The title logothete (logothetes, logothetai, logotheta, logothetae, logoteta, logofet, logotet) spread to neighboring regions within the sphere of influence of Constantinople, namely Sicily, Serbia, Wallachia, and Moldavia. The curator, however, although no longer present in the cities of the Byzantine Empire, appeared in rural areas.
Logothetes
Originally, a logothete was an accountant or auditor. In the Byzantine bureaucracy, after the disappearance of many offices of Roman origin, logothetes began to fulfill the duties previously assigned to those positions. Eventually, logothete came to mean minister.
From the administration of the Byzantine Empire, the title logothete was transferred to Western Europe, although it was only used for a long time in Sicily. On this island, the logothete held the position of chancellor. This title was held, for example, by Pietro della Vigna, a powerful and influential minister to King Frederick II of Sicily.
The title logothete was also adopted in the administration of medieval principalities located beyond the northern border of the Byzantine Empire.
In Moldavia, the Grand Logothete (mare logofat) was the chief minister and head of the chancellery office, which can be equated to the function of a modern prime minister. During this period in Wallachia, the logothete was the deputy chairman of the princely council.
Other logothete positions also existed in the administration, namely:
• logofat al doilea – Second Logothete – deputy to the Grand Logothete
• logofat al treilea – Third Logothete – secretary to the Grand Logothete
• logofat de vistierie – logothete of the state treasury
• logofat de camara – logothete of the court
• logofat de obiceiuri – logothete of ceremonies
• logofat de taina – logothete of the secret service
or logofat domnesc – personal secretary to the prince.
Curatores
The early Byzantine city was perfectly integrated into the entire administrative system of which it was a part. The curator of the city was not a representative of the state at that time, but a locally elected official who was more of a financial controller (in Greek logistes) responsible, among other things, for contracts.
The title of curator, along with its duties, was adopted in some regions of southeastern Europe. This is evidenced by recently processed documents regarding the organization of the rural communities of Monomeri and Longi.
In rural areas, curators appeared alongside village headmen (starosts). Their scopes of duties and terms of office were similar. The fundamental difference between the function of a curator and a headman was the mode of selecting candidates for these positions. Candidates undertook the function of curator voluntarily, whereas the selection of a headman from among the peasants was done under compulsion. Both curators and headmen generally performed their duties for one year.
Curators were rarely recruited from other regions of the country. They undertook these duties to satisfy their ambitions and at the same time to earn income. Favorable service conditions encouraged them to continue performing their duties in the following year. Seeking reappointment to the position of curator, they tried to diligently perform their assigned duties. Sometimes, therefore, their scope of activity covered several villages, not just the one in which they resided.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 4/2010.