тако је царев протовистијар (по данашњој терминологији: министар финансија), Никола Бућа, по рођењу Которанин"</ref> According to historian John V. A. Fine, Jr., "The chief financial official responsible for the state treasury and its income was the ''protovestijar''. This position was regularly held by a merchant from Kotor who understood financial management and bookkeeping. Both protovestijars and logothetes were used as diplomats, the protovestijars in particular being sent west, for as citizens of Kotor they knew Italian and Latin."<ref>{{harvnb|Fine|1994|pp=313–314}}.</ref>
It was mentioned during the rule of King Stefan Uroš I (r. 1243–1276).<ref>{{cite book|title=Лексикон српског средњег века|last=Ћирковић|first=Сима|editor1-last=Михальчић|editor1-first=Раде|publisher=Knowledge|year=1999|page=596|quote=ПРОТОВЕСТИЈАР - титула преузета из Ви- зантије и прихваћена у неким деловима српске др- жаве пре половине XIII века (1239-1253). Неки про- тобистар Вратимир отесао је међе села Осојника у Сланском приморју заједно са кнезом Стефаном, епископом Спиридоном и епископом Методијем. Знатно касније, 1323. године, у служби краља Вла- дислава II, сина ...}}</ref> Stefan Dušan (r. 1331–55) elevated the nobility and clergy when crowned Emperor; ''komornik'' Nikola Buća from Kotor was appointed protovestijar.<ref name=Novakovic1966-pv/><ref>{{harvnb|Fine|1994|p=651}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Blagojević|2001|p=188}}</ref> The power of the protovestijar is best testified by the proverb derived from Nikola Buća: "Car da – al Buća ne da" (''The Emperor gives, but Buća does not'').<ref name="Kostic-2001-NemanjiciiBoka">{{cite book|author=Kostić|year=2001|chapter=Uvodni tekstovi|chapter-url=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-bo/duhovnost/vkostic-nevjesta_jadrana_l.html#_Toc518985244|title=Nemanjići i Boka|language=Serbian}}</ref><ref name=VI-VOL41-42-2004-389>{{harvnb|Vizantološki institut|2004|pp=389–390}}</ref><ref name=Kalezic-1970-130>{{harvnb|Kalezić|1970|p=130}}</ref> The Buća family produced several protovestijars, including Nikola's nephew Trifun Mihajlov Buća (fl. 1357), one of the most important people in his time, who served Emperor Dušan's successor Uroš V.<ref name=Kalezic-1970-130/>
== Bosnia == Tvrtko I (Ban of Bosnia, 1353–77, King 1377—1391) added the ranks ''logotet'' and ''protovestijar'' after the Serbian model after crowning himself King. Tvrtko's first protovestijar was a Ragusan, ''kapedan'' Ratko, elevated in 1378.<ref>{{cite book|title=Luka Vukalović i hercegovački ustanci od 1852-1962. g, Volumes 45-47|author=Vladimir Ćorović|publisher=Srpska kraljevska akademija nauka i umetnosti|year=1923|page=42|quote=Поред логотета, кога је довео из Рашке, он уводи и чин протовестијара. Тај чин даје у прво време двојици људи, који нису били Босанци. Један од првих протовестијара био је Дубровчанин презвитер Ратко, који је 1375. постао банов капелан, 1378. протовестијар, а нај= после требињски бискуп.}}</ref> Brailo Tezalović<ref>{{cite book |last=Samardžić |first=Radovan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3FBpAAAAMAAJ |title=Liber Viridis |publisher=Српска академија наука и уметности |year=1984 |page=484}}</ref> ({{floruit}} 1392–1433) was a Bosnian ''knez'' and merchant, nobleman and diplomat, who served Bosnian magnate Pavle Radinović and his family, with the titles of ''carinik'' (customs official).
