Anicius Faustus Albinus Basilius
Anicius Faustus Albinus Basilius (
Eastern Roman Empire and the last ordinary consul
of Roman history, holding the office alone in 541.
Biography
His origins are unknown, although his name suggests he belonged to the aristocratic Roman families of
Caecina Decius Faustus Albinus.[1]
When the King of the Ostrogoths
Justinian consoled them "and enriched them as befitted Roman consuls."[3]
On 1 January 541 he took the consulate in Constantinople without colleague. Based on the fact that Basilius entered into the consulship a few months after the Gothic surrender of
Justinian had especial significance: Alan Cameron and Diane Schauer comment "Basilius' consulship symbolized the restoration of Italy and her aristocracy to the empire."[1]
It is not recorded how much longer Basilius lived after becoming consul.
A
patricius and ordinary consul. This identification was generally accepted until 1896 when H. Graeven argued it belonged to Basilius' grandfather, Caecina Decius Maximus Basilius, the western consul of 480, based on stylistic arguments. More recently Cameron and Schauer have defended Buonarotti's identification.[1]
References
- ^ The Journal of Roman Studies72: 126–145.
- ^ Procopius, De Bellus, VII.20.18. Translated by H.B. Dewing, Procopius (Cambridge: Loeb Classical Library, 1979), vol. 4 p. 329
- ^ Louise Ropes Loomis ed. (1916). The Book of Popes (Liber Pontificalis). New York: Columbia University Press. pp. 158–9.
Further reading
- ISBN 9780521072335.