In Byzantium, the logothete of the army (logothetes tou stratiotikou) managed the finances and supplies of the army. Originally, these duties were performed by the praetorian prefect, but the part concerning the military was separated and included in a distinct logothesion. The first logothetes tou stratiotikou was Julian, appointed in 680. This office disappeared after 1088. The exact scope of the army logothete’s duties was not strictly defined. It is indicated that he supervised taxation (imposing taxes or granting exemptions) for soldiers’ families. It is also known that until the 11th century, he performed certain legal functions. It is also claimed that he oversaw the main areas of military operation, such as: recruitment of units, construction of fortifications, and expenditure of financial resources allocated to the army. Subordinates of the logothetes tou stratiotikou included, among others: the head of lower-ranking officials of the department, the financial controller of regional defense units and operational troops, and officials responsible for the distribution of financial resources to individual units.
The foundation of the Byzantine Empire’s armed forces was disciplined, heavy cavalry. A cataphract’s armament usually consisted of a bow, a quiver, a long pike, a broad-bladed sword, a dagger, and sometimes a battle axe. His equipment included: a round or conical helmet with a plume on top, chainmail, steel shoes, leather boots or greaves, gloves, and a round shield. Horses, especially those of officers and non-commissioned officers, were protected by chainmail similar to that used by the riders. The infantry of the Byzantine Empire consisted of heavy infantry, equipped the same as the cataphracts, and light infantry, the majority of which were archers.
Organization of army supply
A soldier received his pay in silver after deducting the costs of armament, horse, clothing, and provisions allocated to him by the intendancy both in peacetime and during war. In the 3rd century, this system began to collapse due to increasingly frequent campaigns and the devaluation of silver coinage. At the beginning of the 4th century, the annual pay (stipendium) disappeared, depreciated by inflation. In the meantime, a remuneration system was implemented, based on the one hand on donativa, i.e., monetary gifts distributed by the emperor on the occasion of his accession to the throne, birthdays, or other festive occasions, and on the other – on the distribution of food rations – mainly grain, oil, meat or fat, and wine, which were part of the annona, which, as an initially annual tribute, was gradually incorporated into the regular tax system. Taxpayers were burdened with the obligation to provide food, fodder, clothing, etc., intended for the army every year. A division of roles was developed between those who dealt with collecting a given food item, transporting it to warehouses, and delivering it to the appropriate units. Detailed inspections were intended to prevent abuses by military supply authorities to the detriment of suppliers, as well as against the soldiers themselves.
The article comes from the magazine “Logistyka” 1/2011.
L2011-1s.80.pdf
