On the death of the Western emperor Honorius, Theodosius II, the last remaining ruler of the Theodosian dynasty, did not immediately announce a successor. In the interregnum, the patricianCastinus elevated Joannes as emperor. Theodosius refused to accept the decision, and deposed Joannes in a civil war.
Historyedit
Joannes was a primicerius notariorum or senior civil servant at the time of his elevation. Procopius praised him as "both gentle and well-endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds."[1]
"The events of Johannes' reign are as shadowy as its origins," writes John Matthews, who then provides a list of the ruler's known actions in a single paragraph. Joannes was proclaimed at Rome and praetorian games were provided at the expense of a member of the Anicia gens. Johannes then moved his base of operations to Ravenna, knowing full well that the Eastern Empire would strike from that direction. There is a mention of an expedition against Africa, but its fate, presumed unsuccessful, is unrecorded. In Gaul, he appears to have caused offense by submitting clerics to secular courts.[4]
Joannes had hoped that he could come to an agreement with the Eastern Emperor, but when Theodosius II elevated the young Valentinian III to caesar (undoubtedly influenced by Valentinian's mother Galla Placidia), he knew he could only expect war. Late in 424, he gave to one of his younger and most promising followers, Aëtius, an important mission. Aëtius, governor of the Palace at the time, was sent to the Huns, with whom he had lived as a hostage earlier, to seek military help.[5]
While Aëtius was away, the army of the Eastern Empire left Thessalonica for Italy, and soon camped in Aquileia. Although the primary sources state that Ravenna fell to their assault – John of Antioch states that a shepherd led the army of Aspar safely through the marshes that protected the city.[6] Aspar's father, Ardaburius, who had been captured by Joannes' soldiers, may have convinced the garrison of Ravenna to betray the city.[2] The fallen emperor was brought to Aquileia where first his hand was cut off, then he was paraded on a donkey in the Hippodrome to the insults of the populace. After further insults and injuries, Joannes was finally decapitated in mid 425.[7] His death is sometimes dated to May or June, probably on the basis two laws in the Codex Theodosianus issued by Theodosius II on 5 May 425.[8]
Three days after Joannes's death, Aëtius returned at the head of a substantial Hunnic army. After some skirmishing, Placidia, regent to her son, and Aëtius came to an agreement that established the political landscape of the Western Roman Empire for the next thirty years. The Huns were paid off and sent home, while Aetius received the position of magister militum (commander-in-chief of the Roman army).[2] The historian Adrian Goldsworthy writes that "it took a hard-fought campaign by strong elements of the East Roman army and navy, in addition to a fair dose of betrayal," to defeat Joannes.[9]
Referencesedit
^Procopius, De Bellus III.3.6. Translated by H.B. Dewing, Procopius (Cambridge: Loeb Classical Library, 1979), vol. 2 p. 25
^ abcOost, Stewart (1968). Galla Placidia Augusta: A biographical essay. Chicago: University Press, pp. 186–189ff.
^Olympiodorus, fragment 40. Translated by C.D. Gordon, Age of Attila: Fifth Century Byzantium and the Barbarians (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 1966), pp. 44f
^Matthews, John (1990). Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364–425. Oxford: Clarendon Press, pp. 379f.
^Renatus Frigeridus, cited in Gregory of Tours, Decem Libri Historiarum, II.8; translated by Lewis Thorpe, History of the Franks (Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1974), pp. 118f
^John of Antioch, fragment 195; translated by C.D. Gordon, Age of Attila, p. 47
^Procopius, III.3.9; translated by Dewing, pp. 75ff
^Goldsworthy, Andrian (2010). The Fall of the West: The Slow Death of the Roman Superpower. Orion Books Ltd, Paperback Edition. London, pp. 305 and 436.
