Konstantinos, protospatharios, grand chartoularios of the genikon, judge of the Hippodrome, the Velon and of Armeniakon and mystographos, 11th century. Seal (Lead, 33 mm, 15.15 g, 12 h). MHP ΘV The Mother of God “Blachernitissa”, nimbate, raising both hands in prayer. Rev. +KЄ R,Θ, / KⲰN A’CΠAΘ, / MΓ X,T૪Λ, T૪ ΓЄ, / KPIT, ЄΠI T૪ / IΠΠ,ΔP, T૪ R,Λ, / T, APMЄN,AK, / S MVCT,ΓP,Φ, in eight lines, decorations above and flanking the last line. Zacos II 432 bis, first variety. A large and impressive Byzantine seal of an important Byzantine bureaucrat. Minor marks and deposits, otherwise, very fine.




Eight lines of heavily abbreviated legend can barely hold the extensive titulature of this evidently important Byzantine bureaucrat. In addition to the court rank of protospatharios, Konstantinos holds a number of judicial offices. Two of them were major posts inside the Capital: he served in the public tribunal that was located within the Hippodrome, and in the tribunal of the Veil (tou Velou) inside the imperial palace. Interestingly, he also held a provincial position, in the Armeniakon theme. As if this was not enough, Konstantinos also served as a major bureaucrat of the Genikon, the Byzantine fiscal department. Lastly, as a mystographos, he was probably attending to scribal duties during “secret” imperial audiences.