Rhaiktor

The rhaiktor (Medieval Greek: ῥαίκτωρ, the Hellenized form of Latin: rector) was a high-ranking court position of the middle Byzantine Empire.

Seal of an 11th-century rhaiktor Basil. Legend: K[ΥΡΙ]E B[ΟΗΘΕΙ] TΩ CΩ Δ[ΟΥΛΩ] / ΒΑCΙΛΕΙΩ ΡΑΙΚΤΩΡΙ ΑΜΗΝ.

History and functions

J. B. Bury assumed that the post was created either under Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912) or his father Basil I the Macedonian (r. 867–886),^[1] but Nicolas Oikonomides restored it in the text of the Taktikon Uspensky of c. 843.^[2] The title is also found in seals of the 7th and 8th centuries, but with a different sense; thus a "rhaiktor of Calabria" was the administrator of the local estates of the See of Rome in Calabria.^[3]

The Kletorologion of 899 includes the rhaiktor among the 'special dignities' (axiai eidikai).^[3][4] 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".^[1][3] Earlier authors suggested that the title was related, or even identical, to the later title of proedros, but the theory was rejected by Rodolphe Guilland.^[5] His ceremony of appointment is recorded in Constantine VII's De Ceremoniis.^[1] The reports of the ambassador to the Byzantine court Liutprand of Cremona show the rhaiktor as playing an important role in court ceremonies under Constantine VII.^[6]

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 stratopedarches or logothetes tou genikou.^[3] In the lists of precedence to the imperial banquets of the 9th–10th centuries he occupied a very prominent place, coming right after the magistroi and before the synkellos and the patrikioi.^[7][8] The title disappears from the sources after the reign of Constantine IX Monomachos (r. 1042–1055).^[3][9]

At the same time, the title also appears as a family name: the magistros and 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 (r. 1078–1081) a monk called Rhektor pretended to be Michael VII Doukas (r. 1071–1078) and tried to overthrow the emperor.^[9]

List of known rhaiktores

Name	Tenure	Appointed by	Notes	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.	[10]
John the Rhaiktor	c. 922	Romanos I Lekapenos	A cleric, he was rhaiktor and paradynasteuon of Romanos, he was forced to retire to a monastery. He led a diplomatic mission to Bulgaria c. 929, and was blinded and exiled along with others in 946 for plotting against Constantine VII.	[10][11]
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 magistros and rhaiktor by Constantine VII.	[10]
Basil	c. 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.	[10]
Basil	c. 993	Basil II	Recorded only in two acts of the Great Lavra monastery as rhaiktor and genikos logothetes.	[10]
Niketas	c. 1035 (?)	unknown	Only mentioned briefly in the Peira of Eustathios Rhomaios.	[10]
Sagmatas	later 11th century	unknown	Addressee of a letter of Michael Psellos, later apparently advanced to the posts of synkellos and logothetes tou dromou.	[10]
Nikephoros	c. 1050	Constantine IX Monomachos	A eunuch and former monk, he became a court favourite of Constantine IX, who named him rhaiktor and stratopedarches. Sent to command against the Pechenegs, he was heavily defeated in battle near the Iron Gates.	[12]