Arbitio
Encyclopedia
Arbitio was a Roman general (magister militum
) and Consul who lived in the middle of the 4th century.
and reached the highest military positions in the Roman army under his son and successor Constantius II
and became magister equitum (commander of the cavalry)
. In 355
he was made consul
together with Quintus Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus
.
Arbitio was a well trusted courtier of Constantius and some modern historians have suggested he was his military strongman.
Arbitio intrigued against Claudius Silvanus
, Ursicinus
and Barbatio
and played a role in their downfalls. Historian Ammianus Marcellinus
says he was "keen and eager in plotting treachery", and describes him as "fickle flatterer" to Constantius II.
by the new Emperor Julian
. In this function he was responsible for the conviction of Paulus Catena
and many ministers and followers of Constantius. Arbitio did not take part in the Persian campaign of Julian, but instead retired to live as a private citizen.
death, a maternal relative of Julian
named Procopius
made an attempt to usurp the Eastern Empire. Arbitio himself was courted by this Procopius. However, Arbitio ignored the summons of Procopius, who, in response, confiscated his properties. This action led Arbitio to join Procopius' opponent, Valens
, who appointed Arbitio "ad hoc magister militum". During the subsequent campaign, Arbitio was able to convince Gomoarius, a general in the army of Procopius and an old friend of Arbitio, to desert to Valens. Eventually, Procopius was deserted by most of his troops, and attempted to hide from his fate, but was tied up by two of his attendants and turned over to Valens, who had both the usurper and his betrayers executed.
What happened to Arbitio after this time is unknown, although it is reasonable to assume that he retired, and subsequently died without taking any further part in matters of state.
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
) and Consul who lived in the middle of the 4th century.
In the Reign of Constantius II
He was a general of Constantine IConstantine I
Constantine the Great , also known as Constantine I or Saint Constantine, was Roman Emperor from 306 to 337. Well known for being the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, Constantine and co-Emperor Licinius issued the Edict of Milan in 313, which proclaimed religious tolerance of all...
and reached the highest military positions in the Roman army under his son and successor Constantius II
Constantius II
Constantius II , was Roman Emperor from 337 to 361. The second son of Constantine I and Fausta, he ascended to the throne with his brothers Constantine II and Constans upon their father's death....
and became magister equitum (commander of the cavalry)
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
. In 355
355
Year 355 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Arbitio and Maesius...
he was made consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
together with Quintus Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus
Lollianus Mavortius
Quintus Flavius Maesius Egnatius Lollianus signo Mavortius was a politician of the Roman Empire.In the 18th century an acephalous statue of Mavortius was discovered in Puteoli, then Pozzuoli ; after a restoration, this statue entered in the local folklore as "Saint Mamozio".-Life:A pagan,, he was...
.
Arbitio was a well trusted courtier of Constantius and some modern historians have suggested he was his military strongman.
Arbitio intrigued against Claudius Silvanus
Claudius Silvanus
Claudius Silvanus was a Roman general of Frankish descent, usurper in Gaul against Emperor Constantius II for 28 days in 355.- Origin and career :...
, Ursicinus
Ursicinus (Roman general)
Ursicinus was a senior military officer, holding the rank of "master of cavalry" in the Eastern Roman Empire c. 349–359.In 351 or 352 he was entrusted with the suppression of the Jewish revolt against Caesar Constantius Gallus...
and Barbatio
Barbatio
Barbatio was a Roman general of the infantry under the command of Constantius II. Previously he was a commander of the household troops under Gallus Caesar, but he arrested Gallus under the instruction of Constantius, thereby ensuring his promotion on the death of Claudius Silvanus...
and played a role in their downfalls. Historian Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus
Ammianus Marcellinus was a fourth-century Roman historian. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from Antiquity...
says he was "keen and eager in plotting treachery", and describes him as "fickle flatterer" to Constantius II.
In the Reign of Julian
After the death of Constantius in 361, he was appointed chairman of the Chalcedon tribunalChalcedon tribunal
Shortly after the death of Roman emperor Constantius II, his successor Julian the Apostate held a tribunal at the city of Chalcedon, which was then a suburb of Constantinople...
by the new Emperor Julian
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
. In this function he was responsible for the conviction of Paulus Catena
Paulus Catena
Paulus was the name of an imperial notary, or senior civil servant, who served under the Roman Emperor Constantius II in the middle of the 4th century. He is described by the historian Ammianus Marcellinus, who probably met him. According to Marcellinus, his cruelty was infamous throughout the...
and many ministers and followers of Constantius. Arbitio did not take part in the Persian campaign of Julian, but instead retired to live as a private citizen.
In the Reign of Valens
A couple of years after Julian'sJulian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
death, a maternal relative of Julian
Julian the Apostate
Julian "the Apostate" , commonly known as Julian, or also Julian the Philosopher, was Roman Emperor from 361 to 363 and a noted philosopher and Greek writer....
named Procopius
Procopius (usurper)
Procopius was a Roman usurper against Valens, and member of the Constantinian dynasty.- Life :According to Ammianus Marcellinus, Procopius was a native and spent his youth in Cilicia, probably in Corycus. On his mother's side, Procopius was related, a maternal cousin, to Emperor Julian, since...
made an attempt to usurp the Eastern Empire. Arbitio himself was courted by this Procopius. However, Arbitio ignored the summons of Procopius, who, in response, confiscated his properties. This action led Arbitio to join Procopius' opponent, Valens
Valens
Valens was the Eastern Roman Emperor from 364 to 378. He was given the eastern half of the empire by his brother Valentinian I after the latter's accession to the throne...
, who appointed Arbitio "ad hoc magister militum". During the subsequent campaign, Arbitio was able to convince Gomoarius, a general in the army of Procopius and an old friend of Arbitio, to desert to Valens. Eventually, Procopius was deserted by most of his troops, and attempted to hide from his fate, but was tied up by two of his attendants and turned over to Valens, who had both the usurper and his betrayers executed.
What happened to Arbitio after this time is unknown, although it is reasonable to assume that he retired, and subsequently died without taking any further part in matters of state.
Sources
- Ammianus MarcellinusAmmianus MarcellinusAmmianus Marcellinus was a fourth-century Roman historian. He wrote the penultimate major historical account surviving from Antiquity...
, Loeb Classical Library - Lenski, N.E., Failure of empire: Valens and the Roman State in the fourth century A.D. (2002)