1 A Short (and rough) Guide to Byzantine Names for SCA personae This is a listing of names that may be useful for constructing Byzantine persona. Having said that, please note that the term „Byzantine‟ is one that was not used in the time of the Empire. They referred to themselves as Romans. Please also note that this is compiled by a non-historian and non-linguist. When errors are detected, please let me know so that I can correct them. Additional material is always welcomed. It is a work in progress and will be added to as I have time to research more books. This is the second major revision and the number of errors picked up is legion. If you have an earlier copy throw it away now. Some names of barbarians who became citizens are included. Names from „client states‟ such as Serbia and Bosnia, as well as adversaries, can be found in my other article called Names for other Eastern Cultures. In itself it is not sufficient documentation for heraldic submission, but it will give you ideas and tell you where to start looking. The use of (?) means that either I have nothing that gives me an idea, or that I am not sure of what I have. If there are alternatives given of „c‟, „x‟ and „k‟ modern scholarship prefers the „k‟. „K‟ is closer to the original in both spelling and pronunciation. Baron, OP, Strategos tous notious okeanous, known to the Latins as Hrolf Current update 12/08/2011 Family Names ............................................................. 2 Male First Names ........................................................ 6 Female First Names .................................................... 10 Castles, Villages, Towns and Cities ........................... 11 Themes, Districts, other nations etc ............................ 18 Geographical Features ................................................ 19 Imperial Institutions, Offices and Ranks .................... 20 Other Occupations ...................................................... 26 Possible and Definite Nicknames ............................... 26 Titles Suitable for Foreign Rulers ............................... 27 Terms and words ......................................................... 28 Bibliography ............................................................... 29 2 Family Names The family name ends in „us‟, „as‟, „os‟ or „es‟ if the person is male and „a‟ or „ina‟ if female. Thus Alexius Comnenus‟ daughter is Anna Comnena. Sometimes a series of surnames would be put together to show genealogy by birth or marriage (eg Theodora Branaina Komnene Laskarina Cantacuzene Palaiologos, BL4). This was more common in later periods and much more common with females than males. Originally surnames were often taken from an adjective or common word, but could be from a Latin or other barbarian name. When talking of the whole family, in the plural, an „oi‟ is used, thus Akrtoi or Comnenoi. Acritas: see Akritas 1354 (BL71), John III Asen was 13c Tsar of Areobindus (Ἀ ξεόβηλδνο): Flavius A, Consul in 506 Bulgaria (W) Asidenus (Ἀ ζηδελόο), Sabbas A, 13th century Agapetas (Ἀ γαπεηόο): John IX, 12th century Patriarch, sebastokrator (BM107) (AC521) Aspietes: Michael 12th century general (BM129) Akindynos (Ἀ θίλδπλνο): Gregory Γξεγόξηνο 14th Asticus: Fulvius, 4th century governor of Asia century monk (BL69) (BM461) Akritas or Acritas (Αθξίηαο): Basil Digenis A, soldier Attaleiates (Ἀ ηηαιεηάηεο): Michael A, 11th century and hero of an epic poem, Digenis Akritoi, see judge (PL584) Akritoi (L221) Autoreianus (Ἀ πησξεηαλόο): Michael IV, Patriarch of Akropolites (Ἀ θξνπνιίηεο), George A, megas Constantinople (BM444) Arsenios I A, 13th century logothetes (BM246); his son Constantine 13th Patriarch (BL33) century scholar (BL42) Balsamon (Βαιζακῶλ): Theodorus B (Θεόδσξνο), Alakaseus: John A, patrician & military leader of 12th century canonical commentator & Patriarch of Alexius I (AC303) Antioch (PL600, PL562) Alyates: Theodore A, general at Manzikert (AC409) Baradaeus (other spellings include Al Baradai, Amenas: Michael A (BM585) Burdoho, Burdeono, Burdeana, or Burdeaya): Jacob Ammonathas: Apa A, monophystite priest (BP8) 6th century Monophysite leader (AC465) Ampelas: 12th century general (AC455) Bardanes (Βαξδάλεο): Philippicus B, Emperor 711- Anargyrus: Cosmas & Damian saints (BL93) 715 (W) Anemas: Michael A, 12th century rebel (AC382) Barsymes (Βαξζύκεο): Peter B, 6th century consul Angelus (Άγγεινο) (fem Angelina) Isaac II, 1185- (BM243) 1195; Alexius III, 1195-1203, Alexius IV, 1203- Basilacius: George 12th century general (BM585) 1204 Basilides (Βαζηιείδεο): magister (BM630) Anicia: Juliana A, patrician (BM203) Beccos: see Bekkos Antiochi: rebel family (AC382) Bekkos or Beccos: John XI, 13th century Patriarch Apion: country family founded by Theodore (W), (BL38) family