Thought this might be of use to you all for future versions of the mod, to further increase accuracy as you go!
Firstly, names. There's a lot of rather odd Byzantine names floating about in the main mod, so I took the liberty of preparing a better list of names that Byzantine aristocrats of the period 1000-1500 actually had, plus the frequency with which these names appeared. See the spoiler.
Secondly, here's a (simplified) family tree for the House of Komnenos in 1120.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
DECEASED FACTION LEADER: Alexios Komnenos, died 1118.
- His wife, Eirene Doukaina, born 1066.
- Their children.
- Anna Komnena, born 1083.
- Her husband, Nikeforos Bryennios, born 1062.
- Their son Alexios Bryennios, born 1102.
- Their daughter Maria Bryennios, born 1107.
- FACTION LEADER: Ioannes Komnenos, born 1087.
- His wife, Eirene of Hungary, born 1088.
- Their son Andronikos Komnenos, born 1108.
- Their son Isaakios Komnenos, born 1113.
- Their daughter Eudokia Komnenos, born 1115.
- Their son Manouil Komnenos, born 1118.
- Theodora Komnena, born 1096.
- Her husband, Konstantinos Angelos, born 1085.
Thirdly, here are the (Latinised) Byzantine names of settlements that the Empire could theoretically recapture at the beginning of the mod, should you be considering adding the feature that changes settlement names upon capture.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Konya = Iconium
Angora = Ancyra
Kayseri = Caesarea
Erzurum = Theodosiopolis
Sis = Sisia
Personal names in the Byzantine era of the Roman Empire consisted of a given name followed by one or more surnames. Surnames came in three varieties: inherited family names, patronymics, and by-names. As the empire grew older, it became increasingly common to find more and more inherited family names included in the personal name. As typical in medieval Europe, the sample of women's names is much smaller than the sample of men's names. When a woman's name is found, the inherited family name or names are in feminized form.
Historical Overview
The ancient Roman three-name practice had gone out of use even before Constantine moved the capital of Rome to the shores of the Bosporus. In that system, the second name (thenomen gentile, or clan name) was used to identify individuals, and as the common form of address (for example, Gaius Julius Caesar). As Christianity became the dominant (and eventually state) religion, it became popular to use the names of saints instead. With the exception of remote reaches of the empire in Africa, the use of the nomen gentile had died out by the end of the 4th century AD. The cognomen (or family name) had begun to disappear as well. With the infusion of Greek culture into the Roman Empire, the use of patronymics ('son of') and by-names (both attributive, such as 'the wise' or 'the short', and descriptive, such as 'of Antioch' or 'the tailor') began to displace inherited surnames. The Greeks did not have as keenly developed a sense of genealogy as did the Romans. The Byzantine era being a blending of the two, the value of hereditary family names declined, and so did their use. Family names are completely missing or extremely rare in documents and seals dated from between the 7th and 10th centuries. Eventually, family names were seen as a quaint custom. As early as the 8th century, however, family names began to reappear among the aristocracy. By the 9th century there were a few great families, and by the 11th century family names were again pervasive. The early family names from this era are those found among the military aristocracy, and usually are derived from place names in Asia Minor (Asia Minor being the bread basket of the empire's military man power by then), such as Komenos (from the village of Komne). Names found among the civil aristocracy are derived from trade professions (Pantechnes - an artist's assistant), districts within Constantinople (Akropolites - 'from the Acropolis') , provincial towns (Choniates), and monasteries (Manouelites). Among commoners, family names are found which derive from crafts (Chalkeus - "smith" and Raptes - "tailor"), but also some aristocratic names are found, such as Komnenos or Synadenos - possibly reflecting links of dependancy. The return of the family name to the Roman Empire seems to have come via the military aristocracy. Most of these clans came from Armenia, where tribal affiliations were significant. Between the 6th and 9th centuries, however, there was little desire within the aristocracy to advertise familial associations. Unlike the earlier Romans or the nobility of the west, the nobility of the Empire in the east was not inherited. In Constantinople people moved up and down the aristocratic pyramid by merit, guile, nepotism, treachery or loyalty (and usually a combination of all) - but it was an individual accomplishment. Starting position helped, but it did not