Despot

Despot or Despotes (Greek: Δεσπότης). The word "Despot" had numerous meanings and was used from different people for different reasons. Strictly speaking "Despot" is a person with absolute power or an Autocrator.

Initially, it referred to the head of a house (family) (Greek: Οικοδεσπότης). Taking into account that the Christians belonged to the "Christian family", the "head", the Bishop (Greek: Επίσκοπος), also became known as "Despot".

The word "Despot" became a title used by self proclaimed individuals Tyrants, and the last couple of Hundred years of the Byzantine Empire, "Despotates" were created, headed in most cases by self proclaimed Despots. The main Greek Despotates were : The Despotate of Epirus; The Despotate of Thessalonica; The Despotate of Morea; etc.

The title "Despot" was also used by leaders of Serbia, Hungary, etc.