Vestarches

Vestarches (Greek: βεστάρχης) was a senior Byzantine honorific dignity in use from the late 10th to early 12th centuries.

[1] Etymologically, these terms are related to the vestiarion, the imperial wardrobe, but despite earlier attempts (cf.

Bréhier) to connect the vestai or vestarches with the officials of the vestiarion, no such relation appears to have existed.

[2][3] It is first mentioned in the Escorial Taktikon, a list of offices and court titles and their precedence compiled in the 970s.

Its holders included famed generals such as Michael Bourtzes, Nikephoros Melissenos, and possibly also the future Byzantine emperors Nikephoros Botaneiates and Romanos Diogenes, but also some senior judicial officials of Constantinople.