Hermogenes (magister officiorum)
Encyclopedia
Hermogenes was an East Roman (Byzantine
) 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
(r. 527–565).
(modern Dobrudja), as he is called "the Scythian" in Byzantine chronicles. In the 510s, he served as an assessor (head legal assistant) to the general Vitalian
, who in 513–515 led a series of revolts against Emperor Anastasius I
(r. 491–518).
By May 529, he had risen to the post of magister officiorum
, head of the imperial secretariat. In April 529, he was sent as an envoy with many gifts to the Persian shah Kavadh I
(r. 488–531) to formally announce Justinian's accession to the throne and propose peace in the ongoing war. He arrived before Kavadh in July and returned bearing his reply for a one-year truce. In response, Justinian sent him again as an envoy, along with Rufinus, who had led repeated embassies to the Persian court in the past. The two arrived at Antioch
in March 530, and then set out for Hierapolis, from where they sent notice of their arrival to Kavadh, expecting negotiations to resume. Kavadh however had prepared an army of invasion and postponed meeting them. While Rufinus remained at Hierapolis, Hermogenes joined the Byzantine army commanded by Belisarius
, newly promoted to magister militum per Orientem, at the fortress of Dara
on the Persian border.
As Hermogenes had been instructed by Justinian to aid Belisarius in forming his army, he came to share command of the Byzantine forces with the latter. When the Persian army under Mihran advanced across the border to Ammodius (June 530), the Byzantines too exited Dara, arraying their forces in front of the city. Belisarius and Hermogenes attempted to resume negotiations the day before the battle, but the Persian commander refused. Hermogenes shared command with Belisarius during the subsequent Battle of Dara
, which ended in a major Byzantine victory. After the battle, Kavadh accepted a new embassy, but without Hermogenes, who returned to Constantinople in late 530 or early 531. In the meantime, Kavadh had sent Rufinus back to Justinian with terms acceptable to the latter. When Rufinus returned to the shah bearing Justinian's agreement, the Persian ruler had changed his mind and resolved to renew the war.
In spring 531, as news arrived of another Persian invasion, Hermogenes was sent again to the East at the head of reinforcements for Belisarius' army. He joined Belisarius, who had been following the Persians, at Barbalissus. There Hermogenes mediated and resolved a dispute between Belisarius and one of his subordinate commanders, Sunicas
. At this point the Persians, confronted by the Byzantine army, decided to withdraw. Hermogenes agreed with Belisarius' opinion that, their invasion having failed, they should be allowed to do so, but his subordinate commanders advocated battle. The two armies met near Callinicum, but the ensuing battle
resulted in a heavy Byzantine defeat. In the aftermath of the battle, Hermogenes visited Kavadh as an envoy, but failed to achieve any results. He returned to Constantinople, from where he was again sent as an envoy in the late summer of 531. There he attached himself to the army of Sittas
, and was with Sittas when he relieved the city of Martyropolis
from a Persian siege.
Whilst at the city, news arrived of Kavadh's death and the succession of his son, Khosrau I
(r. 531–579). Khosrau wrote to Justinian through Hermogenes for a renewal of talks, but the emperor forbade his envoys, Rufinus and Strategius, who were waiting at Edessa
, to do so. If Justinian thus hoped to destablilize Khosrau's position, his hopes were thwarted: the new shah quickly suppressed the threat posed by his brother and the Mazdakites, and renewed his offer of negotiations, along with a three-month truce. Justinian instructed Hermogenes to accept the truce, and after an exchange of hostages, the Persian army withdrew from Byzantine territory. Hermogenes was then one of the four Byzantine envoys sent to negotiate with Khosrau himself. The talks broke down, but a renewed embassy by Hermogenes and Rufinus succeeded in concluding the so-called "Eternal Peace" in September 532.
Hermogenes was dismissed as magister officiorum after November 533, being replaced by Tribonian
. He held the post again in 535, shortly before his death, which occurred sometime before 18 March 536. Hermogenes had a son, Saturninus. Sometime after Hermogenes' death, he tried to marry his cousin, the daughter of Cyril, commander of the foederati
under Belisarius, but this was thwarted by the Empress Theodora
. Instead, the empress had him marry the daughter of a former courtesan living in the palace, and when he protested, he was flogged.
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...
) official who served as 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...
, military commander and diplomatic envoy during the Iberian War
Iberian War
The Iberian War was fought from 526 to 532 between the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Empire over the eastern Georgian kingdom of Iberia.-Origin:After the Anastasian War, a seven-year truce was agreed on, yet it lasted for nearly twenty years...
against Sassanid Persia in the early 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).
Life
Hermogenes was probably from Scythia MinorScythia 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....
(modern Dobrudja), as he is called "the Scythian" in Byzantine chronicles. In the 510s, he served as an assessor (head legal assistant) to the general Vitalian
Vitalian (general)
Vitalian was an East Roman general. Rebelling in 513 against Emperor Anastasius I, he won over large parts of the army and people of Thrace. Successive rapprochements with Anastasius failed, and the revolt continued until it was finally defeated in 515. Vitalian then went into hiding until...
, who in 513–515 led a series of revolts against Emperor Anastasius I
Anastasius I (emperor)
Anastasius I was Byzantine Emperor from 491 to 518. During his reign the Roman eastern frontier underwent extensive re-fortification, including the construction of Dara, a stronghold intended to counter the Persian fortress of Nisibis....
