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History

The Role of Eunuchs in the Byzantine Imperial Court

Quick fact

The Byzantine Empire employed eunuchs so extensively that the title 'eunuch' was sometimes more prestigious than being a freeborn nobleman; some eunuchs held the rank of patrician and even commanded armies.

Why this is interesting

Imagine a court where the most trusted advisors and powerful generals cannot ever become emperor—yet they wield immense influence. How did an empire thrive by relying on men who were deliberately made unable to rule?