Basileopator

Basileopatōr (Greek: βασιλεοπάτωρ, literally "father of the basileus [emperor]") was one of the highest secular of the Byzantine Empire. It was an exceptional post (the 899 Klētorologion of Philotheos lists it as one of the "special dignities", axiai eidikai), and conferred only twice in the Empire's history.

Its holder was not the emperor's biological father, and although the exact functions associated with the post remain obscure, it is generally hypothesized that it was meant to denote a regent acting as a custodian and tutor over a young emperor. A different interpretation, however, has been offered by A. Schmink, whereby the alternative spelling basileiopatōr, found both in contemporary seals and in the Life of Theophano hagiography, ought to be preferred. The title could then be interpreted as meaning "father of the palace", confirming the holder's position as the emperor's chief aide without implying any sort of tutelage over him.

The title was created, sometime between August 891 and May 893, by Emperor Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912) for Stylianos Zaoutzes, the father of Leo's long-time mistress and later second wife, Zoe Zaoutzaina. Coming in addition to Stylianos's earlier title of magistros and the position of logothetēs tou dromou, by this act Leo, according to the traditional interpretation, is held to have formally placed the affairs of the Byzantine Empire in Zaoutzes's hands until the latter's death in 899. More recent scholarship, however, has cast doubt on the image of the "all-powerful basileopatōr" (Shaun Tougher), citing evidence in support of Leo's effective control of the government. Either way, the title placed Stylianos at the apex of the , directly below the emperor himself.

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