Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius
Encyclopedia
Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius (floruit 483-500), was a Roman politician. He was the first consul
appointed under Odoacer
's rule (480), and afterwards was Praetorian prefect of Italy. He is best known for presiding over the papal election of Pope Felix III
.
, Basilius was the son of Caecina Decius Basilius
, one of the two consuls of 463. He had four sons, all of whom attained consular rank: Albinus
in 493 (presumably the first consul nominated by Theodoric the Great
), Avienus
in 501, Theodorus
in 505, and Inportunus
in 509. He was the first consul appointed from Rome since Rufius Postumius Festus eight years before.
As leader of the Roman Senate
and chief minister to king Odoacer
, and patron to the Greens
, Basilius was one of the most powerful men in post-Imperial Rome
. As a result, Basilius played a major role in the papal election of 483, being the beneficiary of an admonitio issued by Pope Simplicius
that gave him veto power over the election of Simplicius' successor. When it was clear Simplicius was on his deathbed, Basilius convened a meeting of the Roman Senate
, the local clergy and leading local bishops at the Imperial Mausoleum to elect the next Pope, Felix. At the same council, an ecclesiastical law was promulgated which forbade the alienation of ecclesiastical property by future popes.
The proceedings of a Roman synod of 501 indicate that he was dead by that date, and a passage of Cassiodorus
shows that his death occurred before his sons reached adulthood, leaving their mother in charge of running the household.
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
appointed under Odoacer
Odoacer
Flavius Odoacer , also known as Flavius Odovacer, was the first King of Italy. His reign is commonly seen as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire. Though the real power in Italy was in his hands, he represented himself as the client of Julius Nepos and, after Nepos' death in 480, of the...
's rule (480), and afterwards was Praetorian prefect of Italy. He is best known for presiding over the papal election of Pope Felix III
Pope Felix III
Pope Saint Felix III was pope from March 13, 483 to january 3, 492. His repudiation of the Henoticon is considered the beginning of the Acacian schism.-Biography:...
.
Life
A member of the gens DeciiDecius (gens)
Decius is an ancient Roman nomen; notable individuals of the gens Decia include:**Publius Decius Mus , son of Quintus, consul in 340 BC, fought the Battle of Vesuvius...
, Basilius was the son of Caecina Decius Basilius
Caecina Decius Basilius
Flavius Caecina Decius Basilius was a politician of the Western Roman Empire, Consul and twice Praetorian prefect of Italy.- Biography :Basilius belonged to the Italian nobility, and was member of the influential gens Caecina....
, one of the two consuls of 463. He had four sons, all of whom attained consular rank: Albinus
Albinus (consul 493)
Albinus, or Caecina Decius Faustus Albinus, was a Roman politician during the reign of Theodoric the Great. He held the consulship with Flavius Eusebius in 493...
in 493 (presumably the first consul nominated by Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
), Avienus
Avienus (consul 501)
Flavius Avienus Iunior was a Roman politician during the reign of Theodoric the Great. He held the consulship with Pompeius as colleague in 501....
in 501, Theodorus
Theodorus (consul 505)
Theodorus was a Roman politician during the reign of Theodoric the Great. He held the consulship with Flavius Sabinianus as his colleague in 505....
in 505, and Inportunus
Inportunus
Inportunus was a Roman politician during the reign of Theodoric the Great. He held the consulship without colleague in 509....
in 509. He was the first consul appointed from Rome since Rufius Postumius Festus eight years before.
As leader of the Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
and chief minister to king Odoacer
Odoacer
Flavius Odoacer , also known as Flavius Odovacer, was the first King of Italy. His reign is commonly seen as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire. Though the real power in Italy was in his hands, he represented himself as the client of Julius Nepos and, after Nepos' death in 480, of the...
, and patron to the Greens
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...
, Basilius was one of the most powerful men in post-Imperial Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. As a result, Basilius played a major role in the papal election of 483, being the beneficiary of an admonitio issued by Pope Simplicius
Pope Simplicius
Pope Saint Simplicius was Pope from 468 to March 10, 483.He was born in Tivoli, Italy, the son of a citizen named Castinus. Most of what is known of him is derived from the Liber Pontificalis....
that gave him veto power over the election of Simplicius' successor. When it was clear Simplicius was on his deathbed, Basilius convened a meeting of the Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, the local clergy and leading local bishops at the Imperial Mausoleum to elect the next Pope, Felix. At the same council, an ecclesiastical law was promulgated which forbade the alienation of ecclesiastical property by future popes.
The proceedings of a Roman synod of 501 indicate that he was dead by that date, and a passage of Cassiodorus
Cassiodorus
Flavius Magnus Aurelius Cassiodorus Senator , commonly known as Cassiodorus, was a Roman statesman and writer, serving in the administration of Theodoric the Great, king of the Ostrogoths. Senator was part of his surname, not his rank.- Life :Cassiodorus was born at Scylletium, near Catanzaro in...
shows that his death occurred before his sons reached adulthood, leaving their mother in charge of running the household.