The logothetēs tou genikou, often called genikos logothetēs or simply ho genikos, and usually rendered in English as the General Logothete, was in charge of the "general financial ministry", the genikon logothesion of the middleByzantine Empire.
History and functions
The genikon was responsible for general taxation and revenue, and also served as a court for financial cases. As such, it broadly fulfilled the tasks of the earlier sacrae largitiones, although it was mostly derived from the "general department" of the praetorian prefecture. The first attested logothetēs tou genikou, the monk Theodotos, is mentioned in 692, but the post may have been instituted as early as 626. The bureau of the genikon and its logothete remained one of the chief ministries for the entire middle Byzantine period. During the Komnenian period, its importance declined, but recovered under the Angeloi. Following the sack of Constantinople in 1204 and the dissolution of the Byzantine Empire, the office of the logothetēs tou genikou was retained as a purely honorary title by the successor state of Nicaea and the restored Palaiologan Empire after 1261. The mid-14th century writer Pseudo-Kodinos records him in the 20th place in the imperial hierarchy, between the parakoimōmenos of the imperial bedchamber and the prōtovestiaritēs. His distinctive court dress and insignia during this time were a brimmed hat called skiadion of white silk, a silk long kaftan-like kabbadion, and for ceremonies and festivities, a domed skaranikon hat of white and gold silk, with gold-wire embroidery and decorated with images of the emperor in the front and back. Unlike other officials, he bore no staff of office. Amongst the Palaiologan-era holders were significant intellectuals and statesmen, such as George Akropolites and Theodore Metochites. The last recorded logothetēs tou genikou was a certain John Androuses in 1380. By that time, however, its original functions had long been forgotten; as the Pseudo-Kodinos records, "the function of the General Logothete is unknown".
Subordinate officials
The subordinates of the logothetēs tou genikou were:
The chartoularioi megaloi tou sekretou, the heads of the various departments.
The chartoularioi tōn arklōn or exō chartoularioi. As their name signifies, they were the seniortreasury officials posted in the provinces.
The epoptai of the themata, who were the officials charged with control of taxation in the provinces.
The komētes hydatōn, officials probably in charge of aqueducts and water supply in the provinces.
The chartoularios tou oikistikou or simply ho oikistikos, whose precise functions are unknown. It is attested that he was in charge of tax exemptions, and had various juridical duties in some themata in the 11th century; the office may have been associated with the imperial domains. By the 11th century, the office had become an independent bureau, but vanishes after that.
The kommerkiarioi, who were customs officials. Attested since the early 6th century, they are likely the successors of the comes commerciorum mentioned in the Notitia Dignitatum. Initially stationed at the frontier, after the 7th century they were placed at ports or in charge over entire themata or islands.
The epi tēs kouratōrias of the basilikoi oikoi, who supervised the imperial estates.
The komēs tēs lamias, an official probably in charge of the mines and gold bullion. It is therefore usually assumed that he is the successor of the old comes metallorum per Illyricum. From sigillographic evidence through the 11th century, this office was sometimes combined with the positions of epi tōn oikeiakōn and of one of the chartoularioi megaloi of the genikon.
The dioikētai, officials who supervised the collection of taxes, assisted by a number of praktores.
The komentianos, an official of unknown function.
A number of kankellarioi under a prōtokankellarios. Originally senior officials in the praetorian prefecture, in the middle Byzantine period they were mid-level secretaries in the various ministries.
