Excessively complicated, convoluted, or characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue. Relating to the Byzantine Empire or its complex administrative and political systems.
From Byzantium, the ancient Greek city that became Constantinople and center of the Byzantine Empire (330-1453 CE). The figurative sense of 'convoluted' or 'deviously complex' developed from the empire's reputation for elaborate court ceremonies, complex bureaucracy, and intricate political machinations.
The Byzantine Empire's administrative complexity was actually quite sophisticated for its time, featuring advanced civil service, legal codes, and diplomatic protocols that kept the empire functioning for over 1,000 years. However, Western Europeans viewed Byzantine political culture as overly complicated and scheming, leading to our modern use of 'byzantine' to describe anything frustratingly complex or labyrinthine in its procedures.
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