Aristomachus (Egypt)
Encyclopedia
Aristomachus was a Byzantine official in Egypt. He was active in the reigns of Tiberius II Constantine
(r. 574-582) and Maurice
(r. 582-602). He eventually rose to become prefect of Constantinople and "curator domus Augustae" (caretaker of the household of the Augusta
. But later fell out of favor and ended his life in exile. The main source about him is John of Nikiû
.
He seems to have held a military command in Egypt, though his rank is unspecified. He was presumably appointed by Tiberius II Constantine
. John reports on his conduct: "He built vessels by means of which he could visit all the cities of Egypt with pleasure and delight. And so he became proud and forced all the military officers to be subject to the emperor; for he had received the command in the reign of the emperor Tiberius. And by reason of this command he became more and more presumptuous, and made all the troops submit to his orders, and led a fearless life. And he posted cavalry in the city of Nikiu without any authorization of the emperor. And all the troops under his command were without means, and he seized all the houses of those who were richer than he, and he esteemed them of no account. And when men of high or low degree came to him from the emperor, he let them remain at the door and did not admit them for a longtime."
But he is, sometime later, mentioned leading campaigns against the Nubians and the Moors
. "And he vanquished the barbarians in the province of Nubia
and Africa
, who are named Mauritanians, and others named Marikos. He destroyed them and laid waste their country, and took their possessions as a booty and brought them all in chains by the river Gihon
into the land of Egypt; for the engagement had taken place on the banks of the river." Gihon is an alternative name for the Blue Nile
.
It is unclear what John terms acting without authorization. A possible interpretation is that Aristomachus' proper position was in Upper Egypt
, close to Nubia. Perhaps as the military governor of Thebaid
. But then the man attempted to illigaly extend his authority. Nikiu laid out of his jurisdiction. Complaints anout him reached eventually reached Tiberius. He send Andreas (Andrew) to arrest Aristomachus.
Aristomachus was summoned to Alexandria. "Aristomachus ... proceeded to the city of Alexandria with only a few attendants; for he was not aware of the treacherous device they had prepared against him. And when the patriarch and Andrew saw him, they were delighted, and got ready a light ship on the sea close at hand to the Church of St. Mark the Evangelist. Then they celebrated ... the festival of St. Mark the Evangelist
. And at the close of the divine service, Andrew went forth accompanied by Aristomachus and walked towards the seashore. And thereupon Andrew made a signal to his attendants and to the soldiers to seize Aristomachus and to cast him into the vessel. And immediately they seized him, and, bearing him on their shoulders, cast him into the vessel, without his being aware (of the reason), and loosing thence they set sail to go to the emperor."
Aristomachus was transported to Constantinople. But the investigation of Tiberius found no fault with his connduct. He was returned to Egypt and allowed to resume his office. He later visited Maurice
to dispel accusations against him. He brought the emperor many gifts and apparently became a favourite
of his. Maurice made him prefect of Constantinople ("prefect of the imperial city"). While the empress Constantina
created him "curator domus Augustae" (caretaker of the household of the Augusta
. The text narrates "the empress Constantina appointed him controller of all her house and loaded him with honours, until he was second only in rank to the emperor, and he became a very great personage in the city of Byzantium".
He is credited with building aqueduct
s and reservoir
s. Which would argue that he actually held that the title of prefect was not merely honorific. "And he constructed aqueducts throughout all the city, for its inhabitants complained greatly of the want of water. And he had a reservoir of bronze made for them by a clever engineer, such as had never been made previously. And so the water flowed into the reservoir of bronze which had been appointed. And the city was thus delivered from disquiet through the abundant supply of water; and when a fire broke out in the city, they went to the reservoir and extinguished the fire. And all the people loved and respected him. And he was fond of constructing public works, and his deeds were noble."
He was at some targeted by a conspiracy, which made him appear disloyal to his imperial patrons. The instigator of the plot is identified as Leo (Leon) the logothete
. They reportedly first used an astrologer
to publish a prediction "of a revolt against the emperor" and "the assassination of the emperor". They then warned Constantina about said prediction and the supposed ambitions of Aristomachus. She brought the tale to Maurice. "And he imagined that Aristomachus intended to slay him and take his wife. And the emperor became hostile forthwith to Aristomachus, and he robbed him of every hope, and exposed him to numerous humiliations, and sent him in exile to the island of Gaul where he had to remain till he died."