== Zeta == Balša II (Lord of Zeta, 1378–85), added the rank into service after taking Durrazzo in spring 1385, appointing Filip Bareli.<ref>{{cite book|title=Serbia and Venice in the 13th and the 14th century|author=Ружа Ћук|publisher=Просвета|year=1986|page=164|quote=Балша II је, после за- узимања Драча у пролеће 1385. године, увео службу протовестијара. Његов протовестијар постао је тада Филип Барели.210 Пошто се Бал- ша II често налазио у финанеијским тешкоћама, ...}}</ref>
==Principality of Achaea== The title of ''protovestiarios'' was also adopted in the Frankish Principality of Achaea, where it designated an office equivalent to a Western chamberlain and charged with keeping the list of fief-holders. This office was often given to native Greeks.{{sfn|Bon|1969|p=83}}
==See also== {{Portal|Byzantine Empire}} *Vestararius, papal office derivative of the ''protovestiarios'' *Logothetes ton oikeiakon
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==Sources== *{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=srAVAQAAIAAJ|title=Državna uprava u srpskim srednjovekovnim zemljama|first=Miloš|last=Blagojević|publisher=Službeni list SRJ|year=2001|isbn=9788635504971|language=Serbian}} * {{cite book | last = Bon | first = Antoine | title = La Morée franque. Recherches historiques, topographiques et archéologiques sur la principauté d'Achaïe | year = 1969 | language = French | publisher = De Boccard | location = Paris | url = http://cefael.efa.gr/detail.php?site_id=1&actionID=page&serie_id=BefarA&volume_number=213&issue_number=1 }} * {{cite book | last=Bury | first=John Bagnell | authorlink=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 | first = John Van Antwerp | last = Fine | authorlink = John Van Antwerp Fine Jr. | title = The Late Medieval Balkans: A Critical Survey from the Late Twelfth Century to the Ottoman Conquest | publisher = University of Michigan Press | location = Ann Arbor | year = 1994 | isbn = 978-0-472-08260-5 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Hh0Bu8C66TsC }} *{{cite book|last=Gibbon|first=Edward|authorlink=Edward Gibbon|year=1860|title=The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire|location=New York, New York|publisher=Harper & Brothers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kl4OAAAAYAAJ}} *{{cite book|last=Haldon|first=John F.|title=Byzantium in the Seventh Century: The Transformation of a Culture|year=1997|location=Cambridge, United Kingdom|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-31917-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pSHmT1G_5T0C}} *{{cite book|last=Holmes|first=Catherine|title=Basil II and the Governance of Empire (976–1025)|location=Oxford, United Kingdom|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2005|isbn=978-0-19-927968-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_h3_c0U1jVoC}} *{{cite book|last=Kalezić|first=Danilo|title=Kotor|publisher=Grafički zavod Hrvatske|year=1970|language=Croatian}} * {{cite encyclopedia | editor-last=Kazhdan | editor-first=Alexander | editor-link=Alexander Kazhdan | encyclopedia=The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium |title=Protovestiarios |page=1749 | year=1991 | location=New York and Oxford | publisher=Oxford University Press | isbn=978-0-19-504652-6 }} *{{citation | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=n4UNAQAAIAAJ |title=Iz srpske istorije|first=Stojan |last=Novaković|publisher=Matica srpska|year=1966|language=Serbian}} * {{cite book | editor-first = Jean | editor-last = Verpeaux | language=French | title = Pseudo-Kodinos, Traité des Offices | location = Paris | publisher = Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique | year = 1966 }} *{{cite book | author=Vizantološki institut|title=Zbornik radova, Volume 41–42 | year=2004 |location=Belgrade|publisher=Vizantološki institut (Srpska akademija nauka i umetnosti) |language=Serbian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nEIjAQAAIAAJ }}
{{Byzantine offices after pseudo-Kodinos}}
Category:Byzantine palace offices Category:Byzantine fiscal offices Category:Protovestiarioi Category:Court titles of medieval Bosnia Category:Titles in Serbia