Protostrator

Protostrator ( Greek πρωτοστράτωρ, prōtostratōr ) is the court rank ( position ) of the official Byzantine bureaucracy , which in the last centuries of the existence of the empire turned into one of the highest military posts (rank).

The rank of the strator (equestrian) has been noted in Byzantine sources since ancient times. At the end of the 7th - beginning of the 8th centuries, the post appeared (rank) of the protostrator (first horse ), the head of the imperial stable, who led the staff of strata, that is, the head of the imperial stable, who was in charge of stable affairs and many other things, all that was connected with equestrian affairs .

Over time, the position (rank) gained more and more importance due to the constant and direct presence of the emperor, to whom he assisted when using horses.

During the reign of Vasily I the Macedonian, the protostrator already belonged to the highest officials of the Byzantine bureaucracy . He occupied a high place during the imperial ceremonies, during the processions he rode on the side of the emperor, was present at the audience of foreign ambassadors, etc.

Since the end of the XII century in the Byzantine Empire , as well as in the Nicene Empire in the XIII century, the post of protostrator became one of the main in the court and military ranks and took 8th place on the hierarchical ladder in the late Byzantine time.

In military campaigns, the protostrator often stood at the head of the army or commanded a separate part of it. In fact, he was the deputy of the great domestic commander of all the land forces of the empire.

Many historical figures held the position of protostrators at different times, among them Vardan Turk , Leo V Armenian , Mikhail II Travl , Vasily I Macedonian , Yevstafy Argir , Nikifor Foka Elder , Mikhail Duka , Alexey Aksuh , Alexey Komnin (protosevast) , Theodore Sinadenos , Giovanni Giustiniani and others.

The female form relating to the official’s wife was prōtostratorissa (πρωτοστρατόρισσα).

From Byzantium, the Frankish state acquired the position of connable .