The kanikleios (Greek: κανίκλειος), more formally chartoularios tou kanikleiou or epi tou kanikleiou (Greek: [χαρτουλάριος] ἐπὶ τοῦ κανικλείου) was one of the most senior offices in the Byzantine imperial chancery.
[1] Its holder was the keeper of the imperial inkstand, the kanikleion, which was shaped as a little dog (Latin: canicula) and contained the scarlet ink with which the Byzantine emperor signed state documents.
[2] In the Kletorologion of 899 it is ranked among the "special dignities" (ἀξίαι εἰδικαί, axiai eidikai), following the synkellos and preceding the protostrator.
[1] The office was often given to trusted aides by the emperors, who functioned as effective chief ministers: most notably Theoktistos under Michael III (r. 842–867),[2] Nikephoros Ouranos in the early reign of Basil II (r. 976–1025),[4] the powerful Theodore Styppeiotes under Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–1180),[5] Nikephoros Alyates under John III Vatatzes (r. 1221–1254) and Michael VIII (r. 1259–1261), and the scholar Nikephoros Choumnos, who also held the post of prime minister (mesazōn), under Andronikos II Palaiologos (r. 1282–1328).
[6] The last recorded holder of this office was Alexios Palaiologos Tzamplakon c. 1438.