Basiliscus (Caesar)

When Eastern Roman Emperor Leo (r. 457–474) fell ill in 473, he had his grandson, Leo II (r. 474), the son of Zeno (r. 474–475, 476–491), and Ariadne (r. 474–475, 476–515), crowned as emperor in October 473.[5] Leo died on 18 January 474,[6][7] and Leo II took the throne. Zeno was installed as co-emperor and crowned on 29 January;[8] when Leo II died in the autumn, Zeno became the sole eastern emperor.[6] Zeno was not well received, with him being among both the common people and the senatorial class, in part simply because he was an Isaurian — a race with a poor reputation — and partly because of fears he would promote Isaurians to high positions.[9] Although Verina had supported Zeno's elevation as co-emperor, she turned against Zeno once he became sole emperor.[10][11][12] Verina conspired to usurp him as emperor, and historians generally accept that she planned to install her lover and magister officiorum, Patricius, as emperor and to marry him.[lower-alpha 1][13][14] She was supported by the general Theoderic Strabo and her brother Basiliscus, who succeeded in recruiting Illus and Trocundes, as well as Armatus.[15] The conspiracy was successful, as Zeno fled to Isauria on 9 January 475, either after learning of the conspiracy or after being convinced by Verina that his life was in danger.[3][16] Basiliscus convinced the senate to acclaim him emperor, instead of Patricius.[17]

Emperor Basiliscus quickly lost support in Constantinople due to heavy taxes, heretical ecclesiastical policies, and a natural disaster viewed as a symbol of divine wrath by himself.[3][18][19][20] While Basiliscus's rise was legal, as usurpations confirmed by the senate were considered legitimate, such flaws had not occurred for over a century in the Eastern Roman Empire. Additionally, he was politically incompetent and temperamental, alienating much of his support.[20] While Basiliscus was initially supported by the elites of the Eastern Roman Empire, he never gained a favorable reputation amongst the common people, weakening his legitimacy; his conflicts with the Patriarch of Constantinople, Acacius reduced his support from the people of Constantinople, who were heavily Chalcedonian.[21] Basiliscus was forced to levy heavy taxes by the near-bankruptcy of the empire, and also to sell off public positions for money. He utilized the praefectus urbi Epinicus, a former ally of Verina, to extort money from the church.[20] Verina turned against Emperor Basiliscus after the execution of her lover and began to plot to return Zeno to power;[22][23] she later sought refuge in Blachernae. It is not known if she fled because of her support or began to support Zeno after she fled, as the Byzantine historian Candidus is uncertain, but the Vita Danielis Stylite states that she remained there until after Emperor Basiliscus died.[23]

Emperor Basiliscus had Armatus made magister militum praesentalis allegedly at the insistence of his wife Zenonis. This turned Theoderic Strabo against him, as he hated Armatus.[24][25] Armatus was also made consul in 476, alongside Emperor Basiliscus himself.[26] Illus and Trocundes, laying siege to Zeno in his native lands, defected to him.[3][27][28][29][30] Illus, possibly buoyed by his hold over Zeno, by way of his brother's imprisonment, arranged to ally him and marched towards Constantinople with their combined forces.[27][28][29][31] Emperor Basiliscus ordered Armatus to take command of all the troops in Thrace and Constantinople, as well as the palace guard, and led them against the three. In spite of his oath of loyalty, Armatus betrayed the emperor Basiliscus when Zeno offered to have him made magister militum praesentalis for life, and his son Basiliscus crowned as caesar and heir.[3][18][29][32][33]

A map of Europe in A.D. 476, showing the extent of the Eastern (green) and Western (blue) sections of the Roman Empire

Basiliscus was likely traveling with his father Armatus, and thus on the path to Constantinople; Basiliscus was crowned caesar at the imperial palace of Nicaea in late 476.[2][33][34] The historian Brian Croke remarks that the coronation was "doubtless with all of the usual ritual and splendor." Zeno and Basiliscus then took a ship to Constantinople,[33] while Armatus marched into Isauria. Zeno and Basiliscus entered Constantinople unopposed in August 476.[3][29] The elder Basiliscus and his family fled and took refuge in a church, only leaving once Zeno promised not to execute them. Zeno exiled them to Limnae in Cappadocia,[lower-alpha 2][3][35] where they were imprisoned in a dried-up cistern and left to starve to death.[3][35] According to some sources, they were alternatively beheaded.[18] Zeno and Basiliscus then officiated games held at the Hippodrome of Constantinople and praised the victorious chariot-riders, which Croke called "a customary but vital gesture for reinforcing legitimacy".[33] Given the controversial political associations of his name, it may have been changed to Leo, and potentially referred to as such on coins.[2][34]

Croke comments that after Zeno re-established himself in Constantinople, he began to consider the position of Armatus, and evaluated that his support was "extremely fragile".[33] Armatus had pledged to serve the previous emperor, only to betray him when he sensed an opportunity for advancement.[36] With Basiliscus as not only the caesar of the empire but the declared heir, Croke comments that Zeno must have seen that Armatus might consider working to accelerate the succession by removing Zeno.[37] Taking decisive action, Zeno had Armatus killed, but spared the life of the young Basiliscus. Basiliscus was instead sent to become a lector at a church at Blachernae on the Golden Horn.[2][34][37] Croke considers this a "safe and usual course of action", noting the recent precedents of Western Roman Emperors Avitus (r. 455–456), sent to become bishop of Placentia, and Glycerius (r. 473–474), who was made Bishop of Salona. He further notes that the young age of Basiliscus would not be an impediment, as it was not uncommon at the time for lectors to be young. The narrative of Basiliscus' employment as a lector is relayed solely by the contemporary historian Candidus Isaurus, whose work is preserved by Photius. Theophanes the Confessor, writing based upon a reliable source — which Croke remarks may be lost fragments of Malalas —[37] explains that it was Zeno's wife Ariadne who interceded on Basiliscus' behalf as a result of their ancestries, as she was a cousin to Armatus.[2][37] The length of Basiliscus' tenure at Blachernae is unknown, but he later became the bishop of Cyzicus,[34][37] and was reportedly very capable.[38] Croke posits that this capability would mean that it was two or three decades after being deposed that Basiliscus came to be bishop, between the age of thirty and forty. After this point, little is known of Basiliscus; it is unknown when he died, or if he remained bishop at the time of his death,[1] but he likely lived until the reign of Justinian (r. 527–565).[19] The theory that he held the position of bishop later in his life is stated explicitly by Nikephoros Kallistos Xanthopoulos, drawing on now-lost contemporary sources.[1] He may have retired from a church in Constantinople, possibly in Blachernae, after serving as bishop of Cyzicus.[39]