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Anastasius I Dicorus (Template:Langx; Template:Circa – 9 July 518) was Roman emperor from 491 to 518. A career civil servant, he came to the throne at the age of 61 after being chosen by Ariadne, the wife of his predecessor, Zeno. His reign was characterized by reforms and improvements in the empire's government, finances, economy and bureaucracy.<ref name="Croke 208–210">Template:Cite journal</ref> The resulting stable government, reinvigorated monetary economy and sizeable budget surplus allowed the empire to pursue more ambitious policies under his successors, most notably Justinian I.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> Since many of Anastasius' reforms proved long-lasting, his influence over the empire endured for centuries.
Anastasius was a Miaphysite Christian and his personal religious tendencies caused tensions throughout his reign in the empire that was becoming increasingly divided along religious lines.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Early life and familyEdit
Anastasius was born at Dyrrachium; the date is unknown, but is thought to have been no later than 431. He was born into an Illyro-Roman family.<ref>Template:Cite thesis</ref><ref name="Croke2001">Template:Cite book</ref> Anastasius had one black eye and one blue eye (heterochromia), and for that reason he was nicknamed Dicorus (Template:Langx, "two-pupiled").<ref>Anastasius (AD 491–518) Template:Webarchive Hugh Elton – Florida International University – An Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors</ref> Before becoming emperor, Anastasius was a silentiary.Template:Sfn<ref name=":1" />
Anastasius is known to have had a brother named Paulus, who served as consul in 496.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> With a woman known as Magna, Paulus was father to Irene, who married Olybrius. This Olybrius was the son of Anicia Juliana and Areobindus Dagalaifus Areobindus.Template:Sfn The daughter of Olybrius and Irene was named Proba. She married Probus and was mother to a younger Juliana. This younger Juliana married another Anastasius, maternal grandson of Theodora, and was mother of Areobindus, Placidia, and a younger Proba, who married Flavius Anastasius, born in 530, and mothered Areobindus, born in 550, and Placidia, born in 552 and wife of John Mystacon.<ref name="Prosopography-3">Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 3</ref><ref>Christian Settipani, Continuité des élites à Byzance durant les siècles obscurs. Les princes caucasiens et l'Empire du VIe au IXe siècle, Paris, de Boccard, 2006, 26 vii 2014</ref> Another nephew of Anastasius was Flavius Probus, consul in 502.<ref name="Prosopography-2">Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2</ref> Anastasius' sister, Caesaria, married Secundinus, and gave birth to Hypatius and Pompeius.<ref name="Prosopography-2"/> Flavius Anastasius Paulus Probus Moschianus Probus Magnus, consul in 518, was a great-nephew of Anastasius. His daughter Juliana later married Marcellus, a brother of Justin II.<ref name="Prosopography-3"/> The extensive family may well have included several viable candidates for the throne.<ref name=Evans>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
AccessionEdit
In the weeks following the death of Zeno (491), crowds gathered in the Hippodrome of Constantinople and demanded a Chalcedonian and properly Roman successor, chanting "Give the Empire an Orthodox emperor! Give the Empire a Roman Emperor!"<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> Under such pressure, Ariadne, Zeno's widow, turned to Anastasius. Anastasius was in his sixties at the time of his ascension to the throne. Ariadne chose Anastasius over Zeno's brother Longinus,<ref name=":0" /> which upset the Isaurians. Once he took office, Anastasius exiled Longinus and purged a number of Isaurians officials from government.Template:Sfn Religiously, Anastasius' sympathies were with the Monophysites.<ref name=":0" /> Consequently, as a condition of his accession, the patriarch of Constantinople required that he pledge not to repudiate the Council of Chalcedon.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Ariadne married Anastasius on 20 May 491,<ref>The date is based on Zonaras' (Book XIV, 3.24) statement that the marriage took place "forty days after Zeno's burial" by assuming that it occurred the day after his death.</ref> shortly after his accession on 11 April.<ref>Zacharias Rhetor, Book VI: "And Anastasius, his successor, received the kingdom on the fourth day of the Great Week." Easter Day fell on 7 April.</ref><ref>Chronicon Paschale 491: "he was crowned in the month Xanthicus, which is also April, on he 5th day of Holy Week."</ref><ref>Theophanes Confessor 491: "Anastasios was crowned in the Kathisma of the Hippodrome... on 14 April, it being Holy Thursday." Holy Thursday actually fell on 11 April.</ref> He gained popular favour by a judicious remission of taxation, in particular by abolishing the hated tax on receipts, which was mostly paid by the poor. He displayed great vigour and energy in administering the affairs of the empire.<ref name="EB1911">{{#if: |
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}}{{#ifeq: ||}}</ref>Template:Sfn His reforms improved the empire's tax base and pulled it from financial depression and bleak morale. By the end of his reign, it is claimed that the treasury had 320,000 lb gold reserve.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Not long after his accession, the circus factions caused riots and set fires around the Hippodrome. Though its exact cause is unclear, the riot was pacified when Anastasius replaced the city prefect Julian with his brother-in-law Secundinus.Template:Sfn
Foreign policy and warsEdit
Under Anastasius, the empire engaged in the Isaurian War against Longinus and the Anastasian War against Sassanid Persia.Template:Sfn<ref name=Syriac>Zacharias of Mytilene, Syriac Chronicle, Book VII, Chapter VI</ref>
The Isaurian War (492–497) was instigated by the Isaurian supporters of Longinus, the brother of Zeno, who was passed over for the throne in favour of Anastasius, and local discontents. The banished Isaurian officials, led by the ex-bishop Conon and former governor Lilingis, gathered in Isauria and mounted a revolt.<ref>Template:HarvnbTemplate:Harvnb</ref> Their defeat by John the Scythian and John the Hunchback in the Battle of Cotyaeum in 492 broke the back of the revolt, but guerrilla warfare continued in the Isaurian Mountains for several years.<ref name="EB1911"/>Template:Sfn The resistance hinged upon the Isaurians' retention of the mountain strongholds.Template:Sfn Anastasius passed economic legislations in the mid-490s, which suggests that the war did not absorb all of the energy and resources of the government.<ref name="Croke 208–210"/> After five years, the Isaurian resistance was broken. Large numbers of Isaurians were forcibly relocated to Thrace to ensure that they would not revolt again.Template:Sfn
During the Anastasian War of 502–505 against the Sassanid Persians, the Sassanids captured the cities of Theodosiopolis and Amida, although the Romans later received Amida in exchange for gold. The Persian provinces also suffered severely, and a peace was concluded in 506. Anastasius afterward built the strong fortress of Daras, which was named Anastasiopolis, to hold the Persians at Nisibis in check.<ref name=Syriac/> The Balkan provinces were denuded of troops, however, and were devastated by invasions of Slavs and Bulgars. To protect Constantinople and its vicinity against them, Anastasius built the Anastasian Wall, extending from the Propontis to the Black Sea. He converted his birthplace, Dyrrachium, into one of the most fortified cities on the Adriatic with the construction of Durrës Castle.Template:Sfn<ref name="EB1911"/>
Once the relationship between the Romans the Ostrogoths was restored, Italy was independently governed by the Ostrogothic ruler Theodoric, but under the conditions agreed with Anastasius, Theodoric could not make laws, mint his own coins nor appoint Goths to the consulship and civil offices. However, he had the right to promulgate edicts, and appoint Romans to the consulship and civil offices and Goths to the military offices.<ref>Template:Aut, History of the Later Roman Empire, pp. 454–455</ref> Theodoric forged a relationship with the Visigothic king Alaric II in Gaul. Anastasius became wary of Theodoric's imperial ambition in the West. In the Frankish rex Clovis, the emperor found an ally. Partly thanks to the former magister militum Gundobad,<ref>Wijendaele (2024), pag. 196 states: "Gundobad as a person is most eligible as a bridge between Clovis and the Roman emperor in Constantinople. His titles and the legal texts show that his domain was still part of the Roman Empire".</ref> he teamed up with Clovis to overthrow the Gothic hegemony in the West. In the Franco–Gothic War (507–511), Clovis defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Vouillé. The threat of an invasion by the Roman army had prevented Theodoric from intervening in the battle on time to support the Visigoths in 507.<ref>Cassiodorus, Var., 2.5</ref><ref>Wijnendaele (2024), pag. 212-213 states: The moment Theodoric had an expedition ready to help Alaric II for help over the Alps in 507, he had to keep the same troops ready because of the Roman threat that apparently appeared out of nowhere in his own Italian backyard.</ref> In early 508, a Roman attack actually took place in the Italian boot. Anastasius had sent an expedition force of 8,000 soldiers for this attack, but the Roman intervention was not aimed at conquest,Template:Sfn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> since it did not seek a confrontation with Theodoric's army and limited itself only to the looting of some cities in the south. The Franks were thus more successful in the war.
