Basileus. The historical origin of the term

Basileus is a term that means “king,” “chieftain,” “ruler,” or “sovereign.” It dates back to the Mycenaean period. The term first appears in Linear B script from the fifteenth century on clay tablets from destroyed Mycenaean palaces. It is not confined to political leadership, as shown by one example where the term referred to the leader of the guild of bronzesmiths.

Basileus, therefore, should be seen as indicative of someone who has leadership over a group. In most cases, the examples are drawn from political situations. The term appears in the Iliad to describe the numerous leaders fighting for the Greeks, usually those below the supreme leader, Agamemnon. It is possible that the term does not mean an absolute ruler; in later periods, especially in religion, it referred to someone constrained by laws and morals, as opposed to a tyrant, an absolute ruler without these restraints.

However, it appears that the terms basileus and tyrannos (tyrant) were used interchangeably until the late Classical Age. In this context, the basileus was seen as the continuation of a monarchy, whereas tyranny evolved from an aristocratic oligarchy ruled by one man, where power typically was not passed to another member of his family.

In the Iliad, the chief leader, Agamemnon is described not as basileus, but wanax, a term also represented in Linear B tablets. In the Iliad, wanax refers to not only Agamemnon, but also Priam, as these two men exercised control over many basileus subordinates, who themselves were in charge of territories or contingents of soldiers.

The terminology showed how the system worked, similar to the later feudal system, wherein a king was not absolute, but ruled a group of subordinate rulers by consensus and authority rather than power or coercion. This can be seen when the wanax Agamemnon attempted to order the basileus Achilles and others to do his bidding.

These other kings did not have to follow his orders, as witnessed by Achilles defying a command to fight the Trojans. Agamemnon needed to prove that he was worthy of the other kings’ respect. The wanax usually ruled from a position of inheritance established by either his or his ancestor’s ability, position, and record.

The position of both terms clearly shows the hierarchy within Mycenaean society, with the wanax at the top and the basileus as his subordinate; however, socially they were equal. Their usage in the Iliad probably shows them more as chieftains or princes than as kings. Many of the Trojan princes, also termed as basileus, are relatives of the great king (wanax), Priam, and are bound to him by respect.

The term wanax had almost become anachronistic and referred to gods and legendary heroes; it was not used beyond the Mycenaean Age to refer to political leadership in Greece. The term is seen in mythology, where Zeus takes the name Zeus Wanax as the high king or overlord of all the gods, even though his power was not absolute, and he was challenged by his brothers, Poseidon and Hades.

During the post-Mycenaean period, also called the archaic period, the term basileus continued, while wanax virtually disappeared. Here, the term basileus did not always mean “king.” It appears to have different connotations depending upon the area. For some places, the individual could be a hereditary leader, as in the past, and seen as leader of a tribe or region, implying that he was the primary leader.

The term could also be applied to an individual selected from a group or board, often called a college of Basileis, which governed for a set period, often a few years, with the term basileus implying an office. This can be seen in classical Athens, where one of the archons was called archon basileus, or “king archon,” and oversaw the religious rites of the city. This office was one of the three chief archons, and in the early period, it helped oversee the running of the city. When the reforms of Cleisthenes occurred, the archons lost most of their power.

The Greeks used the term basileus during the Classical Age, after most cities had abolished their kings. They often used the term to describe rulers outside of Greece proper, including Macedon, where the king was called basileus, including under Alexander the Great and his Hellenistic successors. The use of basileus was extended to barbarian kings, including the Great King of Persia, referred to as Megas Basileus or Basileus Basileon, meaning “King of Kings.”

The term basileus originally meant a tribal leader under the authority (though not absolute) of a more powerful leader, the wanax, during the Mycenaean period. The term continued to be used for someone who was a chief magistrate, either as a hereditary leader or chosen by his peers, often for a set period of time. Ultimately, the term was used to describe a king, often with absolute power such as in Persia, but not always as with barbarian tribes, outside Greece proper. The term could also mean a leader of an organization, such as a guild.