Byzantine title became synonym for absolute power

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How a Byzantine title became a synonym for absolute power
Story by Noah Smith  •

The word “despot” has a negative connotation in modern usage, implying a ruler who abuses his authority and oppresses his subjects. But where does this term come from, and how did it acquire its current meaning?


The origin of the word “despot” can be traced back to ancient Greece, where it meant simply “lord” or “master”. It was used as a respectful form of address for people of high rank, such as God, bishops, patriarchs, and emperors. It was also the Greek equivalent of the Latin word “dominus”, which had a similar meaning.

was not a formal title until the 12th century, when the Byzantine Emperor Manuel I Komnenos conferred it to his son-in-law and heir-presumptive, B;la III of Hungary. The title was meant to signify the highest rank below the emperor, and was reserved for the sons or sons-in-law of reigning emperors. It also denoted the heir-apparent of the Byzantine throne, until the birth of a son to the emperor.
The title of despot also gave rise to several principalities that were ruled by princes bearing the title of despot. These were either independent states or appanages of the Byzantine Empire, and were mostly located in the Balkans. The most notable of these were the Despotate of Epirus, the Despotate of the Morea, the Despotate of Dobruja, and the Serbian Despotate.

The term “despot” was not just confined to the Byzantine Empire, but spread throughout the late medieval world and was also granted in states under Byzantine cultural influence, such as the Latin Empire, the Second Bulgarian Empire, the Serbian Empire and its successor states.


However, the term “despot” also underwent a semantic shift over time, and came to be associated with tyranny and dictatorship. This change of meaning was influenced by the historical and political context of the times, as well as by the linguistic and cultural differences between the Greek and Latin worlds.

One of the factors that contributed to this shift was the contrast between the term “despot” and other terms that were used to describe rulers in different regions and periods. For example, the ancient Greek word “tyrant” originally bore no negative connotation, and was used to describe rulers who seized power by force. However, the word “tyrant” later acquired a pejorative sense, especially in the context of the classical Greek democracy, where it implied a violation of the constitutional order and the rights of the citizens.

Another factor was the comparison between the term “despot” and the Latin word “dictator”, which was a constitutionally sanctioned office of the Roman Republic. The dictator was appointed by the senate in times of crisis, and had absolute power for a limited period of time. The dictator was expected to resign his office after the crisis was resolved, and to abide by the laws and customs of the republic. The term “dictator” was later used to describe rulers who usurped power and violated the rule of law, such as Julius Caesar and Augustus.

The term “despot” also lost its prestige and legitimacy as the Byzantine Empire declined and collapsed, and as the Ottoman Turks conquered most of its former territories. The Ottoman sultans adopted the title of “padishah”, which was derived from the Persian word for “lord” or “master”. The Ottoman sultans also claimed the title of “caliph”, which was the supreme religious and political leader of the Muslim world. The title of “despot” was relegated to a lower rank in the Ottoman hierarchy, and was granted to some of the local Christian rulers who acknowledged the Ottoman suzerainty.

The term “despot” also became a synonym for “barbarian” or “oriental” in the eyes of the Western Europeans, who viewed the Ottoman Empire as a threat and an enemy. The term “despot” was used to describe the Ottoman sultans and their policies, which were often perceived as cruel, oppressive, and arbitrary. The term “despot” was also applied to other rulers who were considered to be enemies of the Western civilization, such as Ivan the Terrible of Russia, or who were seen as exotic and foreign, such as the Mughal emperors of India.

The term “despot” eventually became a generic term for any ruler who exercises absolute power and abuses his authority. The term “despotism” was also coined to describe a form of government in which a single entity rules with absolute power. The term “despotism” was used to criticize and condemn various regimes and systems that were considered to be oppressive, unjust, or corrupt, such as the French monarchy under Louis XIV, the Russian tsardom under Peter the Great, or the Nazi dictatorship under Adolf Hitler.

The term “despot” has thus undergone a remarkable transformation, from a respectful and prestigious title to a derogatory and despised epithet. The term “despot” reflects the changing perceptions and attitudes of different cultures and times, and reveals the complex and dynamic nature of language and history.

Relevant articles:

– Despot (court title) – Wikipedia

– Despot (court title) – Wikiwand

– Despot (court title) – Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core