The Manglabites or Manglavites (Greek: μαγ[γ]λαβίται, manglabitai; sing. μαγ[γ]λαβίτης, manglabitēs) were a corps of bodyguards in the Byzantine Empire.
Their name derives from the term manglabion (μαγγλάβιον, "cudgel") which was also used to designate the entire corps. The origin of the term itself is debated: one theory regards it as deriving from Arabicmijlab ("whip"), while another from Latinmanus ("hand") and clava ("cudgel").[1]
Historyedit
The manglabitai first appear in the 9th century, when, along with the imperial Hetaireia, they were responsible for the personal safety of the emperor. Armed with swords, the manglabitai preceded him in ceremonies and were responsible for the unlocking of certain gates of the imperial palace, the Great Palace of Constantinople, every morning.[1]
Structureedit
An individual manglabitēs was of relatively lowly origin and status, often even illiterate. However, their commander, known as prōtomanglabitēs (πρωτομαγγλαβίτης, "first manglabitēs") or epi tou manglabiou (ἐπί τοῦ μαγγλαβίου, "in charge of the manglabion"), ranked high in the imperial hierarchy due to his proximity to the emperor.[1] The manglabitai as an imperial bodyguard appear to have disappeared by the late 11th century, but there is sigillographic evidence for "manglabitai of the Great Church" (i.e. the Patriarchate of Constantinople) from the 11th through the 13th centuries.[1]
Notable membersedit
The perhaps most famous manglabitēs was the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada, who received the title in recognition of his services in the Varangian Guard in the 1030s.
manglabites, manglavites, greek, μαγ, λαβίται, manglabitai, sing, μαγ, λαβίτης, manglabitēs, were, corps, bodyguards, byzantine, empire, contents, etymology, history, structure, notable, members, referencesetymology, edittheir, name, derives, from, term, mangl. The Manglabites or Manglavites Greek mag g labitai manglabitai sing mag g labiths manglabites were a corps of bodyguards in the Byzantine Empire Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 3 Structure 4 Notable members 5 ReferencesEtymology editTheir name derives from the term manglabion magglabion cudgel which was also used to designate the entire corps The origin of the term itself is debated one theory regards it as deriving from Arabic mijlab whip while another from Latin manus hand and clava cudgel 1 History editThe manglabitai first appear in the 9th century when along with the imperial Hetaireia they were responsible for the personal safety of the emperor Armed with swords the manglabitai preceded him in ceremonies and were responsible for the unlocking of certain gates of the imperial palace the Great Palace of Constantinople every morning 1 Structure editAn individual manglabites was of relatively lowly origin and status often even illiterate However their commander known as prōtomanglabites prwtomagglabiths first manglabites or epi tou manglabiou ἐpi toῦ magglabioy in charge of the manglabion ranked high in the imperial hierarchy due to his proximity to the emperor 1 The manglabitai as an imperial bodyguard appear to have disappeared by the late 11th century but there is sigillographic evidence for manglabitai of the Great Church i e the Patriarchate of Constantinople from the 11th through the 13th centuries 1 Notable members editThe perhaps most famous manglabites was the Norwegian king Harald Hardrada who received the title in recognition of his services in the Varangian Guard in the 1030s References edit a b c d Kazhdan Alexander ed 1991 Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford University Press p 1284 ISBN 978 0 19 504652 6 nbsp This Byzantine Empire related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Manglabites amp oldid 1155550108, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
