The Optimatoi (Greek: Ὀπτιμάτοι, from Latin: Optimates, "the Best Men") were initially formed as an elite Byzantine military unit. In the mid-8th century...

The unit's origins may lie as far back as the 4th–5th centuries. the Optimatoi (Gr. Ὀπτιμάτοι, from Latin optimates, "the best"), although formerly an...

emperor Maurice, where it is reserved for the commander of the elite Optimatoi mercenary corps. In the 10th-century, the term was revived and refers...

building in Constantinople, possibly from Latin Magna Aula, "Great Hall" Optimatoi, a military unit Patrikios, the Patrician caste Phelonion, a liturgical...

peoples Neftenya Ninja/Kunoichi Normans Numerus Batavorum Onna-musha Ontari Optimatoi Pendekar Pirates Quilombo Rajput Red Lantern Sect Reddy Romans Ror Rus'...

746–47. From the 840s on, Nicomedia was the capital of the thema of the Optimatoi. By that time, most of the old, seawards city had been abandoned and is...

left their cover to chase the Byzantines, whereupon Heraclius' elite Optimatoi assaulted the chasing Persians, causing them to flee. Thus, he saved Anatolia...

foederati in parts of Asia Minor. Their descendants, who formed the elite Optimatoi regiment, still lived there in the early 8th century. While they were...

Housecarl Komnenian army Leidang Mamluk Manglabites New England (medieval) Optimatoi Piraeus Lion (inscription made by Swedish Varangians) Swedes (Germanic...

domesticates formed from the elite corps of the old army, such as the Optimatoi and Boukellarioi, both terms dating back to the recruitment of Gothic...

Bosporus. Provintia Optimati. the province of Optimatoi Emperor Northern Asia Minor The theme of the Optimatoi encompassed the parts of Asia Minor closest...

major subdivision of a thema. The army of each thema (except for the Optimatoi) was divided into two to four tourmai, and each tourma further into a...

Bithynia and Pontus was reorganized into the Bucellarian, Opsikion, and Optimatoi themes. List of Roman governors of Bithynia and Pontus Kingdom of Pontus...

themata in Asia Minor as they existed in c. 780, following the creation of the Bucellarian and Optimatoi themes out of the original theme of the Opsikion....

based on a better exemplar he may have actually been domestikos of the Optimatoi rather than of the Hikanatoi Pankratoukas, under Leo VI the Wise (r. 886–912)...

Artabasdos, the Count of the Opsikion. The new theme, along with that of the Optimatoi was split off from the Opsikion as formed part of the Emperor's policy...

Τειχέων, tōn Teicheōn), manning the Walls of Constantinople., and the Optimatoi (Gr. Ὀπτιμάτοι, "the Best"), a support unit responsible for the mules...

not continental) Koloneia (theme) Lykandos Mesopotamia (theme) Opsikion Optimatoi Paphlagonia (theme) Iberia (which incorporated the historical region of...

left their cover to chase the Byzantines, whereupon Heraclius's elite Optimatoi assaulted the pursuing Persians, causing them to flee. Thus he saved Anatolia...

the Hikanatoi and the Noumeroi, as well as, uniquely, the thema of the Optimatoi, were led by a domestikos. To them was added the short-lived tagma of...

his return, he was attacked by the forces of the themes of Opsikion and Optimatoi, but defeated them. At the same time, his son raided the city of Ephesus...

Bulgaria Onegesius Onoguris, Siege of Onoulphus Opsikion Opsites of Lazica Optimatoi Orhan Orestes (prefect) Orestes, Patriarch of Jerusalem Origen Orion of...

Venerable Theoclita (Theokliti) the Wonderworker, of Optimaton (Theme of the Optimatoi) (ca. 842) Saints John the Monastic, and John the New, Bishops of Ephesus...

Antique terminology and titulature that survived: the spatharioi and optimatoi date from the 6th century, while the exkoubitai, the praitorion and the...