In the early 9th century, the "praitōr" was a junior administrative official in the "themata", subordinate to the governing "stratēgos". Gradually however, the civil functionaries assumed greater power, and by the late 10th century, the "praitores" (or "kritai", "judges") were placed at the head of the civil administration of a "thema". This division of civil and military duties was often abandoned in the 12th century, when the posts of civil "praitōr" and military "doux" were frequently held in tandem. The provincial post fell out of use after the collapse of the Empire in 1204.