The logothetēs toū stratiōtikou (Greek: λογοθέτης τοῦ στρατιωτικοῦ), rendered in English as the Logothete of the Military or Military Logothete, was a Byzantine imperial official in charge of the pay and provisioning of the Byzantine army.
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This duty was originally exercised by the praetorian prefecture, but the military chest (Greek: το στρατιωτικόν, to stratiōtikon) was eventually detached and formed as a separate logothesion. The first attested logothetēs toū stratiōtikou was Julian, the "most glorious apo hypatōn and patrikios" in 680. The office disappears after 1088.[1][2]
The exact sphere of duties of the logothete is somewhat obscure. The only direct evidence as to his functions comes from the 10th-century De Ceremoniis of Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959), according to which he oversaw the imposition and exemption from taxes on the households of soldiers. It is also known that by the 11th century, he exercised some juridical functions.[2] Several scholars (notably E. Stein) have argued that the Military Logothete supervised military affairs in general, such as the levying of troops, the construction of fortifications and the overall military expenditure. This hypothesis, however, cannot be proved.[2]
The subordinates of the logothetēs tou stratiōtikou were: