Philaretos was an 8th-century Byzantine aristocrat from Paphlagonia who became known for his extreme generosity. Born into a wealthy family, he lived a life characterized by radical charity, often giving away his entire possessions to the needy. His grandson, Niketas, recorded his life in a hagiography that portrays him as a fool for Christ. After his family's granddaughter married into the imperial line, his reputation for holiness helped elevate the status of his lineage during a period of significant political shifts in the Byzantine Empire.