Alexander (supporter of Phocas)
Encyclopedia
Alexander was a Byzantine rebel against emperor Maurice
(r. 582-602) and leading supporter of emperor Phocas
(r. 602-610). He is better known for executing the co-emperor Theodosius
. The main source about his is Theophylact Simocatta
. Martindale, Jones & Morris (1992), p. 46-47
. The fragment has Alexander and Lilius being sent as envoys to emperor Maurice
(r. 582-602) in Constantinople
They were apparently representatives of Phocas
and the "rebelious army of Thrace
". Making them rebels themselves.
The Chronicon Paschale
gives the chronological account of the rise of Phocas and Leontia
to the throne. On 23 November 602, Phocas was crowned emperor by his troops outside the capital. On 25 November, Phocas entered Constantinople and was accepted as emperor by the general populace. He proclaimed chariot races
in honor of his elevation and had Leontia escorted to the city as his new Empress.
According to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
, Leontia was officially crowned an Augusta on 27 November. According to the history of Theophylact Simocatta
, the new imperial couple led a procession
through the city as per custom. The festive occasion was marked with renewed conflicts between the Blues and Greens, the two major chariot racing clubs. Theophylact Simocatta
first mentions Alexander on this occasion. Alexander was reportedly sent by Phocas to calm down the rival factions. He only managed to enrage the Blues, by quarreling with their demarch Cosmas. He pushed aside Cosmas with sufficient force to make him fall. The insulted Blues started shouting ominous words of rebellion: "Begone! understand the situation, Maurice is not yet dead!" The Blues thus questioned the legitimacy of the new Emperor. Phocas reacted by ordering the execution of Maurice and his sons, which took place before the end of the day.
Alexander's next task was the execution of the co-emperor Theodosius
and Constantine Lardys
. They were respectively the last surviving son of Maurice and his companion. He seems to have performed the killings, but neglected another significant part of the job. The head of Theodosius had to be brought back for display. Alexander did not return with the head, leaving uncertain whether Theodosius was actually dead. Contemporary rumours reported that Alexander had been bribed by Germanus
, father-in-law of Theodosius, to spare the life of the young man. While Theophylact denied any truth to this rumour, Phocas apparently did not. He had Alexander executed.
An alternative account of Alexander's death is given by John of Nikiû
. "And certain persons accused Alexander ,who was one of the rulers —a discreet man and beloved by all the inhabitants of Constantinople, and they said to Phocas : 'This Alexander is desirous of slaying thee and becoming emperor in thy stead.' Now this Alexander had married a daughter of Maurice. And thereupon Phocas had Alexander and Kudis (= Elpidius?) and other officers thrown into chains and sent to the city of Alexandria
to be imprisoned there. Shortly after, Phocas sent orders to Justin the governor of Alexandria to execute Alexander and his companions." It is probable that John accidentally identified Alexander with Germanus. The details seem to match Germanus better than Alexander.
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(r. 582-602) and leading supporter of emperor Phocas
Phocas
Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...
(r. 602-610). He is better known for executing the co-emperor Theodosius
Theodosius (son of Maurice)
Theodosius was the eldest son of Byzantine Emperor Maurice and was co-emperor from 590 until his deposition and execution during a military revolt in November 602. Along with his father-in-law Germanus, he was briefly proposed as successor to Maurice by the troops, but the army eventually...
. The main source about his is Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius about the late Emperor Maurice .-Life:His history of the reign of emperor Maurice is in eight books...
. Martindale, Jones & Morris (1992), p. 46-47
Biography
Alexander is first mentioned in a fragment of John of AntiochJohn of Antioch (chronicler)
John of Antioch was chronicler in the 7th century. He was a monk, apparently contemporary with Emperor Heraclius . Gelzer identifies the author with the Monophysite Patriarch John of Antioch, who ruled from 630 to 648.John of Antioch's chronicle, Historia chronike, is a universal history...
. The fragment has Alexander and Lilius being sent as envoys to emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
(r. 582-602) in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
They were apparently representatives of Phocas
Phocas
Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...
and the "rebelious army of Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
". Making them rebels themselves.
