Toparchēs (Greek: τοπάρχης, "place-ruler"), anglicized as toparch, is a Greek term for a governor or ruler of a district and was later applied to the territory where the toparch exercised his authority.[1] In Byzantine times, the term came to be applied to independent or semi-independent rulers in the periphery of the Byzantine world.
The term originates in Hellenistic times, when topos (τόπος, "place, locale") was established as an administrative unit, most notably in the Ptolemaic Kingdom, but also among the Seleucids and Attalids, although less well attested in comparison to Ptolemaic practice.[2] The Ptolemaic topos comprised a number of villages (komai, sing. komē) under a toparchēs and was in turn a subdivision of the nomos (nome or province), which was governed by a strategos.[3] In Ptolemaic Egypt, the toparches was usually an Egyptian, and was responsible for the collection of revenue and administration, much as the nomarchēs for the nomos and the komarchēs for each komē.[2] In an account, the toparchies constituted the hyparchies such as Gaulanitis, Galilea, Samaria, Judea, Perea, and Idumaea during New Testament times.[4] The title remained in use under the Roman Empire in the Greek East, for the governor of a district. Such districts were then called "toparchies" (sing. toparchy, from Greek τοπαρχία, toparchia).[5]
Byzantine EmpireEdit
In the 6th century, in the Novellae Constitutiones of Emperor Justinian I, the term toparchēs was used to encompass all local magistrates, both civilian and military.[6]
More often, however, Byzantine writers use the term to refer to local monarchs, especially during the 10th–13th centuries, when, according to the Byzantinist Paul Lemerle, "a toparchēs is the independent ruler of a foreign territory adjoining the Empire... He is in some manner under the influence of the Empire, as it is supposed that he may rebel against the Byzantines". This usage extended not only to actual breakaway or de facto autonomous Byzantine governors, who appear during the military crises and administrative disintegration of the 11th–12th centuries, but was also applied to independent rulers, usually on the periphery of the Byzantine Empire (e.g. the Emir of Crete, various Turkish lords in Anatolia, or the rulers of Bulgaria or Serbia), of territories which the Byzantines considered rightfully theirs.[6][7]
In this context, the late 11th-century writer Kekaumenos dedicates a large part of his Strategikon to advising the toparchēs on his conduct and dealings with the emperor and the other Byzantine governors.[6]
ReferencesEdit
^Bagnall, Roger S. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology. New York: Oxford University Press, USA. p. 527. ISBN9780195178388.
^ abEder, Walter. "Topos". Brill's New Pauly. Brill Online. doi:10.1163/1574-9347_bnp_e1217420.
^Fried, Lisbeth S. (2011). Was 1 Esdras First?: An Investigation Into the Priority and Nature of 1 Esdras. Atlanta, GA: Society of Biblical Literature. p. 182. ISBN9781589835443.
^Barnett, Paul (1999). Jesus & the Rise of Early Christianity: A History of New Testament Times. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic. p. 49. ISBN9780830826995.
^Cheynet, Jean-Claude (1984). "Toparque et topotèrètès à la fin du 11e siècle" (PDF). Revue des Études Byzantines (in French). 42: 215–224. doi:10.3406/rebyz.1984.2156.
Further readingEdit
Margetić, Lujo (1986). "Toparque, tep'ci (topotèrètès) et dad en Croatie au 11e siècle". Revue des Études Byzantines (in French). 44: 257–262. doi:10.3406/rebyz.1986.2194.
October 20, 2023
toparches, toparchēs, greek, τοπάρχης, place, ruler, anglicized, toparch, greek, term, governor, ruler, district, later, applied, territory, where, toparch, exercised, authority, byzantine, times, term, came, applied, independent, semi, independent, rulers, pe. Toparches Greek toparxhs place ruler anglicized as toparch is a Greek term for a governor or ruler of a district and was later applied to the territory where the toparch exercised his authority 1 In Byzantine times the term came to be applied to independent or semi independent rulers in the periphery of the Byzantine world Contents 1 Hellenistic usage 2 Byzantine Empire 3 References 4 Further readingHellenistic usage EditThe term originates in Hellenistic times when topos topos place locale was established as an administrative unit most notably in the Ptolemaic Kingdom but also among the Seleucids and Attalids although less well attested in comparison to Ptolemaic practice 2 The Ptolemaic topos comprised a number of villages komai sing kome under a toparches and was in turn a subdivision of the nomos nome or province which was governed by a strategos 3 In Ptolemaic Egypt the toparches was usually an Egyptian and was responsible for the collection of revenue and administration much as the nomarches for the nomos and the komarches for each kome 2 In an account the toparchies constituted the hyparchies such as Gaulanitis Galilea Samaria Judea Perea and Idumaea during New Testament times 4 The title remained in use under the Roman Empire in the Greek East for the governor of a district Such districts were then called toparchies sing toparchy from Greek toparxia toparchia 5 Byzantine Empire EditIn the 6th century in the Novellae Constitutiones of Emperor Justinian I the term toparches was used to encompass all local magistrates both civilian and military 6 More often however Byzantine writers use the term to refer to local monarchs especially during the 10th 13th centuries when according to the Byzantinist Paul Lemerle a toparches is the independent ruler of a foreign territory adjoining the Empire He is in some manner under the influence of the Empire as it is supposed that he may rebel against the Byzantines This usage extended not only to actual breakaway or de facto autonomous Byzantine governors who appear during the military crises and administrative disintegration of the 11th 12th centuries but was also applied to independent rulers usually on the periphery of the Byzantine Empire e g the Emir of Crete various Turkish lords in Anatolia or the rulers of Bulgaria or Serbia of territories which the Byzantines considered rightfully theirs 6 7 In this context the late 11th century writer Kekaumenos dedicates a large part of his Strategikon to advising the toparches on his conduct and dealings with the emperor and the other Byzantine governors 6 References Edit Bagnall Roger S 2009 The Oxford Handbook of Papyrology New York Oxford University Press USA p 527 ISBN 9780195178388 a b Eder Walter Topos Brill s New Pauly Brill Online doi 10 1163 1574 9347 bnp e1217420 Fried Lisbeth S 2011 Was 1 Esdras First An Investigation Into the Priority and Nature of 1 Esdras Atlanta GA Society of Biblical Literature p 182 ISBN 9781589835443 Barnett Paul 1999 Jesus amp the Rise of Early Christianity A History of New Testament Times Downers Grove Illinois IVP Academic p 49 ISBN 9780830826995 Kiessling Emil 1937 Toparches Realencyclopadie der Classischen Altertumswissenschaft Vol Band VIA Halbband 12 Timon Tribus p 1716 a b c Kazhdan Alexander 1991 Toparches In Kazhdan Alexander ed The Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium Oxford and New York Oxford University Press p 2095 ISBN 0 19 504652 8 Cheynet Jean Claude 1984 Toparque et topoteretes a la fin du 11e siecle PDF Revue des Etudes Byzantines in French 42 215 224 doi 10 3406 rebyz 1984 2156 Further reading EditMargetic Lujo 1986 Toparque tep ci topoteretes et dad en Croatie au 11e siecle Revue des Etudes Byzantines in French 44 257 262 doi 10 3406 rebyz 1986 2194 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toparches amp oldid 1175698859, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
