Byzantine senate

The traditional principles that senatorial rank was hereditary and that the normal way of becoming a member of the senate itself was by holding a magistracy still remained in full force.

However, with the decline of the other traditional Roman offices such as that of tribune the praetorship remained an important portal through which aristocrats could gain access to either the Western or Eastern Senates.

The praetorship was a costly position to hold as praetors were expected to possess a treasury from which they could draw funds for their municipal duties.

Some aristocrats attempted to become senators in order to escape the difficult conditions that were imposed on them by late Roman emperors such as Diocletian (r. 284-305 AD).

The curiales (Roman middle class) were often forced to become decurions where they were charged with participating in local government at their own expense as well as having to collect taxes and pay any deficits from their own pockets.

The spectabiles formed the middle class of the senate and consisted of important statesmen such as proconsuls, vicars and military governors of the provinces.

Whilst the powers of the senate were limited, it could pass resolutions (senatus consulta) which the Emperor might adopt and issue in the form of edicts.

Opinion of the senate and the people being strongly against her, wanting Heraclius' sons to rule, Martina was forced to return to the Great Palace of Constantinople in defeat.

However, Constantine died only four months later, leaving his half-brother Heraklonas as sole ruler, and rumours of Martina having assassinated him started to spread.

Soon afterwards, a revolt led by general of the army named Valentinus began, and Heraklonas was forced to accept his young nephew Constans II, son of Constantine, as co-ruler.

From the seventh century on, it could be said that it was less of an institution than a class of dignitaries,[3] as many of its remaining powers as a body were removed under legal reforms by the emperors Basil I and Leo VI.

[4] The senate's last known act was to elect Nikolaos Kanabos as emperor in opposition to Isaac II and Alexius IV during the Fourth Crusade.

[5] Under the Palaeologus dynasty the title of senator survived for a time, but in the crises of the mid 14th century the ancient office, said to have been founded 2,000 years prior by the first Roman leader, Romulus, finally vanished for good.