This is a list of Byzantine families, including the aristocracy of the Byzantine Empire from the 6th- to 15th century.
With the rapid expansion of Byzantine economy from 950 to 1200, a self-aware aristocracy emerged; by 1200, some 80% of Byzantine officials bore a second name, as opposed to only 20% in 800. Personal seals were an exhibit of social status and power.Volkoff, Angelina Anne. "Power, family, and identity: Social and personal elements in Byzantine sigillography." A Companion to Seals in the Middle Ages. Brill, 2019. 223-241. Prior to 900, no seal with a second name has been attested.
Dynasties Leonid dynasty Justinian dynasty Heraclian dynasty Isaurian dynasty Nikephorian dynasty Amorian dynasty Macedonian dynasty Komnenos (Komnenid) Doukas (Doukid) Angelid dynasty Laskarid dynasty Palaiologan dynasty
Noble families
Aaronios, active in the 11th c. Amytzantarioi, active in the Empire of Trebizond in mid-14th c. Anemas, most active in 12th c., notably participated in 1105 conspiracy., Angelos, most active in 12th–14th c., rose quickly through Constantine Angelos (1093–1166), produced three emperors Apion, active in Egypt in 5th–7th c. Apokaukos, most active in the 13th c. Argyros, most active in Anatolia in the 11th c., Arianites, active in the 11th c. Aspietes, most active in the 12th c., Axouch, active in the 12th c. Botaneiates, most active in 11th–12th c., produced several generals. Basilakes, most active in the 11th c. Branas, active in Adrianople in the 12th–13th c. Bryennios, most active in the 11th–12th c., as commanders. Bourtzes Chalkokondyles, active in Athens in the 15th c. Choumnos, Dabetenos Daimonoioannes, mostly active in Monemvasia Dalassenos, most active in the 11th c. Dermokaites, most active in 11th–12th c. Diogenes, most active in the 11th c. Doukas, most active in the 10th–11th c. Doxapatres, active in 11th–12th c., produced writers Euphorbenos Gabalas, active in 13th c. Gabras, active in Chaldia in the 11th–12th c. Glabas Hagiotheodorites, most active in the 12th c. Kaballarios Kabasilas, active in 11th–13th c., Kalothetos, active in the 13th–14th c. Kamateros, most active in the 10th–12th c. Kamytzes, active in the 12th–13th c. Kastamonites Katakalon, active in the 10th–12th c. Kekaumenos, active in the 11th c. Keroularios, most active in the 11th c. Kontomytes Kontostephanos, most active in the 12th c. Kourkouas, most active in the 10th c. Kourtikios, active in the 10th–11th c. Laskaris, active in 12th–13th c., founded the Empire of Nicaea. Lekapenos, most active in the 10th c. Libadarios, active in the 13th c. Makrembolites, active in the 11th–13th c. Maleinos, most active in the 10th c. Maliasenos Mangaphas Maurokatakalon, cadet branch of Katakalon Mavrogenis Melissenos, most active in Anatolia in the 9th–11th c. Metochites Monomachos, most active in the 10th–11th c. Mourouzis Mouzalon, most active in the 12th–13th c. Notaras, most active in the 14th–15th c. Pakourianos Parsakoutenos Pegonites, active in 11th–12th c. Petraliphas, active in the 12th–13th c. Philanthropenos, active in the 13th–14th c. Philes Phokas, most active in 9th–11th c. Provatas, active in 11th–12th c. Rangabe Raoul, most active in 13th c. Rendakis, most active in 8th–10th c. Rogerios Sarantapechos, active in 8th c. Serblias, active in 11th–12th c. Sgouros, active in 11th–15th c. Skleros, most active in 10th–11th c. Sphrantzes Stypeiotes Synadenos, active in 11th–12th c. Tagaris, active in 14th c. Tarchaneiotes, most active in 11th–13th c. Taronites Tornikios Tzamplakon, active in the 14th c., Tzanichites, active in the Empire of Trebizond in the 14th c. Vatatzes, active in 12th–14th c., John III ruled empire of Nicaea ( 1222–1254). Xeros
See also Byzantine bureaucracy and aristocracy References
Sources
Further reading Fasolio, Marco. "The Byzantine Aristocracy: Profile of a Historiographical Debate." Storia della storiografia: rivista internazionale: 71, 1, 2017 (2017): 15-45. Krsmanović, Bojana T., and Ninoslava M. Radošević. "Legendary genealogies of Byzantine emperors and their families." Zbornik radova Vizantoloskog instituta 41 (2004): 71-98.