Valentinus (usurper)

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Valentinus
Usurper of the Byzantine Empire
Reignc. 644 / 645
PredecessorHeraclonas
SuccessorConstans II
Died644 or 645
Constantinople
IssueFausta
Names
Vałentinos Aršakuni[1][2]
DynastyArsacid (by blood)
Heraclian (by marriage of his daughter)

Valentinus (

David Tiberius and Martinus; this left Constans as sole ruler. Valentinus became the boy's regent, becoming the most powerful man in the empire. Following a failed military campaign against the Arabs, ties between him and Constans became increasingly hostile, such that in 644 or 645, Valentinus attempted to become augustus
(emperor) and depose Constans. This failed, and Valentinus was lynched along with his envoy Antoninus.

Biography

The Mediterranean region in Valentinus' time

According to

comes Obsequii.[3]

In the event, however, on Emperor Constantine's death in May 641, Martina and her son

comes excubitorum. Nevertheless, according to Sebeos's account, it was Valentinus who engineered the final fall and mutilation of Martina and Heraclonas a few months later, and imposed Constans as sole Byzantine emperor.[2][3]

By early 642, Valentinus became the most powerful man in the Byzantine Empire. He seemingly received quasi-imperial honour. Some authors state that he was raised to the rank of

augusta.[3] In 643 or 644, Valentinus led a campaign against the Arabs, reportedly in a concerted pincer movement with another army under an Armenian general named David. Valentinus's army, however, was routed and he himself reportedly panicked and fled, leaving his treasury to be captured by the Arabs.[3]
This severely strained his ties with Constans and the Byzantine Senate.

In 644 or 645, Valentinus attempted to usurp his son-in-law's throne. He appeared at Constantinople with a contingent of troops, and demanded to be crowned emperor. His bid for the throne, however, failed, since both the capital's populace and the leading men of the state, Patriarch Paul II foremost, rejected his claim. According to the chroniclers, the populace lynched his envoy Antoninus, before proceeding to kill Valentinus himself.[3]

References

  1. ^ PmbZ, pp. 70–72
  2. ^ a b c ODB, "Valentinos Aršakuni" (N. G. Garsoïan), p. 2151.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i PmbZ, pp. 70–72.
  4. ^ a b John of Nikiû, chapter CXX.
  5. ^ PLRE, pp. 1354–1355.

Sources

  • ISBN 0-19-504652-8
    .
  • ISBN 9780521201605
    .
  • ISBN 978-3-11-016675-0
    .
  • John of Nikiû (c. 700), Chronicle, 1916 translation by Zotenberg.

Further reading

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