The location of his exile place is not recorded elsewhere.
Tiberius II Constantine
Tiberius II Constantine was Byzantine Emperor from 574 to 582.During his reign, Tiberius II Constantine gave away 7,200 pounds of gold each year for four years....
(r. 574-582) and 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). He eventually rose to become prefect of Constantinople and "curator domus Augustae" (caretaker of the household of the Augusta
Augusta (honorific)
Augusta was the imperial honorific title of empresses. It was given to the women of the Roman and Byzantine imperial families. In the third century, Augustae could also receive the titles of Mater castrorum and Mater Patriae .The title implied the greatest prestige, with the Augustae able to...
. But later fell out of favor and ended his life in exile. The main source about him is 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...
.
Biography
Aristomachus was a citizen of Nikiû. His father "prefect" Theodosius was from Absay. Theodosius reportedly advised the young Aristomachus to rest content with the wealth and rank available to him. But the young man was exceedingly ambitious. He reportedly established his own armed following.He seems to have held a military command in Egypt, though his rank is unspecified. He was presumably appointed by Tiberius II Constantine
Tiberius II Constantine
Tiberius II Constantine was Byzantine Emperor from 574 to 582.During his reign, Tiberius II Constantine gave away 7,200 pounds of gold each year for four years....
. John reports on his conduct: "He built vessels by means of which he could visit all the cities of Egypt with pleasure and delight. And so he became proud and forced all the military officers to be subject to the emperor; for he had received the command in the reign of the emperor Tiberius. And by reason of this command he became more and more presumptuous, and made all the troops submit to his orders, and led a fearless life. And he posted cavalry in the city of Nikiu without any authorization of the emperor. And all the troops under his command were without means, and he seized all the houses of those who were richer than he, and he esteemed them of no account. And when men of high or low degree came to him from the emperor, he let them remain at the door and did not admit them for a longtime."
But he is, sometime later, mentioned leading campaigns against the Nubians and the Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
. "And he vanquished the barbarians in the province of Nubia
Nubia
Nubia is a region along the Nile river, which is located in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.There were a number of small Nubian kingdoms throughout the Middle Ages, the last of which collapsed in 1504, when Nubia became divided between Egypt and the Sennar sultanate resulting in the Arabization...
and Africa
Praetorian prefecture of Africa
The praetorian prefecture of Africa was a major administrative division of the Eastern Roman Empire, established after the reconquest of northwestern Africa from the Vandals in 533-534 by emperor Justinian I...
, who are named Mauritanians, and others named Marikos. He destroyed them and laid waste their country, and took their possessions as a booty and brought them all in chains by the river Gihon
Gihon
Gihon is the name of the second river mentioned in the second chapter of the biblical Book of Genesis. The Gihon is mentioned as one of four rivers issuing out of the Garden of Eden that branched from a single river within the garden. The name may be interpreted as "Bursting Forth, Gushing"...
into the land of Egypt; for the engagement had taken place on the banks of the river." Gihon is an alternative name for the Blue Nile
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
.
It is unclear what John terms acting without authorization. A possible interpretation is that Aristomachus' proper position was in Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt
Upper Egypt is the strip of land, on both sides of the Nile valley, that extends from the cataract boundaries of modern-day Aswan north to the area between El-Ayait and Zawyet Dahshur . The northern section of Upper Egypt, between El-Ayait and Sohag is sometimes known as Middle Egypt...
, close to Nubia. Perhaps as the military governor of Thebaid
Thebaid
The Thebaid or Thebais is the region of ancient Egypt containing the thirteen southernmost nomes of Upper Egypt, from Abydos to Aswan. It acquired its name from its proximity to the ancient Egyptian capital of Thebes....
. But then the man attempted to illigaly extend his authority. Nikiu laid out of his jurisdiction. Complaints anout him reached eventually reached Tiberius. He send Andreas (Andrew) to arrest Aristomachus.
