Marcus (son of Basiliscus)

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Marcus
House of Leo
FatherBasiliscus
MotherZenonis

Marcus (Greek: Μᾶρκος; died August 476) was the son of the Eastern Roman general and usurper Basiliscus and Zenonis. He was acclaimed caesar in 475 and later promoted to augustus, ruling as junior co-emperor to his father. When Zeno reoccupied Constantinople in late August 476, Marcus, with his parents, hid in a church. Zeno swore he would not spill their blood, and instead had them exiled to Limnae in Cappadocia, where they were then starved to death.

History

Rise to power

Marcus was the son of

Patriarch of Constantinople, Acacius, is unclear, although the historian Kamilla Twardowska considers it likely that he would have withheld support from either side until the outcome was clear.[13] The exact date the conspiracy began is unknown: historian Maciej Salamon argues it began around 473, whereas Twardowska argues it began only after Zeno took sole power.[14][15] The conspiracy was successful, as Zeno fled to his native Isauria on 9 January 475, either after learning of the conspiracy or after being convinced by Verina that his life was in danger.[16][17] Basiliscus convinced the senate to acclaim him emperor, instead of Patricius, and Basiliscus was crowned at the Hebdomon palace.[11] Basiliscus immediately had Marcus crowned as caesar, and later raised him to co-emperor.[18]

Reign with Basiliscus

Solidus of Basiliscus with the legend dn basilisci et marc p avg

Basiliscus quickly lost support in Constantinople, through a combination of heavy taxes and heretical ecclesiastical policies, as well as a natural disaster.

Hebdomon, out of fear of the capital's populace; this news may also have motivated Ilus and Trocundes,[23][24][25] who had also received letters from ministers in the capital. These letters informed them that the city was now ready to restore Zeno, as the people had become even less supportive of Basiliscus due to the "fiscal rapacity of his ministers", as Bury puts it.[26] Illus had recently taken captive Longinus, Zeno's brother, and may have calculated that this gave him leverage over the deposed emperor: he arranged to ally with Zeno, and they began to march towards Constantinople with their combined forces.[20][21][23]

Basiliscus ordered Armatus to take command of all the troops in Thrace and Constantinople, as well as the palace guard, and lead them against the three. In spite of his oath of loyalty, Armatus betrayed Basiliscus when Zeno offered to have him made magister militum praesentalis for life, and his son, Basiliscus, crowned as caesar. He allowed Zeno to pass to Constantinople unhindered, and Zeno entered Constantinople unopposed in August 476.[16][21] Basiliscus, Marcus, and his family fled and hid in a church, only leaving once Zeno swore he would not execute them. Zeno had them exiled to Limnae in Cappadocia,[b][27] where they were imprisoned in a dried-up cistern, and left to starve to death.[16][27] According to some sources, they were instead beheaded.[19]

Coinage

The coinage of Basiliscus and Marcus was unusual in that it associated the two emperors together on the coin, rather than separate coins being minted in Marcus' name.[28]

Sources

Notes

  1. ^ This narrative is challenged by Kamilla Twardowska, who views it more likely that this is propaganda from Candidus, repeated by John of Antioch. Instead, she argues that Patricius was likely a key political ally of Verina, but, given the revolt was likely influenced by the desire to retain dynastic power, not a plausible candidate for the throne.[10]
  2. ^ Victor of Tunnuna gives the location as Sasima, and Evagrius Scholasticus and J. B. Bury give the location as Cucusus.[27]

References

  1. ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, p. 720.
  2. ^ Croke 2004, pp. 566 & 569.
  3. ^ a b Ostrogorsky 1956, p. 62.
  4. ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, p. 664.
  5. ^ Croke 2004, p. 572.
  6. ^ Bury 1923, p. 389.
  7. ^ Stein 1959, p. 363.
  8. ^ Twardowska 2014, p. 14.
  9. ^ Burgess 1992, p. 892.
  10. ^ a b Twardowska 2014, pp. 17–18.
  11. ^ a b Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, pp. 838–9.
  12. ^ Bury 1923, pp. 390–1.
  13. ^ Twardowska 2014, p. 16.
  14. ^ Salamon 1994, p. 184.
  15. ^ Twardowska 2014, p. 17.
  16. ^ a b c d e Elton 1998.
  17. ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, p. 213.
  18. ^ Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, pp. 213, 720, 838–9.
  19. ^ a b Bury 1923, p. 393.
  20. ^ a b Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, pp. 149, 567, & 1127.
  21. ^ a b c Friell & Williams 2005, pp. 185–6.
  22. ^ a b Leszka 2013, pp. 50–1.
  23. ^ a b Leszka 2013, p. 51.
  24. ^ Redies 1997, p. 218.
  25. ^ Kosiński 2010, p. 78.
  26. ^ Bury 1923, pp. 392–3.
  27. ^ a b c Jones, Martindale & Morris 1980, p. 214.
  28. ^ Grierson 1992, p. 6.

Bibliography

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