records date 488-625 (W); prominent Berhoiotes: George, megas diermeneutes (BM440) patrician family in Egypt 6-7th centuries, Flavius Bessarion (Βεζζαξίσλ): Basilios B 15th century cleric Strategius A (BM464) from Trebizond who became a Latin Cardinal Apocaucus: see Apokaukos (BP128) Apokaukos or Apocaucus: John (BL86) Alexius, Blastares: Matthew, 14th century monk, legal megas doux (BM223) commentator, and opponent of reconciliation (MoL Argyrus: (Αξγπξόο) (BM 145) Romanus Ρσκαλόο III, 193) 1028-1034 (BM145) Boilas: Eustathius 11th century magnate (PL572) Aristenos (Ἀ ξηζηελόο): Alexios A 9th century jurist Botaneiates or Botaniates (Βνηαλεηάηεο): Nicephorus and commentator on canon law, (PL562) III, 1078-81 (BM65) Armenopoulos: see Harmenopoulos Botaniates: see Botaneiates Armatus: Flavius A, 5th century magister militum Boutoumites (Βνπηνπκίηεο): Manuel, doux of Alexius (BM243) I (AC271) (BM56) Artemius (Ἀ ξηέκηνο): Anastasius II A, Emperor 713- Branaina: Theodora, nun (BL4) 15 (BP13) Branas (Βξαλᾶ ο): Alexius, 12th century general Asenes (Αζάλεο) (fem Asenina): Eirene Asenina (BM48) Cantacuzene, Bulgarian Princess and Empress 1347- Briennius or Bryennius (Βξπέλληνο): Nicephorus, the Younger, husband of Anna Comnena 3 Bringas (Βξίγγαο): Michael VI B Gerontas 1056-7 Dalassena: thalassocrator under Alexius I (AC270); (BM137) maiden name of Anna, mother of Alexius I (PL573) Bryennius: see Briennius Dandalo: Enrico, Patriarch of Grado (BM334); Burtzes: Michael, 10th century general (AC481) nephew doge of Venice () Byzantios (Βπδάληηνο): Stephanos, ΢ηέθαλνο 6th Daphopates: Theodorus, secretary to Romanus I century geographer (BM160) (PL618) Cabasilas: seeKabasilas Daphnomeles (Γαθλνκήιεο): Eustathios, 11th century Caloethus: Nicholas, grammatikus (BM441) strategos (AC304) Camytzes or Kamytzes (Κακύηδεο): Manual, Diogenes (Γηνγέλεο): Romanus IV, 1068-1071 protostrator 1201 (BM106); Eustathius C, 12th (BM124), Adralestos D, diplomat (AC418) century general (AC408) Domentianus: craven 7th century commander in Egypt Cantacuzenus or Kantakouzenos (Καληαθνπδελόο): (HK155) John VI, Emperor 1347-1354 (BM161); Matthew K, Doukas (Γνύθαο) (fem Doukaina): surname taken Emperor 1353-1357 (W) from the title dux; Helena D, Queen of the Two Castamonites: Nicetas, 12th century rebel (AC382) Sicilies 1258-1266 (BL11), her father despot of Cecaumenus: Catacalon C, 11th century archon Epiros (BL12); Constantine X D, basilicus 1059- (AC289, PL608) 1067 (BM159); Alexius V D, basilicus 1204; Cephalas (Κέθαινο): Constantine, 11th century Dragasēs (m) /Dragasē (f): Greek form of Dragaš, anthologist (BM 106) taken as dynastic name by Constantine XI, the last Cerularius: Michael I Patriarch of Constantinople 11th Emperor (W), Elenē D, his mother, Serbian princess century (PL589) and wife of Manuel II Palaiologos (taken from 15th Chalintzes: Nicetas, 11th century diplomat (AC357) century miniature). Cheilas: Nikephorus, 15th century courtier (BP138) Ducas (fem Ducaena): see Doukas Choerosphactes (Υνηξνζθάθηεο): Leo C, 9th century Eirenikos: Theodore II, Patriarch of Constantinople envoy (L194) (BM444) Choniates (Υσληάηεο): Nicetas, doux (BM435) Eroticus: Manuel 10th century prefect (AC335) Chortasmenos: John C, 15th century theologian Eudocia, Eudokia or Eudoxia: Aelia E, augusta, wife (BP139) of Theodosius II (BM201); Licinia E, augusta, wife Choumnos (Υνῦ κλνο) (fem Choumnaina): Eirene- of Valentinian III (BM201) Eulogia Choumnaina Palaiologina, 14th century Eudoxia: see Eudocia Princess and Abbess (BL59) Eugenikos (Δπγεληθόο): Mark (of Ephesus) E, 15th Chrysoberges (Υξπζνβέξγεο): Andrew C, 15th century century theologian (BP135), nickname became a Latin convert (BP143), Louka C, 12th century family name. Patriarch (L231) Euphorbenus: George, soldier of Alexius I (AC271) Chrysokokkes: George C, 15th century scholar Exazenus: rebel ducas (AC390) (BP129) Ferro: brothers (BM230) Chrysoloras: Manuel or Emmanuel C, 15th century Flaccilla: Aelia, augusta, first wife of Theodosius I theologian & teacher (BP139) (BM491) Cinnamus (Κίλλακνο, Κίλακνο or ΢ίλλακνο): John, Gabalas (Γαβαιᾶ ο): John & Leo, brothers and 13th 12th century writer (BM38) century rulers of Rhodes (BM525) Climacus (Κιίκαθνο): John C, 7th century theologian Gabras (Γαβξᾶ ο): Theodore, governor of Trebizond and saint, sometimes called John of the Ladder and rebel (AC350) Κιίκαμ (PL623) Garidas (Γαξηδᾶ ο): Eustratius, 11th century Patriarch Comnenus: see Komnenos (AC521) Constantine: Tiberius II, 578-582 () Gemistos (Γεκηζηόο): Georgius, 15th century scholar, Contostephanus: see Kontostephanos later called Plethon (BP130) Critopoulo: Chostantin (BM538) Genesius (Γελἐ ζηνο): Joseph, 10th century historian, Curcuas: see Kourkouas may not be a real person (BM224) Curticius: