Political elites and aristocracy in Byzantium (fifth to fifteenth centuries) (2024)

The Byzantine Empire was not ruled by nobility, as royal titles were not hereditary. It is almost inaccurate to refer to an aristocracy, as the Byzantine elites formed an open social group. Between the fifth and the fifteenthcenturies, these elites were characterized by a remarkable long-term continuity, a legacy of the late Roman Empire. The emperor made nominations for court honors and administrative offices, which were often purchased and yielded the largest sums. This government system was also impacted by corruption and loyal relationships between men. Kinship ensures a predisposition to occupy positions of power, both through social networks and inherited assets. Yet, the Byzantine Empire saw changes throughout its thousand-year-old history, earning it the epithet “the Greek Middle Ages.” The elite classes in late antiquity renewed at a rapid rate, even among imperial entourage. After the eighth century, transmissible lineage names appear that are typical of an aristocracy highly specialized in warfare and positioned at the apex of the elite strata. From the twelfth century onward, the highest court honors were reserved for members of imperial dynasties formed by a policy of marriage. At the same time, the highest-ranking aristocrats began to benefit from the mass transfer of income at source, as mandated by the emperor, who had previously directly distributed his riches.