serve as absolute protection or right. The great generals from Armenia, however, brought a new attachment to family identify, and established a new aristocratic ideal. Social mobility was still very fluid, but lineage gained in importance as an agent of influence. In the late centuries of the empire, name dropping had taken on strong significance, and the panoply of family names one might carry could be staggering. One could be reasonably sure that a person's last name was inherited from his or her father, but the ones in between the given name and last name could come in any number, combination, or order, depending on the circumstances. Generally, a man would not trace back his lineage more than three generations, but even that is enough ammunition for a spicy array of middle names. The best example is found on a 15th century icon: John Doukas Angelos Palaiologos Raoul Laskaris Tornikes Philanthropenos Asanes. Inherited family names were not a fixed and sure way of identifying anyone, however. Individuals might vary in which family name they chose to use by the circumstances of a certain situation. In writing an appeal to the emperor, for instance, one might sign his name to show familial ties with the emperor, while excluding those names which might not be in favor with him. One's detractors and supporters might use different names when referring to the same person, to show that person's ties with certain families. A bastard ruler of the separatist state of Epiros in the 13th/14th centuries, for instance, was called Michael Doukas or Michael Komnenos, or occasionally Michael Komnenodoukas, by his supporters, but Michael Angelos by his detractors. The use of by-names continued throughout the Byzantine era. The by-name sometimes replaced, sometimes augmented the inherited family name. Some names are only known in the form of <given name> <by-name>, but they are a minority of the total sample. Women are almost never known in the form <given name> <by-name>. If a woman's family name is not given, she is usually identified by her relationship to a man. Those women who are identified in the form <given name> <by-name> are commoners, usually performers.
There are also a few lists of given names and surnames but similare to the list given by Giorgios (thanks to him for his work). The only difference, is that it is specified for which period it was used and for some of them, if it was mostly use for monk ("monastic" comment):
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
Some of the names listed are known to have been used almost exclusively by monks, but not all monks used obscure names. Michael, for instance, was popular both as a secular and as a monastic name. It was the practice of those assuming the monastic habit to alter their names as well as their lifestyles. Typically, the monastic name assumed started with the same letter as the person's secular given name. The emperor Andronikos II Palaiologos, for example, became the monk Antony. It should also be noted that, diametrically opposed to western practices, entering a monastery was not considered a permanent vocational choice in the east. In fact, some entered and left monastic life with regularity. Upon leaving, the individual might re-assume his secular name, or keep his monastic name. The noted historian Michael Psellos, for example, was born Konstantinos Psellos. Those names which are known to have been used almost exclusively by monks are noted on the list.
Last edited by Lifthrasir; June 10, 2014 at 02:26 AM.
Under the patronage of Flinn, proud patron of Jadli, from the Heresy Vault of the Imperial House of Hader
Awesome name list I will have to figure out how to mod them into my SSHIP! There are alot of "late roman" names in there that are just not accurate at all for the Komnenian and Palaiologian periods
Where my entity is...in the deepest caverns of Khazad-dûm!
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Re: Byzantine info-dump
It's really sad that my name (Eustratios) is not on your (btw awesome) list...But seriously,in every game that I have ever played,Eustratios as a name never exists.
I quess there musn't have been many lords with that name,but even though,couldn't we include it to the list? Many monks/patriarchs were named Eustratios if I am not wrong.
It's really sad that my name (Eustratios) is not on your (btw awesome) list...But seriously,in every game that I have ever played,Eustratios as a name never exists.
I quess there musn't have been many lords with that name,but even though,couldn't we include it to the list? Many monks/patriarchs were named Eustratios if I am not wrong.
None that I can see, I'm afraid.
The name Eustathios, which I'm guessing is a very similar name only with mild spelling differences, is on the list, though.
Byzantine info-dump
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Originally Posted by Efstratios
