Praejecta
Encyclopedia
Praejecta or Praiecta was a niece to Byzantine emperor Justinian I
(r. 527–565) by blood and of his empress Theodora by marriage.
She was a daughter of Vigilantia
and Dulcidio (or Dulcissimus), respectively the sister and brother-in-law of Justinian. She was also a sister of later emperor Justin II
(r. 565–578) and the patricius Marcellus
.
She was initially married to the patricius Areobindus, a senator of noble birth. In 545, as the situation in Africa
had gotten out of control following the death of Solomon
and his replacement by his incompetent nephew Sergius, Areobindus, although having no prior military experience, was dispatched there with a small force.
Areobindus was placed as joint commander with Sergius, but the two generals did not agree, with predictably disastrous results for the imperial effort: the imperial forces were severely defeated at Thacia, although they managed to kill the rebel Stotzas
. Following this, Sergius was relieved and Areobindus installed in his stead. Soon however (March 546) he was murdered in a military mutiny led by Guntharic, the dux Numidiae. Praejecta and her sister-in-law had been sent to safety to a fortified monastery in Carthage
, but when Guntharic took over the city, they were removed from there. Guntharic, who probably intended to marry Praejecta, kept her under house arrest but treated her well.
After Guntharic's assassination by the Armenian Artabanes
in May and the restoration of imperial rule, Praejecta rewarded him with a large sum of money and became engaged to him. Once she was back at Constantinople, Artabanes followed, but Empress Theodora discovered that he was already married and forbade the union. Artabanes was enraged by this affair, and it contributed to his involvement in the failed conspiracy to overthrow Justinian in late 548.
Praejecta was instead married off to John, son of Pompeius
and Anastasia, a marriage which took place sometime in 546–548. Pompeius was a son of Secundinus, consul
in 511 and Caesaria. His mother was a sister of a previous emperor, Anastasius I
(r. 491–518). Pompeius and his brother Hypatius were executed in 532 for their role in the Nika riots
.
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) by blood and of his empress Theodora by marriage.
She was a daughter of Vigilantia
Vigilantia
Vigilantia was a sister of Byzantine emperor Justinian I , and mother to his successor Justin II .- Name :The name "Vigilantia" is Latin for "alertness, wakefulness". Itself deriving from "vigilia" and "vigil"...
and Dulcidio (or Dulcissimus), respectively the sister and brother-in-law of Justinian. She was also a sister of later emperor Justin II
Justin II
Justin II was Byzantine Emperor from 565 to 578. He was the husband of Sophia, nephew of Justinian I and the late Empress Theodora, and was therefore a member of the Justinian Dynasty. His reign is marked by war with Persia and the loss of the greater part of Italy...
(r. 565–578) and the patricius Marcellus
Marcellus (brother of Justin II)
Marcellus was a brother of Byzantine emperor Justin II and general under his uncle, Justinian I .Marcellus was the son of Vigilantia, the sister of Justinian, and Dulcidio , and thus the brother of Justin II and Praejecta...
.
She was initially married to the patricius Areobindus, a senator of noble birth. In 545, as the situation in Africa
Praetorian prefecture of Africa
The praetorian prefecture of Africa was a major administrative division of the Eastern Roman Empire, established after the reconquest of northwestern Africa from the Vandals in 533-534 by emperor Justinian I...
had gotten out of control following the death of Solomon
Solomon (Byzantine general)
Solomon was an East Roman general from northern Mesopotamia, who distinguished himself as a commander in the Vandalic War and the reconquest of North Africa in 533–534. He spent most of the next decade in Africa as its governor general, combining the military post of magister militum with the...
and his replacement by his incompetent nephew Sergius, Areobindus, although having no prior military experience, was dispatched there with a small force.
Areobindus was placed as joint commander with Sergius, but the two generals did not agree, with predictably disastrous results for the imperial effort: the imperial forces were severely defeated at Thacia, although they managed to kill the rebel Stotzas
Stotzas
Stotzas , also Stutias, was an East Roman soldier and leader of a military rebellion in the Praetorian prefecture of Africa.-Life:...
. Following this, Sergius was relieved and Areobindus installed in his stead. Soon however (March 546) he was murdered in a military mutiny led by Guntharic, the dux Numidiae. Praejecta and her sister-in-law had been sent to safety to a fortified monastery in Carthage
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
, but when Guntharic took over the city, they were removed from there. Guntharic, who probably intended to marry Praejecta, kept her under house arrest but treated her well.
After Guntharic's assassination by the Armenian Artabanes
Artabanes (general)
Artabanes was an East Roman general of Armenian origin who served under Justinian I . Initially a rebel against Byzantine authority, he fled to the Sassanid Persians but soon returned to Byzantine allegiance. He served in Africa, where he won great fame by killing the rebel general Guntharic and...
in May and the restoration of imperial rule, Praejecta rewarded him with a large sum of money and became engaged to him. Once she was back at Constantinople, Artabanes followed, but Empress Theodora discovered that he was already married and forbade the union. Artabanes was enraged by this affair, and it contributed to his involvement in the failed conspiracy to overthrow Justinian in late 548.
Praejecta was instead married off to John, son of Pompeius
Pompeius (consul 501)
Pompeius was a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire and relative of the Emperor Anastasius I .- Family :He was a son of Secundinus and Caesaria. His mother was a sister of Anastasius I. His father served as Eparch of Constantinople and Roman consul in 511. Secundinus also held the rank of...
and Anastasia, a marriage which took place sometime in 546–548. Pompeius was a son of Secundinus, consul
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...
in 511 and Caesaria. His mother was a sister of a previous 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). Pompeius and his brother Hypatius were executed in 532 for their role in the Nika riots
Nika 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...
.