| | Byzantine aristocracy and bureaucracy - Biocrawler (Site not responding. Last check: 2007-11-06) |
 | | Emperors wanting to emphasize the legitimacy of their ascent to the throne, appended to their names the title porphyrogenitos ("born-in-the-purple"), meaning they were born in the delivery room of the imperial palace (called the Porphyra because it was panelled with slabs of purple marble), to a reigning emperor, and were therefore legitimate. |
 | | Despotes — This title ("despot") was created by Manuel I Comnenus in the 12th century, as the highest title after the emperor. |
 | | By the end of the Palaialogos dynasty the megaduke was head of the government and bureaucracy, not just the navy. |
| www.biocrawler.com /encyclopedia/Byzantine_aristocracy_and_bureaucracy (2208 words) |