Aristomachus was summoned to Alexandria. "Aristomachus ... proceeded to the city of Alexandria with only a few attendants; for he was not aware of the treacherous device they had prepared against him. And when the patriarch and Andrew saw him, they were delighted, and got ready a light ship on the sea close at hand to the Church of St. Mark the Evangelist. Then they celebrated ... the festival of St. Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist
Mark the Evangelist is the traditional author of the Gospel of Mark. He is one of the Seventy Disciples of Christ, and the founder of the Church of Alexandria, one of the original four main sees of Christianity....
. And at the close of the divine service, Andrew went forth accompanied by Aristomachus and walked towards the seashore. And thereupon Andrew made a signal to his attendants and to the soldiers to seize Aristomachus and to cast him into the vessel. And immediately they seized him, and, bearing him on their shoulders, cast him into the vessel, without his being aware (of the reason), and loosing thence they set sail to go to the emperor."
Aristomachus was transported to Constantinople. But the investigation of Tiberius found no fault with his connduct. He was returned to Egypt and allowed to resume his office. He later visited 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...
to dispel accusations against him. He brought the emperor many gifts and apparently became a favourite
Favourite
A favourite , or favorite , was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In medieval and Early Modern Europe, among other times and places, the term is used of individuals delegated significant political power by a ruler...
of his. Maurice made him prefect of Constantinople ("prefect of the imperial city"). While the empress Constantina
Constantina (empress)
Constantina was the Empress consort of Maurice of the Byzantine Empire.-Family:Constantina was a daughter of Tiberius II Constantine and his wife Ino Anastasia. Her parentage was recorded in the chronicles of Theophylact Simocatta, Paul the Deacon and John of Biclaro.The Georgian Chronicle...
created him "curator domus Augustae" (caretaker of the household of the Augusta
Augusta (honorific)
Augusta was the imperial honorific title of empresses. It was given to the women of the Roman and Byzantine imperial families. In the third century, Augustae could also receive the titles of Mater castrorum and Mater Patriae .The title implied the greatest prestige, with the Augustae able to...
. The text narrates "the empress Constantina appointed him controller of all her house and loaded him with honours, until he was second only in rank to the emperor, and he became a very great personage in the city of Byzantium".
He is credited with building aqueduct
Aqueduct
An aqueduct is a water supply or navigable channel constructed to convey water. In modern engineering, the term is used for any system of pipes, ditches, canals, tunnels, and other structures used for this purpose....
s and reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
s. Which would argue that he actually held that the title of prefect was not merely honorific. "And he constructed aqueducts throughout all the city, for its inhabitants complained greatly of the want of water. And he had a reservoir of bronze made for them by a clever engineer, such as had never been made previously. And so the water flowed into the reservoir of bronze which had been appointed. And the city was thus delivered from disquiet through the abundant supply of water; and when a fire broke out in the city, they went to the reservoir and extinguished the fire. And all the people loved and respected him. And he was fond of constructing public works, and his deeds were noble."
He was at some targeted by a conspiracy, which made him appear disloyal to his imperial patrons. The instigator of the plot is identified as Leo (Leon) the logothete
Logothete
Logothete was an administrative title originating in the eastern Roman Empire. In the middle and late Byzantine Empire, it rose to become a senior administrative title, equivalent to a minister or secretary of state...
. They reportedly first used an astrologer
Astrologer
An astrologer practices one or more forms of astrology. Typically an astrologer draws a horoscope for the time of an event, such as a person's birth, and interprets celestial points and their placements at the time of the event to better understand someone, determine the auspiciousness of an...
to publish a prediction "of a revolt against the emperor" and "the assassination of the emperor". They then warned Constantina about said prediction and the supposed ambitions of Aristomachus. She brought the tale to Maurice. "And he imagined that Aristomachus intended to slay him and take his wife. And the emperor became hostile forthwith to Aristomachus, and he robbed him of every hope, and exposed him to numerous humiliations, and sent him in exile to the island of Gaul where he had to remain till he died."
The location of his exile place is not recorded elsewhere.