Byzantine Eunuchs: An Introduction

Channel:

Eastern Roman History

Subscribers:

26,400

Published on March 17, 2023 6:30:56 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukJkKTg5_jU

Duration: 23:28

7,004 views

438

An introduction to the subject of Byzantine eunuchs. It details how they were made, the offices they held, social and legal status and their decline.

Basil Lekapenos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MsnSDPQtco&list=PLnPSYMHRkzkpJowhd1heAfrr7AGMtAwe3&index=2

John the Orphanotrophos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3-HjRhUm4

The Last Eunuchs:
https://youtu.be/E6E6-UzaCis

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
03:04 How Was a Eunuch Made?
05:30 Recruiting Eunuchs and Legal Status
09:37 Eunuchs in Society
13:52 Power and Responsibilities
16:43 Offices and Careers
18:39 The Decline of Eunuchs

Romaboo Ramblings:
https://www.youtube.com/@RomabooRamblings

Serapeum Historia:
https://www.youtube.com/@UCOlwrkJ15w8G-U_tXW49slQ

Bibliography:
Primary Sources
Agathias, Agathias: The Histories, Translated by J. D. Frendo (1975).
Basil of Caesarea, Letters, translated by B. Jackson in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. VIII, 1895).
Leo the Deacon, The History of Leo the Deacon, Translated by Denis F. Sullivan, and Alice-Mary Talbot, (2007).
Manuel Philes, Poems, edited by F. S. Lehrs, and F. Duebner, (1862).
Paulus of Aegina, Epitome of Medical Science, translated by F. Adams (1834).
Procopius of Caesarea, History of the Wars, Revised edition by A. Kaldellis, (2014).

Scholarship
Gaul, N. 'Eunuchs in the Late Byzantine Empire c.1250-1400' in Eunuchs in Antiquity and Beyond, edited by S. Tougher, (2002).
James, L. 'Men, Women, Eunuchs: Gender, Sex and Power' in A Social History of Byzantium, edited by J. Haldon, (2009).
Nye, T. E. 'Angels, Snakes, and Everything in Between: The Fall of the Byzantine Eunuch' in Young Historians Conference 3 (2022).
Tougher, S. 'Cherchez L'Homme! Byzantine Men: A Eunuch Perspective' in
The Byzantine World, edited by P. Stephenson, (2010).

Email
easternromanhistory@gmail.com

Discord
https://discord.gg/wxVmswV

If you would like to support Eastern Roman History, I have a Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/EasternRomanHistory

All images used are for educational purposes, if I have used a piece of art and you would like me to credit you, please contact me and I shall do so.