Godilas
Encyclopedia
Godilas was a Byzantine
general, active in the reigns of Emperor Justin I
(r. 518–527) and Emperor Justinian I
(r. 527–565).
as Byzantine emperor. The ceremony is recorded in the De Ceremoniis
, compiled by Emperor Constantine VII
Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) in the 10th century, and gives his rank as campiductor/campidoctor ("drill instructor") of the regiment of the Lanciarii .
In 528, Godilas, along with Baduarius
, led a military expedition from Odessus (modern Varna
) against the Huns
of the Crimea
. Under their leader, Mougel, the Huns had reportedly captured Byzantine areas on the coasts of the Black Sea
. Later that year, Godilas joined forces with Ascum
and Constantiolus
in facing an ongoing invasion of Huns/Bulgars
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 pursuing enemies through the use of lassoes
, and only Godilas was able to break through and escape, as recorded by John Malalas
and Theophanes the Confessor
.
His military rank at the time of these battles is uncertain. Both Ascum and Constantiolus held the rank of magister militum
. As Godilas served alongside them, rather than act as their subordinate, it is likely that he held an equivalent rank, either as magister militum per Thracias
or as magister militum vacans.
Byzantine
Byzantine usually refers to the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages.Byzantine may also refer to:* A citizen of the Byzantine Empire, or native Greek during the Middle Ages...
general, active in the reigns of Emperor Justin I
Justin I
Justin I was Byzantine Emperor from 518 to 527. He rose through the ranks of the army and ultimately became its Emperor, in spite of the fact he was illiterate and almost 70 years old at the time of accession...
(r. 518–527) and Emperor 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).
Biography
Godilas is first mentioned in 518 as one of the officers involved in the proclamation of Justin IJustin I
Justin I was Byzantine Emperor from 518 to 527. He rose through the ranks of the army and ultimately became its Emperor, in spite of the fact he was illiterate and almost 70 years old at the time of accession...
as Byzantine emperor. The ceremony is recorded in the De Ceremoniis
De Ceremoniis
De Ceremoniis is the Latin title of a description of ceremonial protocol at the court of the Eastern Roman emperor in Constantinople. It is sometimes called De ceremoniis aulae byzantinae...
, compiled by Emperor Constantine VII
Constantine VII
Constantine VII Porphyrogennetos or Porphyrogenitus, "the Purple-born" was the fourth Emperor of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire, reigning from 913 to 959...
Porphyrogennetos (r. 913–959) in the 10th century, and gives his rank as campiductor/campidoctor ("drill instructor") of the regiment of the Lanciarii .
In 528, Godilas, along with 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....
, led a military expedition from Odessus (modern Varna
Varna
Varna is the largest city and seaside resort on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, with a population of 334,870 inhabitants according to Census 2011...
) against the 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,...
of the Crimea
Crimea
Crimea , or the Autonomous Republic of Crimea , is a sub-national unit, an autonomous republic, of Ukraine. It is located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, occupying a peninsula of the same name...
. Under their leader, Mougel, the Huns had reportedly captured Byzantine areas on the coasts of the Black Sea
Black Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
. Later that year, Godilas 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 Constantiolus
Constantiolus
Constantiolus was a general of the Byzantine Empire, active early in the reign of Justinian I . He succeeded Justin in command of Moesia Secunda...
in facing an ongoing invasion of Huns/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....
in Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
. 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 pursuing enemies through the use of lassoes
Lasso
A lasso , also referred to as a lariat, riata, or reata , is a loop of rope that is designed to be thrown around a target and tighten when pulled. It is a well-known tool of the American cowboy. The word is also a verb; to lasso is to successfully throw the loop of rope around something...
, and only Godilas was able to break through and escape, as recorded by John Malalas
John 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,...
.
His military rank at the time of these battles is uncertain. Both Ascum and Constantiolus held 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...
. As Godilas served alongside them, rather than act as their subordinate, it is likely that he held an equivalent rank, either as magister militum per Thracias
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...
or as magister militum vacans.