Автократор у панегирицима Михаила Псела (1018-1081)

• Published in: Zbornik radova Vizantološkog instituta no. 49; pp. 113 - 125
• Main Author: Lauritzen, Frederick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Italian
• Published: Institute for Byzantine Studies - Serbian Academy of Sciences And Arts 2012; Vizantološki institut SANU
• Subjects: History; mesazon; Encomium; Psellos; Leichoudes
• ISSN: 0584-9888

In the imperial encomia of Michael Psellos (1018-1081?) the terms αὐτοκράτωρ and βασιλεύς are not equivalent and the former appears quite rarely. One may deduce that αὐτοκράτωρ is not a generic term but has a specific meaning which indicates that the emperor has delegated his executive power to a minister. The term βασιλεύς, instead, simply indicates an emperor. The term αὐτοκράτωρ was used mainly when the μεσάζων was Constantine Leichoudes (1042-1050). Therefore the term αὐτοκράτωρ actually indicates not only the delegation of executive power to a μεσάζων also that a certain cultural current was present at court to which belonged Psellos. Moreover, the term αὐτοκράτορες employed as an adjective with moral connotations. Such an understanding of the meaning of αὐτοκράτωρ implies that the encomia were written for the person of the emperor but also included the culture of his μεσάζων.