The meaning of the title, "first
spatharios", indicates its original role as leader of the order (
taxis) of the
spatharioi, the imperial bodyguards, was already attested in the 6th century. Probably under the
Heraclians, the rank became an honorary dignity (Greek: δια βραβείου ἀξία,
dia brabeiou axia), and was henceforth bestowed to high-ranking
theme commanders, senior court officials, and allied rulers. The first concrete reference to a
prōtospatharios occurs in the
Chronicle of
Theophanes the Confessor, who records "Sergios,
prōtospatharios and
stratēgos of
Sicily" in 718. In the late 9th century, the
prōtospatharios is recorded as ranking below the
patrikios and above the
dishypatos. The award of the dignity also meant the entry of its holder in the
Byzantine Senate. Its prestige was consequently very high, as illustrated by a well-known story related by Emperor
Constantine Porphyrogennetos () in his
De Administrando Imperio: during the reign of his father, Emperor
Leo VI the Wise (), an aged cleric of the
Nea Ekklesia, Ktenas by name, paid 60
litras of gold (circa 19.4 kg), i.e. sixty times the annual stipend of 72
nomismata to which
prōtospatharioi were entitled, to acquire the title. He did not live long to enjoy his new status, however, dying two years later. while bearing no distinctive
dikanikion (staff of office). In the
Empire of Trebizond, an equivalent title of
Turkish origin,
amytzantarios, was used. ==Functions==