The Chronicon Paschale
Chronicon Paschale
Chronicon Paschale is the conventional name of a 7th-century Greek Christian chronicle of the world...
gives the chronological account of the rise of Phocas and Leontia
Leontia
Leontia was the Empress consort of Phocas of the Byzantine Empire.-Empress:Maurice reigned in the Byzantine Empire from 582 to 602. He led a series of Balkan campaigns and managed to successfully re-establish the Danube as a northern border for his state. By Winter 602, his strategic goals included...
to the throne. On 23 November 602, Phocas was crowned emperor by his troops outside the capital. On 25 November, Phocas entered Constantinople and was accepted as emperor by the general populace. He proclaimed chariot races
Chariot racing
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
in honor of his elevation and had Leontia escorted to the city as his new Empress.
According to the chronicle of Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, Leontia was officially crowned an Augusta on 27 November. According to the history of Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius about the late Emperor Maurice .-Life:His history of the reign of emperor Maurice is in eight books...
, the new imperial couple led a procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
through the city as per custom. The festive occasion was marked with renewed conflicts between the Blues and Greens, the two major chariot racing clubs. Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta
Theophylact Simocatta was an early seventh-century Byzantine historiographer, arguably ranking as the last historian of Late Antiquity, writing in the time of Heraclius about the late Emperor Maurice .-Life:His history of the reign of emperor Maurice is in eight books...
first mentions Alexander on this occasion. Alexander was reportedly sent by Phocas to calm down the rival factions. He only managed to enrage the Blues, by quarreling with their demarch Cosmas. He pushed aside Cosmas with sufficient force to make him fall. The insulted Blues started shouting ominous words of rebellion: "Begone! understand the situation, Maurice is not yet dead!" The Blues thus questioned the legitimacy of the new Emperor. Phocas reacted by ordering the execution of Maurice and his sons, which took place before the end of the day.
Alexander's next task was the execution of the co-emperor Theodosius
Theodosius (son of Maurice)
Theodosius was the eldest son of Byzantine Emperor Maurice and was co-emperor from 590 until his deposition and execution during a military revolt in November 602. Along with his father-in-law Germanus, he was briefly proposed as successor to Maurice by the troops, but the army eventually...
and Constantine Lardys
Constantine Lardys
Constantine, surnamed Lardys was one of the senior-most officials of the late reign of the Byzantine emperor Maurice .One of the leading members of the Byzantine Senate and a patrikios, he had held the powerful post of praetorian prefect of the East some time during the latter part of Maurice's...
. They were respectively the last surviving son of Maurice and his companion. He seems to have performed the killings, but neglected another significant part of the job. The head of Theodosius had to be brought back for display. Alexander did not return with the head, leaving uncertain whether Theodosius was actually dead. Contemporary rumours reported that Alexander had been bribed by Germanus
Germanus (patricius)
Germanus, called "patricius" , was a leading member of the Byzantine Senate during the reign of Maurice.-Family:Other that a wife called Leontia by Theophanes the Confessor, there is no named relative of Germanus. His name has led to a possible identification with a similarly named son of Germanus...
, father-in-law of Theodosius, to spare the life of the young man. While Theophylact denied any truth to this rumour, Phocas apparently did not. He had Alexander executed.
An alternative account of Alexander's death is given by John of Nikiû
John of Nikiû
John of Nikiû was an Egyptian Coptic bishop of Nikiû/Pashati in the Nile Delta and appointed general administrator of the monasteries of Upper Egypt in 696...
. "And certain persons accused Alexander ,who was one of the rulers —a discreet man and beloved by all the inhabitants of Constantinople, and they said to Phocas : 'This Alexander is desirous of slaying thee and becoming emperor in thy stead.' Now this Alexander had married a daughter of Maurice. And thereupon Phocas had Alexander and Kudis (= Elpidius?) and other officers thrown into chains and sent to the city of Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
to be imprisoned there. Shortly after, Phocas sent orders to Justin the governor of Alexandria to execute Alexander and his companions." It is probable that John accidentally identified Alexander with Germanus. The details seem to match Germanus better than Alexander.