Antiochos (Ancient Greek: Ἀντίοχος; fl. c. 766) was a high-ranking Byzantine official and governor of Sicily who participated in a conspiracy against Emperor Constantine V (r. 741–775).
Very little is known about his life and career other than his involvement in the conspiracy against the emperor, which came to light in the summer of 766. According to Theophanes the Confessor, Antiochos was a former logothetes tou dromou and at the time serving as the military governor (strategos) of the theme of Sicily.[1][2] The conspiracy included nineteen of the highest state officials, including several other strategoi, and was headed by the brothers Strategios and Constantine Podopagouros. After the plot's discovery, the conspirators were publicly paraded and humiliated at the Hippodrome of Constantinople on 25 August 766, following which Strategios and Constantine were beheaded at the Kynegion, while the others were blinded and exiled. Theophanes further reports that once every year, agents were dispatched by the emperor to deliver a hundred lashes to the exiled conspirators.[1][2]
In his chronicle, Theophanes portrays the conspiracy as part of a reaction against Constantine V's iconoclast policies, stating that some of the conspirators were adherents of the iconophile hermit Stephen the Younger of Mount Auxentios, whom the emperor had had publicly humiliated and executed the previous November.[3] Modern scholarship on the other hand is not as clear as to the motivations of the emperor, i.e. whether the death of Stephen, the execution of the nineteen officials and other acts of persecution was due to his hardening stance against iconophile sentiment, or had political motives as a reaction to plots against his life (in which Stephen too may have been implicated).[4]
Lilie, Ralph-Johannes; Ludwig, Claudia; Pratsch, Thomas; Zielke, Beate (1999). "Antiochos (#513)". Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit: 1. Abteilung (641–867), Band 1: Aaron (# 1) – Georgios (# 2182) (in German). Berlin and Boston: De Gruyter. p. 163. ISBN978-3-11-015179-4.
Mango, Cyril; Scott, Roger (1997). The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor. Byzantine and Near Eastern History, AD 284–813. Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press. ISBN0-19-822568-7.
Prigent, Vivien; Nichanian, Mikaël (2003). "Les stratèges de Sicile. De la naissance du thème au règne de Léon V". Revue des études byzantines (in French). 61: 97–141. doi:10.3406/rebyz.2003.2273.
antiochos, strategos, sicily, antiochos, ancient, greek, Ἀντίοχος, high, ranking, byzantine, official, governor, sicily, participated, conspiracy, against, emperor, constantine, very, little, known, about, life, career, other, than, involvement, conspiracy, ag. Antiochos Ancient Greek Ἀntioxos fl c 766 was a high ranking Byzantine official and governor of Sicily who participated in a conspiracy against Emperor Constantine V r 741 775 Very little is known about his life and career other than his involvement in the conspiracy against the emperor which came to light in the summer of 766 According to Theophanes the Confessor Antiochos was a former logothetes tou dromou and at the time serving as the military governor strategos of the theme of Sicily 1 2 The conspiracy included nineteen of the highest state officials including several other strategoi and was headed by the brothers Strategios and Constantine Podopagouros After the plot s discovery the conspirators were publicly paraded and humiliated at the Hippodrome of Constantinople on 25 August 766 following which Strategios and Constantine were beheaded at the Kynegion while the others were blinded and exiled Theophanes further reports that once every year agents were dispatched by the emperor to deliver a hundred lashes to the exiled conspirators 1 2 In his chronicle Theophanes portrays the conspiracy as part of a reaction against Constantine V s iconoclast policies stating that some of the conspirators were adherents of the iconophile hermit Stephen the Younger of Mount Auxentios whom the emperor had had publicly humiliated and executed the previous November 3 Modern scholarship on the other hand is not as clear as to the motivations of the emperor i e whether the death of Stephen the execution of the nineteen officials and other acts of persecution was due to his hardening stance against iconophile sentiment or had political motives as a reaction to plots against his life in which Stephen too may have been implicated 4 References edit a b Mango amp Scott 1997 p 605 a b Lilie et al 1999 Antiochos 513 Mango amp Scott 1997 pp 604 605 Brubaker amp Haldon 2011 pp 235 239 Sources editBrubaker Leslie Haldon John 2011 Byzantium in the Iconoclast Era c 680 850 A History Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 43093 7 Lilie Ralph Johannes Ludwig Claudia Pratsch Thomas Zielke Beate 1999 Antiochos 513 Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit 1 Abteilung 641 867 Band 1 Aaron 1 Georgios 2182 in German Berlin and Boston De Gruyter p 163 ISBN 978 3 11 015179 4 Mango Cyril Scott Roger 1997 The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor Byzantine and Near Eastern History AD 284 813 Oxford United Kingdom Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 822568 7 Prigent Vivien Nichanian Mikael 2003 Les strateges de Sicile De la naissance du theme au regne de Leon V Revue des etudes byzantines in French 61 97 141 doi 10 3406 rebyz 2003 2273 UnknownTitle last held bySergios Strategos of Sicilybefore 766 UnknownTitle next held byElpidios Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Antiochos strategos of Sicily amp oldid 1141311727, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
