Constantiolus
Encyclopedia
Constantiolus was a general of the Byzantine Empire
, active early in the reign of Justinian I
(r. 527–565). He succeeded Justin
in command of Moesia Secunda. A passage of Theophanes the Confessor
incorrectly identifies him as "Constantinus" (Constantine).
and Theophanes the Confessor
, Constantiolus was a son of Florentius. No details are given about him, though he could be identified with Florentius, Roman consul in 515.
Constantiolus is first mentioned as "stratelates
of Moesia
" in 528, in succession to Justin, who had been killed in battle earlier that year. Justin
and Baduarius
, dux
of Scythia Minor
, had joined their forces in battle against a force of foreign invaders, who Malalas identifies as "Huns
", while Theophanes as Bulgars
. It is likely that Constantiolus held the title of dux Moesiae Secundae and the rank of magister militum
(often rendered in Greek as stratelates).
The newly-appointed Constantiolus joined forces with Ascum
and Godilas
in facing the invaders, who were at the time active in Thrace
. The Byzantine army
managed to defeat one group of invaders in battle, but they were then ambushed and routed by a second group of Huns/Bulgars. Both Constantiolus and Ascum were captured by their enemies. The victors ransom
ed Constantiolus back to Justinian I
in exchange for a large sum. Malalas reports a payment of 10,000 solidi
, while Theophanes of 1,000 solidi.
' defeat by the Sassanid Persians at the Battle of Callinicum
(19 April 531). Justinian sent Constantiolus to the eastern border, assigning him to investigate the circumstances of the defeat. Constantiolus traveled through Antioch
and questioned various Byzantine commanders on the subject. Among them was the magister officiorum
Hermogenes
, who had served under Belisarius in the battle. Constantiolus returned to Constantinople
with his findings. His report probably contributed to the end of Belisarius' service as magister militum per Orientem and his replacement by Mundus.
in 532, where he, along with Mundus and Basilides
, served as envoys of Justinian to the rioting crowds. They partly attempted to calm the rioters and partly attempted to understand the causes of their wrath. Their report to the emperor placed the blame for the uprising on the unpopular financial ministers John the Cappadocian
, Tribonian
and Eudaemon, leading to their dismissal from office.
As the riots did not subside, Justinian considered fleeing Constantinople, and Constantiolus and Mundus were assigned to guard the palace in his absence. Justinian was in despair, but his wife Theodora
is said to have dissuaded him, saying, "Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss. Never will I see the day when I am not saluted as empress." Although an escape route across the sea lay open for the emperor, Theodora insisted that she would stay in the city, quoting an ancient saying, "Royalty is a fine burial shroud," or perhaps, [the royal color] "Purple makes a fine winding sheet."
Constantiolus took part, with Belisarius and Mundus, in attacking the crowds within the Hippodrome of Constantinople
. The event ended the Nika riots and also seems to be the last chronological mention of Constantiolus.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, active early in the reign of 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). He succeeded Justin
Justin (Moesia)
Justin was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I as commander of the Danubian limes in Moesia Secunda.- Biography :...
in command of Moesia Secunda. A passage of Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
incorrectly identifies him as "Constantinus" (Constantine).
Origins and early career: dux of Moesia
According to John MalalasJohn Malalas
John Malalas or Ioannes Malalas was a Greek chronicler from Antioch. Malalas is probably a Syriac word for "rhetor", "orator"; it is first applied to him by John of Damascus .-Life:Malalas was educated in Antioch, and probably was a jurist there, but moved to...
and Theophanes the Confessor
Theophanes the Confessor
Saint Theophanes Confessor was a member of the Byzantine aristocracy, who became a monk and chronicler. He is venerated on March 12 in the Roman Catholic and the Eastern Orthodox Church .-Biography:Theophanes was born in Constantinople of wealthy and noble iconodule parents: Isaac,...
, Constantiolus was a son of Florentius. No details are given about him, though he could be identified with Florentius, Roman consul in 515.
Constantiolus is first mentioned as "stratelates
Stratelates
Stratēlatēs was a Greek term designating a general, which also became a honorary dignity in the Byzantine Empire. In the former sense, it was often applied to military saints, such as Theodore Stratelates....
of Moesia
Moesia
Moesia was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans, along the south bank of the Danube River. It included territories of modern-day Southern Serbia , Northern Republic of Macedonia, Northern Bulgaria, Romanian Dobrudja, Southern Moldova, and Budjak .-History:In ancient...
" in 528, in succession to Justin, who had been killed in battle earlier that year. Justin
Justin (Moesia)
Justin was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I as commander of the Danubian limes in Moesia Secunda.- Biography :...
and Baduarius
Baduarius (Scythia)
Baduarius was a Byzantine general, active early in the reign of Justinian I in Scythia Minor. Patrick Amory considers the name Baduarius to be Germanic in origin....
, dux
Dux
Dux is Latin for leader and later for Duke and its variant forms ....
of Scythia Minor
Scythia Minor
Scythia Minor, "Lesser Scythia" was in ancient times the region surrounded by the Danube at the north and west and the Black Sea at the east, corresponding to today's Dobruja, with a part in Romania and a part in Bulgaria....
, had joined their forces in battle against a force of foreign invaders, who Malalas identifies as "Huns
Huns
The Huns were a group of nomadic people who, appearing from east of the Volga River, migrated into Europe c. AD 370 and established the vast Hunnic Empire there. Since de Guignes linked them with the Xiongnu, who had been northern neighbours of China 300 years prior to the emergence of the Huns,...
