Anastasio i dicóro – Wikipedia

Anastasio i The Dicorous (in latino: Flavius ​​Anastasius ; In Greek: φλάβιος ἀναστάσιος; Durazzo, about 430 – Constantinople, 9 July 518) was a Byzantine emperor from 491 to 518.

The unpopularity in the European provinces that characterized his empire (in particular at the aristocracy), linked to his defense of monophysism, was exploited by Vitaliano to organize a dangerous rebellion, in which he was assisted by a horde of Huns (514- 515). The revolt was finally repressed thanks to a naval victory obtained by General Marino di Syria, faithful to Anastasio.

Native of Dyrrhachium , in Nova Epirum, had a Manichea mother and an uncle, named Clearco, Ariano. He had a brother, Paolo, a sister named Cesaria and three grandchildren, Ipazio, Pompeo and Probo. He was tall, of beautiful appearance and, first emperor after a long series, he did not bring a beard; The singular feature of having a black and one blue eye (heterocromia) gained the nickname of Dicorus (from the Greek δίκορος, “two pupils”).

In 491, Anastasio was a palace officer (one of the three decurions of silentiarii ) and enjoyed a very high reputation, but was not yet a member of the Senate. He had a great interest in religious subjects, so much so that he was considered as a candidate for the episcopal spots of Antioch to the death of Pietro Fullo (about 488); Between 489 and 491 he entered into contrast with the patriarch of Constantinople, Eufemio, as he had opened a chair in the large church and had started to teach his beliefs privately, who followed those of eutics, founder of monophysism. The story of his exile in Egypt ordered by Zenon is considered false by historians, but he actually seems to have been shipwrecked and then visited the province, where he would have known the Bishop Giovanni Tlocinexiota.

Intake of the empire [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

Upon Zenone’s death, he was elevated to the throne of the Roman Empire of the East at the behest of Ariadne, the widow of the emperor, who knew him well. Before the coronation, which took place on 11 April at the hands of Eufemio, Anastasio had to sign a document in which he declared his orthodoxy. On May 20 of that same year he strengthened his power by marrying Ariadne.

His kingdom, even if he was later disturbed by external wars and intestine and religious issues, began under good wishes. Anastasio obtained the popular favor with a judicious reduction in taxation, and showed great vigor and energy in the administration of the business of the Empire, so much so that at his death he left 23 million nomismate in the state coffers, almost three times the annual balance of the empire .

Anastasio was involved in the Isauric war and the Persian war. The first (492-497) was unleashed by the supporters of Longino, the brother of Zenone that Anastasio had exiled to the Tebaide, in Egypt, also expelling all the Isaurici from the capital. Cotieo’s victory in 493 “broke his back” to the revolt, but the guerrilla guerrilla continued in the Isaurian mountains for other years. In the war with Persia (502-506), Theodosiopoli and Amida were captured by the enemy, but the shutted provinces also suffered seriously and the Romans recovered Amida. Both opponents were exhausted when a peace was established (506) on the bases of the status quo. Anastasio later built Dara’s powerful fortress to keep Nisibis in check. The Balkan provinces were devastated by the invasions of the Slavs and Bulgarians; To protect Constantinople and its vicinity was built the “Anastasian wall” which extended from the propontidal to the Black Sea. Clodoveo I received the title of console in 508 in 508, which allowed him to enter Tours with the Roman signs. ^[first]

In 513 the revolt of Vitaliano broke out, Earl of the Federated (Commander of the allied contingents). Vitaliano attacked Thrace and Mocy, devastating the cities of the place. In 514 he headed with his army of 60,000 men against Constantinople; Anastasio sent him against an army led by Ipazio, who was captured by Vitaliano for the betrayal of his men. The command of the Roman troops was then entrusted to Cirillo, who, after alternating events, was defeated and captured by Vitaliano, once again due to the betrayal of the Roman soldiers, while he was in his bed with two concubines. In 515 Vitaliano then headed on Constantinople, with the intention of capturing the capital and taking power, but, caught in Sycae, in front of the city, agreed to abandon their intentions and to release iPazio in exchange for a gold tribute and the title of Master of the military in Thracians . In 516 Vitaliano returned to the attack and Anastasio then entrusted the Syrian to Marino the expedition against the invaders, this time by sea: Vitaliano accepted the clash, but he was defeated near Byotharia, losing most of the fleet. ^[2]

Internal politics [ change | Modifica Wikitesto ]

The emperor was a convinced monophyse, but his ecclesiastical policy was moderate; he committed himself to maintaining the principles of Henotikon of Zenon and peace in the Church. They were the attitude not inclined to the compromises of Orthodox extremists, and the demonstrations of rebellion of the Byzantine population, who pushed him in 512 to abandon this policy and adopt a single -faced program.

Anastasio’s financial policy was so prudent and aimed at saving that he gained the reputation of Avaro and contributed to his unpopularity.

He died on 9 July 518 and was buried together with Ariadne in the church of the Holy Apostles. Giovanni Lido praises its generosity and describes it as intelligent, crushed, active and slow to anger.

There is a story concerning the choice of his successor: Anastasio could not decide which of his three grandchildren would have happened to him, so he put a message under a sofa and had his grandchildren take place in the room, where there were two other sofas; He believed that the nephew who had sat on the armchair with the message would be his heir. However, two of his grandchildren sat down on the same sofa (a story wants them to be lovers), and the sofa with the message remained empty. So, after asking for advice to God in prayer, he determined that the first person and entering the room the following morning would have been the next emperor, and that person was Giustino, the head of his guard. In reality, Anastasio probably never thought of Justin as his successor, but the choice was made for him after his death.

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• Anastasio i , in History dictionary , Institute of the Italian Encyclopedia, 2010.
• Anastasium I (East Imperatore) . are sape.it , De Agostini.
• ( IN ) Anastasio I Dicoro . are British encyclopedia Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
• ( IN ) Anastasio I Dicoro . are Goodreads .
• ( IN ) Coins issued by Anastasio i . are wildwinds.com .