Arsaces (conspirator)
Encyclopedia
Arsaces was a Byzantine conspirator against Justinian I
(r. 527-565). He was the instigator of Artabanes
' conspiracy. The main source about him is Procopius
.
and a descendant of the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia
. He was also a kinsman of the general Artabanes
, though the exact relation is not recorded.
At some point, Arsaces established correspondance with Khosrau I
(r. 531-579), ruler of the Sassanid Empire
. He was caught by imperial authorities and accused of treason
. He was convicted, but Justinian I
(r. 527-565) reserved for him a relatively mild punishment. Arsaces was sentenced to a public flagellation
, while paraded through the streets of Constantinople
on the back of camel. The punishment was aimed to leave him physically unharmed but humiliated. Arsaces was not grateful to Justinian, holding a grudge. Procopius does not mention the date or context of the events. Modern historians suggest it was part of the early phases of the Lazic War
(541-562).
Arsaces became the instigator of a conspiracy against the emperor in 548. The plot formed shortly following the death of Theodora (28 June, 548). He first approached his kinsman Artabanes, who had his own reasons to be dissatisfied with Justinian. He previously had the ambition to marry Praejecta
, niece of the emperor. But Theodora had thwarted this plan and Praejecta had married another man. Arsaces was able to turn this dissatisfaction to hatred. Chanaranges, "a young and frivolous Armenian" was also recruited. His motivations are not recorded. The name probably derives from Kanarang
, a military title of the Sassanid Empire
. He should probably not be confused with his contemporary, the Chanaranges
who took part in the in the Gothic War.
Arsaces reportedly planned to take advantage of the personal habits of Justinian. The emperor spend his nights "till late hours" in study of the Bible
. He was surrounded by elderly priests instead of guards. The conspirators could take advantage of this lax security. But the conspirators first to gain more support. They attempted to recruit members of Justinian's own family: Germanus and his sons Justin
and Justinian
.
Arsaces approached Justin and attempted to convince him about the reasons to eliminate Justinian. He discussed how the emperor "ill-treated and passed over his relatives". He also pointed Belisarius
as a threat to them. This did not have the desired effect. Immediately Justin informed his father, and he in turn informed the comes excubitorum Marcellus. In order to find out more of their intentions, Germanus met the conspirators in person, while a trusted aide of Marcellus was concealed nearby and listened in. Although Marcellus hesitated to inform Justinian without further proof, eventually he revealed the conspiracy to the emperor. Justinian ordered the conspirators imprisoned and questioned, but they were otherwise treated remarkably leniently. Artabanes was stripped of his offices and confined to the palace under guard, but was soon pardoned. The further fate of Arsaces is not recorded.
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
(r. 527-565). He was the instigator of Artabanes
Artabanes (general)
Artabanes was an East Roman general of Armenian origin who served under Justinian I . Initially a rebel against Byzantine authority, he fled to the Sassanid Persians but soon returned to Byzantine allegiance. He served in Africa, where he won great fame by killing the rebel general Guntharic and...
' conspiracy. The main source about him is Procopius
Procopius
Procopius of Caesarea was a prominent Byzantine scholar from Palestine. Accompanying the general Belisarius in the wars of the Emperor Justinian I, he became the principal historian of the 6th century, writing the Wars of Justinian, the Buildings of Justinian and the celebrated Secret History...
.
Biography
Arsaces was an ArmenianArmenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
and a descendant of the Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia
Arsacid Dynasty of Armenia
The Arsacid dynasty or Arshakuni dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from 54 AD to 428 AD. Formerly a branch of the Iranian Parthian Arsacids, they became a distinctly Armenian dynasty. Arsacid Kings reigned intermittently throughout the chaotic years following the fall of the Artaxiad Dynasty...
. He was also a kinsman of the general Artabanes
Artabanes (general)
Artabanes was an East Roman general of Armenian origin who served under Justinian I . Initially a rebel against Byzantine authority, he fled to the Sassanid Persians but soon returned to Byzantine allegiance. He served in Africa, where he won great fame by killing the rebel general Guntharic and...
, though the exact relation is not recorded.
