Macedoniarch

Macedoniarch (Greek: μακεδονιάρχης) was a Roman-era title for the president of the Koinon of Macedonians. The title was only given to 11 people.

Office

The Macedoniarch was the president of the Koinon of Macedonians,^[1] and sometimes but not always the chief priest of the Roman imperial cult in Roman Macedonia.^[2][3] The office was also considered an important official of the Synhedrion, a provincial council consisted of municipal aristocracy, Roman citizens, and - in some cases - slaves and freedmen.^[4] The Macedoniarch also headed an influential club called the society of Sarapiasts starting from the reign of the Severan dynasty.^[5]

History

See also: List of Macedoniarchs

The earliest record of a Macedoniarch to come from Thessalonica is from 219 AD.^[6] The title was only held by 11 people, six of which are believed to be of Roman descent, based upon them having a cognomen.^[7] An account, however, cited that epigraphic evidences recorded two Macedoniarchs during the first century AD and 23 the following century.^[8]

See also

• Politarch