(r. 491–518).
By May 529, he had risen to the post of 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...
, head of the imperial secretariat. In April 529, he was sent as an envoy with many gifts to the Persian shah Kavadh I
Kavadh I
Kavad or Kavadh I was the son of Peroz I and the nineteenth Sassanid king of Persia, reigning from 488 to 531...
(r. 488–531) to formally announce Justinian's accession to the throne and propose peace in the ongoing war. He arrived before Kavadh in July and returned bearing his reply for a one-year truce. In response, Justinian sent him again as an envoy, along with Rufinus, who had led repeated embassies to the Persian court in the past. The two arrived at 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...
in March 530, and then set out for Hierapolis, from where they sent notice of their arrival to Kavadh, expecting negotiations to resume. Kavadh however had prepared an army of invasion and postponed meeting them. While Rufinus remained at Hierapolis, Hermogenes joined the Byzantine army commanded by 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....
, newly promoted to magister militum per Orientem, at the fortress of Dara
Dara (Mesopotamia)
Dara or Daras was an important East Roman fortress city in northern Mesopotamia on the border with the Sassanid Empire. Because of its great strategic importance, it featured prominently in the Roman-Persian conflicts of the 6th century, with the famous Battle of Dara taking place before its walls...
on the Persian border.
As Hermogenes had been instructed by Justinian to aid Belisarius in forming his army, he came to share command of the Byzantine forces with the latter. When the Persian army under Mihran advanced across the border to Ammodius (June 530), the Byzantines too exited Dara, arraying their forces in front of the city. Belisarius and Hermogenes attempted to resume negotiations the day before the battle, but the Persian commander refused. Hermogenes shared command with Belisarius during the subsequent Battle of Dara
Battle of Dara
The Battle of Dara was fought between the Sassanids and the Byzantine Empire in 530. It was one of the battles of the Iberian War.- Background :...
, which ended in a major Byzantine victory. After the battle, Kavadh accepted a new embassy, but without Hermogenes, who returned to Constantinople in late 530 or early 531. In the meantime, Kavadh had sent Rufinus back to Justinian with terms acceptable to the latter. When Rufinus returned to the shah bearing Justinian's agreement, the Persian ruler had changed his mind and resolved to renew the war.
In spring 531, as news arrived of another Persian invasion, Hermogenes was sent again to the East at the head of reinforcements for Belisarius' army. He joined Belisarius, who had been following the Persians, at Barbalissus. There Hermogenes mediated and resolved a dispute between Belisarius and one of his subordinate commanders, Sunicas
Sunicas
Sunicas was a Hun who served in the Byzantine military during the Iberian War, in the early reign of Justinian I .According to Zacharias of Mytilene, Sunicas was a Hun who fled to the Byzantine Empire, where he was baptized. By 527, he was an officer stationed at the fortress of Dara in...
. At this point the Persians, confronted by the Byzantine army, decided to withdraw. Hermogenes agreed with Belisarius' opinion that, their invasion having failed, they should be allowed to do so, but his subordinate commanders advocated battle. The two armies met near Callinicum, but the ensuing battle
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...
resulted in a heavy Byzantine defeat. In the aftermath of the battle, Hermogenes visited Kavadh as an envoy, but failed to achieve any results. He returned to Constantinople, from where he was again sent as an envoy in the late summer of 531. There he attached himself to the army of Sittas
Sittas
Sittas was a Byzantine military commander during the reign of Justinian. During the Iberian War against the Sassanid Empire, Sittas was given command of forces in Armenia, similar to the status of Belisarius in Mesopotamia...
, and was with Sittas when he relieved the city of Martyropolis
Martyropolis
Martyropolis was the former name of a city in Turkey, now known in Turkish as Silvan, in Aramaic as Meiafarakin .It is a Catholic titular see....
from a Persian siege.
Whilst at the city, news arrived of Kavadh's death and the succession of his son, 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). Khosrau wrote to Justinian through Hermogenes for a renewal of talks, but the emperor forbade his envoys, Rufinus and Strategius, who were waiting at Edessa
Edessa, Mesopotamia
Edessa is the Greek name of an Aramaic town in northern Mesopotamia, as refounded by Seleucus I Nicator. For the modern history of the city, see Şanlıurfa.-Names:...
, to do so. If Justinian thus hoped to destablilize Khosrau's position, his hopes were thwarted: the new shah quickly suppressed the threat posed by his brother and the Mazdakites, and renewed his offer of negotiations, along with a three-month truce. Justinian instructed Hermogenes to accept the truce, and after an exchange of hostages, the Persian army withdrew from Byzantine territory. Hermogenes was then one of the four Byzantine envoys sent to negotiate with Khosrau himself. The talks broke down, but a renewed embassy by Hermogenes and Rufinus succeeded in concluding the so-called "Eternal Peace" in September 532.
Hermogenes was dismissed as magister officiorum after November 533, being replaced by 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...
. He held the post again in 535, shortly before his death, which occurred sometime before 18 March 536. Hermogenes had a son, Saturninus. Sometime after Hermogenes' death, he tried to marry his cousin, the daughter of Cyril, commander of the foederati
Foederati
Foederatus is a Latin term whose definition and usage drifted in the time between the early Roman Republic and the end of the Western Roman Empire...
under Belisarius, but this was thwarted by the Empress 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...
. Instead, the empress had him marry the daughter of a former courtesan living in the palace, and when he protested, he was flogged.