In the late Empire the excubitores, 300 in number, constituted the select guard of the palace. Their commander, comes excubitorum, held high rank at court; cf. VIII. xxi. 1, where we are told that Belisarius held this position, and Arcana 6. 10, where Justin, afterwards emperor, is mentioned.
Cf. chap. viii. 14. Procopius has explained in III. xi. 6 that Solomon was a eunuch.
See III. viii. 5.
A comes foedtratorum, mentioned in III. xi. 6.
Book III. viii. 5.