Constantine Lardys
Encyclopedia
Constantine, surnamed Lardys was one of the senior-most officials of the late reign of the Byzantine emperor Maurice
(r. 582–602).
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 reign, although by 602 he held the post of curator of the palace of Hormisdas
(curator domus divinae) and the extensive imperial estates attached to it. Constantine's tenure as praetorian prefect was unpopular due to the stringent financial policies pursued by Maurice.
Constantine played an important role in the turmoil that ended Maurice's reign in 602, brought about by the mutiny of the Danubian
army. The already tense domestic situation was exacerbated when Constantine incurred the hostility of the influential Green racing faction
, which led to the Greens protesting in the Hippodrome of Constantinople
and to subsequent riots against Maurice, during which Constantine's house was burned down.
On the day after the riots, 22 November, Maurice, with his family and closest associates fled the capital before the advancing rebel army under Phocas
, and crossed over to Chalcedon
. In a bid to secure the support of the Persian
shah Khosrau II
, Maurice dispatched his eldest son and co-emperor, Theodosius
, to the East, and sent Constantine Lardys to accompany him. They were soon recalled however and on their return fell into the hands of Phocas' men and were executed at Chalcedon, a few days after the execution of Maurice and his other sons.
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).
One of the leading members of the Byzantine Senate
Byzantine Senate
The Byzantine Senate or Eastern Roman Senate was the continuation of the Roman Senate, established in the 4th century by Constantine I. It survived for centuries but was increasingly irrelevant until its eventual disappearance in the 13th century....
and a patrikios, he had held the powerful post of praetorian prefect of the East some time during the latter part of Maurice's reign, although by 602 he held the post of curator of the palace of Hormisdas
Hormizd (Constantinople)
Hormizd was a Sassanid Persian prince, the third son of King Hormizd II and brother-in-law of King Shapur II. Imprisoned by him, he was freed by his wife in 323 and escaped to Constantinople, where Emperor Constantine I helped him and gave him a palace near the shore of the Marmara Sea This...
(curator domus divinae) and the extensive imperial estates attached to it. Constantine's tenure as praetorian prefect was unpopular due to the stringent financial policies pursued by Maurice.
Constantine played an important role in the turmoil that ended Maurice's reign in 602, brought about by the mutiny of the Danubian
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
army. The already tense domestic situation was exacerbated when Constantine incurred the hostility of the influential Green racing faction
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...
, which led to the Greens protesting in the Hippodrome of Constantinople
Hippodrome of Constantinople
The Hippodrome of Constantinople was a circus that was the sporting and social centre of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire. Today it is a square named Sultanahmet Meydanı in the Turkish city of Istanbul, with only a few fragments of the original structure surviving...
and to subsequent riots against Maurice, during which Constantine's house was burned down.
On the day after the riots, 22 November, Maurice, with his family and closest associates fled the capital before the advancing rebel army under 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 crossed over to Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
. In a bid to secure the support of the Persian
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...
shah Khosrau II
Khosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
, Maurice dispatched his eldest son and 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...
, to the East, and sent Constantine Lardys to accompany him. They were soon recalled however and on their return fell into the hands of Phocas' men and were executed at Chalcedon, a few days after the execution of Maurice and his other sons.