Despot (court title) facts for kids
The word Despot (pronounced des-pot) comes from the Greek word despótēs, which means 'lord' or 'master'. In ancient times, it was a respectful title. But over time, especially in modern English, it changed to mean a ruler who has total power and uses it unfairly or cruelly. Think of it like how the word "tyrant" also changed its meaning from a ruler to a harsh one.
In the Byzantine Empire, a powerful empire that lasted for over a thousand years, "Despot" was a very important court title. It was usually given to the emperor's sons or sons-in-law. At first, it meant the person who was next in line to become emperor.
This title spread from the Byzantine Empire to other countries in the Balkans during the Middle Ages. Countries like the Second Bulgarian Empire and the Serbian Empire also used it. Sometimes, rulers who held this title governed their own areas, which were called "despotates." Famous ones include the Despotate of Epirus and the Despotate of the Morea.
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What is a Despot?
The original Greek word despotes simply meant 'lord'. It was similar to another Greek word, kyrios. It was also like the Latin word dominus. People used despotes to show respect to important people, like God, bishops, and especially the Roman and Byzantine Emperors.
Sometimes, co-emperors (rulers who shared power with the main emperor) were called despotes on coins. This was a sign of respect, not yet an official title. Before the 12th century, it was often used interchangeably with the more formal title of basileus, which meant 'emperor'.
How the Title Became Official
The title of Despot started to become a specific court title in the Byzantine Empire around 1163. Emperor Manuel I Komnenos gave it to Béla III of Hungary. Béla was the emperor's son-in-law and was expected to become emperor himself until Manuel had his own son. A historian at the time said that the title of Despot was like being the 'heir-apparent' (the person next in line to the throne) in Hungary.
From then on, the title of Despot became the highest honor in the Byzantine Empire, right after the emperor himself. Even though it was a very high title, emperors still sometimes used the word despotes in its older, general sense of 'lord' on their seals and coins.
Who Received the Title?
In the later years of the Byzantine Empire, the title of Despot was often given to the emperor's younger sons. The oldest sons were usually crowned as co-emperors. It was also given to the emperor's sons-in-law.
Being a Despot came with many honors and special rights. They often controlled large estates (areas of land) that helped them pay for their households and staff. However, the title was mostly about status and honor. It didn't usually come with specific military or government jobs.
Women could not hold noble titles themselves. But the wife of a Despot, called a despotess, had the right to wear the same special clothes and symbols as her husband. Despotesses were also very important women at court, second only to the empress.
Spread of the Title
The use of the Despot title spread to other countries in the Balkans. The Latin Empire, which was set up by Western European crusaders in Constantinople, also used it. They gave it to important people like Enrico Dandolo, the leader of Venice, and a local Bulgarian ruler named Alexius Slav.
In Bulgaria, the title was introduced around 1279. In the Serbian Empire, it was given to many important Serbian nobles. Even smaller areas, like the Albanian "despots of Arta," used the title.
The Byzantine emperors tried to convince the rulers of the Empire of Trebizond to accept the title of Despot instead of claiming to be emperors themselves. Only a few of them accepted it, and even then, they still used their own imperial title in their lands.
After the last Byzantine Emperor, Constantine XI Palaiologos, died in 1453, the title was rarely given out. However, the Pope gave it to Andreas Palaiologos, who was an heir to the Byzantine throne, in 1465. The King of Hungary also gave it to the heirs of the Serbian Despotate.
Despotates: Lands Ruled by Despots
From the mid-1300s, emperors sometimes gave territories to princes who held the rank of Despot. These areas were ruled almost like independent states, and they became known as "despotates." The most famous Byzantine despotates were the Despotate of Epirus and the Despotate of the Morea.
It's important to know that the title of Despot was not passed down automatically from father to son, nor was it tied to a specific piece of land. Even in the "despotates," a son might take over his father's territory, but he wouldn't get the title of Despot unless the emperor officially gave it to him again. The title was a personal honor, separate from the land or job of the person holding it.
Special Clothes and Symbols
According to old Byzantine books, the Despot's special clothes and symbols were mostly purple and white, and they were richly decorated with pearls. Here are some details:
- A special hat called a skiadion was covered in pearls. It had a neck-cover with the Despot's name sewn in gold.
- For ceremonies, they wore a domed hat called a skaranikon, decorated with gold, jewels, and pearls.
- They wore a red tunic (a long shirt) like the emperor's, but without military symbols. They also had red leggings and a red cloak. For parties, they wore a long, kaftan-like kabbadion in red or purple, decorated with pearls.
- Their soft boots were purple and white, with imperial eagles made of pearls on the sides. Even their spurs were purple and white. In very special cases, an emperor might allow a Despot to wear red boots, just like the emperor, to show extra favor.
- The Despot's saddle and horse decorations were also purple and white, with pearl eagles. Their tent was white with small red eagles.
A Despot also had the right to sign their letters with a dark red ink, while the emperor used a bright red ink.
Important Despots in History
Many important figures in Byzantine and Balkan history held the title of Despot. These include:
- Béla III of Hungary: He was the first person to receive the title as an official court rank from Emperor Manuel I Komnenos in 1163.
- Theodore I Laskaris: He was a son-in-law of Emperor Alexios III Angelos and later founded the Empire of Nicaea, which was a successor state to the Byzantine Empire.
- Michael VIII Palaiologos: He was declared regent (a temporary ruler) and then Despot before becoming emperor himself in 1259. He eventually restored the Byzantine Empire.
- John Palaiologos: Michael VIII's brother, who was also made a Despot after a big victory.
- Manuel Kantakouzenos: He was the first "Despot of the Morea" and ruled that region from 1349 until his death.
- Theodore I Palaiologos: Another important Despot of the Morea, who ruled a large area in southern Greece.
- Constantine XI Palaiologos: He was a Despot in the Morea before becoming the very last Byzantine Emperor.
- Stefan Lazarević: A Serbian ruler who was given the title of Despot by the Byzantine Emperor in 1402. He ruled the "Serbian Despotate" as an independent lord.
These are just a few examples of the many people who held this important and changing title throughout history.
Images for kids
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Empress Eudokia Ingerina with her sons Leo VI and Alexander, who were called Despots.
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Emperor Manuel II Palaiologos with his family: Empress Helena Dragaš and three of their sons, including two Despots.