", while Theophanes as Bulgars
Bulgars
The Bulgars were a semi-nomadic who flourished in the Pontic Steppe and the Volga basin in the 7th century.The Bulgars emerge after the collapse of the Hunnic Empire in the 5th century....
. It is likely that Constantiolus held the title of dux Moesiae Secundae and the rank of magister militum
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...
(often rendered in Greek as stratelates).
The newly-appointed Constantiolus joined forces with Ascum
Ascum
Ascum was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I . He was in command of the Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum. His name is reported by John Malalas. Both Theophanes the Confessor and George Kedrenos render his name "Ακούμ" .-Biography:Ascum was reportedly a...
and Godilas
Godilas
Godilas was a Byzantine general, active in the reigns of Emperor Justin I and Emperor Justinian I .-Biography:Godilas is first mentioned in 518 as one of the officers involved in the proclamation of Justin I as Byzantine emperor. The ceremony is recorded in the De Ceremoniis, compiled by Emperor...
in facing the invaders, who were at the time active in Thrace
Diocese of Thrace
The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later Roman Empire, incorporating the provinces of the eastern Balkan Peninsula The Diocese of Thrace was a diocese of the later...
. The Byzantine army
Byzantine army
The Byzantine army was the primary military body of the Byzantine armed forces, serving alongside the Byzantine navy. A direct descendant of the Roman army, the Byzantine army maintained a similar level of discipline, strategic prowess and organization...
managed to defeat one group of invaders in battle, but they were then ambushed and routed by a second group of Huns/Bulgars. Both Constantiolus and Ascum were captured by their enemies. The victors ransom
Ransom
Ransom is the practice of holding a prisoner or item to extort money or property to secure their release, or it can refer to the sum of money involved.In an early German law, a similar concept was called bad influence...
ed Constantiolus back to 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...
in exchange for a large sum. Malalas reports a payment of 10,000 solidi
Solidus (coin)
The solidus was originally a gold coin issued by the Romans, and a weight measure for gold more generally, corresponding to 4.5 grams.-Roman and Byzantine coinage:...
, while Theophanes of 1,000 solidi.
Imperial representative
Constantiolus resurfaces in 531, after BelisariusBelisarius
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....
' defeat by the Sassanid Persians at the Battle of Callinicum
Battle of Callinicum
The Battle of Callinicum took place Easter day, 19 April 531, between the armies of the Eastern Roman Empire under Belisarius and the Sassanid Persians under Azarethes. After a defeat at the Battle of Dara, the Sassanids moved to invade Syria in an attempt to turn the tide of the war...
(19 April 531). Justinian sent Constantiolus to the eastern border, assigning him to investigate the circumstances of the defeat. Constantiolus traveled through Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
and questioned various Byzantine commanders on the subject. Among them was the magister officiorum
Magister officiorum
The magister officiorum was one of the most senior administrative officials in the late Roman Empire and the early centuries of the Byzantine Empire...
Hermogenes
Hermogenes (magister officiorum)
Hermogenes was an East Roman official who served as magister officiorum, military commander and diplomatic envoy during the Iberian War against Sassanid Persia in the early reign of Justinian I .- Life :...
, who had served under Belisarius in the battle. Constantiolus returned to 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:...
with his findings. His report probably contributed to the end of Belisarius' service as magister militum per Orientem and his replacement by Mundus.
The Nika riots
Constantiolus next appears during the Nika riotsNika riots
The Nika riots , or Nika revolt, took place over the course of a week in Constantinople in AD 532. It was the most violent riot that Constantinople had ever seen to that point, with nearly half the city being burned or destroyed and tens of thousands of people killed.-Background:The ancient Roman...
in 532, where he, along with Mundus and Basilides
Basilides (patricius)
Basilides was a Byzantine official, who held the office of magister officiorum during the reign of Justinian I . He was a member of the commission responsible for forming the Corpus Juris Civilis. - Biography :...
, served as envoys of Justinian to the rioting crowds. They partly attempted to calm the rioters and partly attempted to understand the causes of their wrath. Their report to the emperor placed the blame for the uprising on the unpopular financial ministers John the Cappadocian
John the Cappadocian
A different John the Cappadocian was Patriarch from 518-520. See John of Cappadocia.John the Cappadocian,also known as Iohannis Orientalis, was a praetorian prefect of the East in the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I...
, Tribonian
Tribonian
Tribonian or Tribonianos was a jurist during the reign of the Emperor Justinian I, who revised the legal code of the Roman Empire.Tribonian was born in Pamphylia around the year 500...
and Eudaemon, leading to their dismissal from office.
As the riots did not subside, Justinian considered fleeing Constantinople, and Constantiolus and Mundus were assigned to guard the palace in his absence. Justinian was in despair, but his wife Theodora
Theodora (6th century)
Theodora , was empress of the Roman Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian I. Like her husband, she is a saint in the Orthodox Church, commemorated on November 14...
is said to have dissuaded him, saying, "Those who have worn the crown should never survive its loss. Never will I see the day when I am not saluted as empress." Although an escape route across the sea lay open for the emperor, Theodora insisted that she would stay in the city, quoting an ancient saying, "Royalty is a fine burial shroud," or perhaps, [the royal color] "Purple makes a fine winding sheet."
Constantiolus took part, with Belisarius and Mundus, in attacking the crowds within 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...
. The event ended the Nika riots and also seems to be the last chronological mention of Constantiolus.
Sources
- Diehl, Charles. Theodora, Empress of Byzantium ((c) 1972 by Frederick Ungar Publishing, Inc., transl. by S.R. Rosenbaum from the original French Theodora, Imperatice de Byzance). Popular account based on the author's extensive scholarly research.