Andronikos Kamateros

Born probably around 1110, Andronikos Kamateros was the son of Gregory Kamateros, a man of humble origin but well educated, who held several senior government posts under emperors Alexios I Komnenos and John II Komnenos and advanced to the high rank of sebastos, and of Irene Doukaina, probably a daughter of the protostrator Michael Doukas, whose sister Irene was wed to Alexios I. Andronikos had several siblings, but with the exception of a brother Michael, who died young, and possibly another brother named Theodore, on whose death John Tzetzes composed an epitaph, they are mostly unknown. The sebastos and logothetes tou dromou John Kamateros (logothetes tou dromou) was probably also his brother, rather than his son, as Polemis regards him. With Andronikos and John, the Kamateros family reached the peak of its influence. His relationship to the ruling Komnenian dynasty—from his mother's side, Andronikos was second cousin to Emperor Manuel I Komnenos (r. 1143–80)—ensured his rise to prominence. Andronikos was awarded the high rank of sebastos, and by the mid-1150s, Andronikos held the relatively senior post of epi ton deeseon, in charge of petitions. He then advanced to the post of eparchos of Constantinople (1157–61) and finally to megas droungarios tes viglas (1166–76), two of the highest judicial offices in the Empire. In 1161, he participated in an embassy that went to the Principality of Antioch to escort Manuel I's second wife, Maria of Antioch, to Constantinople. A skilled theologian, he played a prominent role in Manuel's dealings with the Church; not only did he edit Manuel's theological discussions as part of his Sacred Arsenal (see below), but in 1173 Manuel entrusted him with the enforcement of an imperial decree regarding absentee bishops, and elsewhere is seen introducing the abbot of the Monastery of Patmos to Manuel. The time of his death is unknown, but was probably around 1180. Andronikos Kamateros was married and had several children, of whom Basil also rose to high office. Of his two known daughters, Theodora married the megas doux Michael Stryphnos, while Euphrosyne married the future Alexios III Angelos (r. 1195–1203).

Andronikos Kamateros is recorded as civil servant, writer, theologian and beamter.