DER TERMINUS ΠΡΟΝΟΗΤΗΣ IN DER BYZANTINISCHEN VERWALTUNG
Term ΠΡΟΝΟΗΤΗΣ in Byzantine Administration

Summary/Abstract: The article examines on the basis of the small number of essential literary and sigillographic evidence the scope and duties of the προνοηταί (as a terminus technicus) in the Byzantine administration. The earliest evidence comes from the 6th century, the latest from the 12th. Already in the Early Byzantine period the scope of their activities is fi xed: administration of domains and municipal and fi scal administration. Acting in the capacity of stewards of private and offi cial real estate these people were responsible for collecting and transmitting taxes to the responsible department, minus an allowance for themselves. Their colleagues in the municipal and provincial administration were revenue offi cers with special authority. In the provincial administration of the 11th the pronoetai were sometimes also ἀναγραφεῖς in their region. Till now we know only one example of a commander of a thema who was at the same time also a προνοητής (Eustathios Charsianites). The προνοηταὶ τοῦ δημοσίου (scil. fi scus) were authorized to exact outstanding taxes. A special case is the προνοητής of the alms-house of Michael Attaleiates in Rhaidestos, because he was the highest administrator of all its estates and dependencies. Normally the προνοηταί were administrators of a lower rank in the domains, subject to the οἰκονόμος or the κουράτωρ.

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