joannes, ioannes, redirects, here, other, people, with, name, ioannes, given, name, american, fabric, craft, store, stores, american, furniture, retailer, joanne, back, john, latin, iohannes, died, western, roman, emperor, from, solidus, marked, iohannes, roma. Ioannes redirects here For other people with the name see Ioannes given name For the American fabric and craft store see Jo Ann Stores For the American furniture retailer see JoAnne s Bed and Back Joannes or John Latin Iohannes died 425 was Western Roman emperor from 423 to 425 JoannesSolidus of Joannes marked d n iohannes p f aug Roman emperor in the West unrecognized in the East Reign20 November 423 May 425PredecessorHonoriusSuccessorValentinian IIIEastern emperorTheodosius IIDiedc May 425AquileiaNamesIohannesOn the death of the Western emperor Honorius Theodosius II the last remaining ruler of the Theodosian dynasty did not immediately announce a successor In the interregnum the patrician Castinus elevated Joannes as emperor Theodosius refused to accept the decision and deposed Joannes in a civil war History editJoannes was a primicerius notariorum or senior civil servant at the time of his elevation Procopius praised him as both gentle and well endowed with sagacity and thoroughly capable of valorous deeds 1 From the beginning his control over the empire was insecure In Gaul his praetorian prefect was slain at Arles in an uprising of the soldiery there 2 And Bonifacius comes of the Diocese of Africa held back the grain fleet destined to Rome 3 The events of Johannes reign are as shadowy as its origins writes John Matthews who then provides a list of the ruler s known actions in a single paragraph Joannes was proclaimed at Rome and praetorian games were provided at the expense of a member of the Anicia gens Johannes then moved his base of operations to Ravenna knowing full well that the Eastern Empire would strike from that direction There is a mention of an expedition against Africa but its fate presumed unsuccessful is unrecorded In Gaul he appears to have caused offense by submitting clerics to secular courts 4 Joannes had hoped that he could come to an agreement with the Eastern Emperor but when Theodosius II elevated the young Valentinian III to caesar undoubtedly influenced by Valentinian s mother Galla Placidia he knew he could only expect war Late in 424 he gave to one of his younger and most promising followers Aetius an important mission Aetius governor of the Palace at the time was sent to the Huns with whom he had lived as a hostage earlier to seek military help 5 While Aetius was away the army of the Eastern Empire left Thessalonica for Italy and soon camped in Aquileia Although the primary sources state that Ravenna fell to their assault John of Antioch states that a shepherd led the army of Aspar safely through the marshes that protected the city 6 Aspar s father Ardaburius who had been captured by Joannes soldiers may have convinced the garrison of Ravenna to betray the city 2 The fallen emperor was brought to Aquileia where first his hand was cut off then he was paraded on a donkey in the Hippodrome to the insults of the populace After further insults and injuries Joannes was finally decapitated in mid 425 7 His death is sometimes dated to May or June probably on the basis two laws in the Codex Theodosianus issued by Theodosius II on 5 May 425 8 Three days after Joannes s death Aetius returned at the head of a substantial Hunnic army After some skirmishing Placidia regent to her son and Aetius came to an agreement that established the political landscape of the Western Roman Empire for the next thirty years The Huns were paid off and sent home while Aetius received the position of magister militum commander in chief of the Roman army 2 The historian Adrian Goldsworthy writes that it took a hard fought campaign by strong elements of the East Roman army and navy in addition to a fair dose of betrayal to defeat Joannes 9 References edit Procopius De Bellus III 3 6 Translated by H B Dewing Procopius Cambridge Loeb Classical Library 1979 vol 2 p 25 a b c Oost Stewart 1968 Galla Placidia Augusta A biographical essay Chicago University Press pp 186 189ff Olympiodorus fragment 40 Translated by C D Gordon Age of Attila Fifth Century Byzantium and the Barbarians Ann Arbor University of Michigan 1966 pp 44f Matthews John 1990 Western Aristocracies and Imperial Court AD 364 425 Oxford Clarendon Press pp 379f Renatus Frigeridus cited in Gregory of Tours Decem Libri Historiarum II 8 translated by Lewis Thorpe History of the Franks Harmondsworth Penguin 1974 pp 118f John of Antioch fragment 195 translated by C D Gordon Age of Attila p 47 Procopius III 3 9 translated by Dewing pp 75ff Codex Theodosianus in The Latin Library Goldsworthy Andrian 2010 The Fall of the West The Slow Death of the Roman Superpower Orion Books Ltd Paperback Edition London pp 305 and 436 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ioannes Hugh Elton 1999 Ioannes De Imperatoribus Romanis Martindale J R 1980 Ioannes Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire Vol II Cambridge University Press pp 594 595 ISBN 9780521201599 Regnal titlesPreceded byHonorius Western Roman emperor423 425 Succeeded byValentinian IIIPolitical officesPreceded byCastinusVictor Roman consul425 Succeeded byTheodosius AugustusValentinian Caesar Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joannes amp oldid 1213564823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