At some point, Arsaces established correspondance with Khosrau I
Khosrau I
Khosrau I , also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just Khosrau I (also called Chosroes I in classical sources, most commonly known in Persian as Anushirvan or Anushirwan, Persian: انوشيروان meaning the immortal soul), also known as Anushiravan the Just or Anushirawan the Just...
(r. 531-579), ruler of the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
. He was caught by imperial authorities and accused of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
. He was convicted, but Justinian I
Justinian I
Justinian I ; , ; 483– 13 or 14 November 565), commonly known as Justinian the Great, was Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the Empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western half of the classical Roman Empire.One of the most important figures of...
(r. 527-565) reserved for him a relatively mild punishment. Arsaces was sentenced to a public flagellation
Flagellation
Flagellation or flogging is the act of methodically beating or whipping the human body. Specialised implements for it include rods, switches, the cat o' nine tails and the sjambok...
, while paraded through the streets of 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:...
on the back of camel. The punishment was aimed to leave him physically unharmed but humiliated. Arsaces was not grateful to Justinian, holding a grudge. Procopius does not mention the date or context of the events. Modern historians suggest it was part of the early phases of the Lazic War
Lazic War
The Lazic War or Colchic War, also known as the Great War of Egrisi in Georgian historiography, was fought between the Byzantine Empire and Sassanid Persia for control of the region of Lazica, in what is now western Georgia...
(541-562).
Arsaces became the instigator of a conspiracy against the emperor in 548. The plot formed shortly following the death of Theodora (28 June, 548). He first approached his kinsman Artabanes, who had his own reasons to be dissatisfied with Justinian. He previously had the ambition to marry Praejecta
Praejecta
Praejecta or Praiecta was a niece to Byzantine emperor Justinian I by blood and of his empress Theodora by marriage.She was a daughter of Vigilantia and Dulcidio , respectively the sister and brother-in-law of Justinian. She was also a sister of later emperor Justin II Praejecta or Praiecta was a...
, niece of the emperor. But Theodora had thwarted this plan and Praejecta had married another man. Arsaces was able to turn this dissatisfaction to hatred. Chanaranges, "a young and frivolous Armenian" was also recruited. His motivations are not recorded. The name probably derives from Kanarang
Kanarang
The kanārang was a unique title in the Sassanid army, given to the commander of the Sassanid Empire's northeasternmost frontier province, Abarshahr...
, a military title of the Sassanid Empire
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
. He should probably not be confused with his contemporary, the Chanaranges
Chanaranges (Italy)
Chanaranges was a Byzantine military officer, active in the late reign of Justinian I . His name is occasionally rendered as Charanges . He is only known for his activities in the Gothic War, in particular the Battle of the Volturnus . The main source about him is Agathias. The name probably...
who took part in the in the Gothic War.
Arsaces reportedly planned to take advantage of the personal habits of Justinian. The emperor spend his nights "till late hours" in study of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. He was surrounded by elderly priests instead of guards. The conspirators could take advantage of this lax security. But the conspirators first to gain more support. They attempted to recruit members of Justinian's own family: Germanus and his sons Justin
Justin (consul 540)
Flavius Mar Petrus Theodorus Valentinus Rusticius Boraides Germanus Iustinus, commonly simply Iustinus was an East Roman aristocrat and general, who was appointed as one of the last Roman consuls in 540....
and Justinian
Justinian (general)
Justinian was an East Roman aristocrat and general, and a member of the ruling Justinian dynasty. As a soldier, he had a distinguished career in the Balkans and in the East against Sassanid Persia...
.
Arsaces approached Justin and attempted to convince him about the reasons to eliminate Justinian. He discussed how the emperor "ill-treated and passed over his relatives". He also pointed Belisarius
Belisarius
Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
as a threat to them. This did not have the desired effect. Immediately Justin informed his father, and he in turn informed the comes excubitorum Marcellus. In order to find out more of their intentions, Germanus met the conspirators in person, while a trusted aide of Marcellus was concealed nearby and listened in. Although Marcellus hesitated to inform Justinian without further proof, eventually he revealed the conspiracy to the emperor. Justinian ordered the conspirators imprisoned and questioned, but they were otherwise treated remarkably leniently. Artabanes was stripped of his offices and confined to the palace under guard, but was soon pardoned. The further fate of Arsaces is not recorded.