{{Short description|Byzantine Empire court position}}''For the attempted Byzantine usurper, see 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.
== History and functions == J. B. Bury assumed that the post was created either under Leo VI the Wise ({{reign|886|912}}) or his father Basil I the Macedonian ({{reign|867|886}}),{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=115}} but Nicolas Oikonomides restored it in the text of the ''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" was the administrator of the local estates of the See of Rome in Calabria.{{sfn|Kazhdan|1991|pp=1787–1788}}
The ''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}}, but the theory was rejected by Rodolphe Guilland.{{sfn|Guilland|1967|pp=212–213}} His ceremony of appointment is recorded in Constantine VII's ''De Ceremoniis''.{{sfn|Bury|1911|p=115}} The reports of the ambassador to the Byzantine court 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 eunuchs as well as clerics, even priests, but was also often combined with other high offices, such as {{Transliteration|grc|stratopedarches}} or {{Transliteration|grc|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}} and before the {{Transliteration|grc|synkellos}} and the {{Transliteration|grc|patrikioi}}.{{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 ({{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}} Michael Rhektor was a member of the regency council appointed on the death of Romanos II in 963, while under Nikephoros III ({{reign|1078|1081}}) a monk called Rhektor pretended to be 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 | 912–913 | Alexander | Raised to the post on the accession of Alexander, he became a member of the regency council for Constantine VII but was soon dismissed by Empress-regent Zoe Karbonopsina. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | John the Rhaiktor | {{circa|922}} | Romanos I Lekapenos | A cleric, he was {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} and {{Transliteration|grc|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 | Son of Romanos I's eldest son and co-emperor Christopher Lekapenos, according to ''Theophanes Continuatus'' he was named {{Transliteration|grc|magistros}} and {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} by Constantine VII. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | Basil | {{circa|970}} | John I Tzimiskes | Was instrumental in suppressing a coup attempt by Leo Phokas the Younger against Tzimiskes and arresting the ringleaders. Possibly to be identified with Basil Lekapenos. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | Basil | {{circa|993}} | Basil II | Recorded only in two acts of the Great Lavra monastery as {{Transliteration|grc|rhaiktor}} and {{Transliteration|grc|genikos logothetes}}. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | Niketas | {{circa|1035}} (?) | unknown | Only mentioned briefly in the ''Peira'' of Eustathios Rhomaios. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | Sagmatas | later 11th century | unknown | Addressee of a letter of Michael Psellos, later apparently advanced to the posts of {{Transliteration|grc|synkellos}} and {{Transliteration|grc|logothetes tou dromou}}. | {{sfn|Guilland|1967|p=214}} |- | Nikephoros | {{circa|1050}} | 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}}. Sent to command against the Pechenegs, he was heavily defeated in battle near the 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