Domestic and ecclesiastical policiesEdit
Anastasius was a convinced Monophysite, but his ecclesiastical policy was moderate. He endeavoured to maintain the principle of the Henotikon of Zeno and the peace of the church.<ref name="EB1911"/> Yet, in 512, perhaps emboldened after his military success against the Persians, Anastasius deposed the Metropolitan of Chalcedon and replaced him with a Monophysite. That violated his agreement with the Patriarch of Constantinople and precipitated riots in Chalcedon.<ref name=":0" /> The following year, the general Vitalian started a rebellion, quickly defeated an imperial army and marched on Constantinople.<ref name=":0" /> With the army closing in, Anastasius gave Vitalian the title of Commander of the Army of Thrace and began communicating with the Pope on a potential end to the Acacian schism.<ref name=":0" /> Two years later, General Marinus attacked Vitalian and forced him and his troops to the northern part of Thrace. After the conclusion of the conflict, Anastasius had undisputed control of the empire until his death in 518.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite book</ref>
Death and successionEdit
The Anonymous Valesianus gives a (most likely fictional) account of Anastasius attempting to predict his successor. Anastasius did not know which of his three nephews would succeed him and so he put a message under one of three couches and had his nephews take seats in the room. He believed that the nephew who sat on the couch with the message would be his heir. However, two of his nephews sat on the same couch, and the one with the concealed message remained empty. After putting the matter to God in prayer, he determined that the first person to enter his room the next morning would be the next emperor, and that person turned out to be Justin, the commander of the Excubitors (comes excubitorum).<ref>Anonymous Valesianus II, Pars Posterior 74.</ref>
Anastasius died childless in Constantinople on 9 July 518.<ref>Marcellinus Comes 518: "The emperor Anastasius died suddenly, aged more than eighty. He reigned for twenty-seven years, two months and twenty-nine days [inclusive]."</ref><ref>Zacharias Rhetor VII, xiv: "Anastasius died on the ninth of July."</ref><ref>Theophanes Confessor 518: "On 9 April of the ninth indiction Anastasios the impious emperor died after ruling for 27 years and 7 months." (partially inaccurate)</ref> He was 90 and a half years old according to the later chronicles of John Malalas (Template:Circa 491–578) and the Chronicon Paschale (Template:Circa 630).<ref>Chronicon Paschale 518: "Anastasius fell sick... gave up the spirit, aged 90 years and five months. [Justin] became emperor in the consulship of Magnus, in the month Panemus, which is also July, on the 9th."</ref><ref>John Malalas XVI, 22. "He was terrified and breathed his last, at the age of 90 years and five months."</ref> The early 6th-century historian Victor of Tunnuna states that he died at the age of 88,<ref>Victor of Tunnuna, s.a. 518. "anno viae suae III." [In his 88th year of life, i.e. born in 431]</ref> a figure accepted by most modern historians.Template:Sfn
He became the last emperor known to be consecrated as divus on his death. Anastasius left the Imperial treasury with 23,000,000 solidi, which is 320,000 pounds of gold or Template:Convert.Template:Sfn Justin then became the next emperor.Template:Sfn
Administrative reform and introduction of new coinageEdit
Anastasius showed an interest in administrative efficiency and issues concerning the economy.<ref name=":2" /> Whenever it was possible in governmental transactions, he altered the method of payment from goods to hard currency. This practice decreased the potential for embezzlement and the need for transportation and storage of supplies. It also allowed for easier accounting.<ref name=":0" /> He also applied this practice to taxes, mandating that taxes be paid with cash rather than with goods.<ref name=":0" /> He eliminated the practice of providing soldiers with their arms and uniforms; instead he allotted each soldier a generous sum of money with which to purchase their own.<ref name=":0" /> These changes to imperial policy seemed beneficial; taxpayers often paid smaller tax bills than they had before, while government revenue increased.<ref name=":0" /> The increase in revenue allowed the emperor to pay soldiers a higher wage, which attracted native Roman soldiers to the military, as opposed to the barbarian and Isaurian mercenaries which some previous emperors had been forced to rely on.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Anastasius is often cited for his "prudent management" of the empire's finances.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Amidst these reforms, though, Anastasius continued the practice of selling official positions.<ref name="Croke 208–210" /> He sold so many that he has been accused of having facilitated the creation of a civilian aristocracy. This claim is strengthened by the growth in influence of families that often held high level positions in the government, such as the Apiones from Egypt. This has puzzled historians, given that the emperor seems to have minimised government corruption/inefficiency in other areas.<ref name="Croke 208–210" /> Anastasius I also gave official positions to his close friend General Celer, his brother-in-law, his brother, his nephews, and his grand-nephews.<ref name="Croke 208–210"/>
The complex monetary system of the early Byzantine Empire, which suffered a partial collapse in the mid-5th century, was revived by Anastasius in 498. The new system involved three denominations of gold, the solidus and its half (semissis) and third (tremissis); and five denominations of copper, the follis (worth 40 nummi) and its fractions down to a nummus. It would seem that the new currency quickly became an important part of trade with other regions. A follis coin has been found in the Charjou desert, north of the River Oxus.<ref name="Pyatnitsky 113–122">Template:Cite journal</ref> Four solidi from his reign have been recovered as far from the Roman Empire as China. China might seem an unlikely trading partner, but the Romans and the Chinese were probably able to do business via Central Asian merchants travelling along the Silk Roads. Some Roman trading partners attempted to replicate the coins of Anastasius. The currency created by Anastasius stayed in use and circulated widely for long after his reign.<ref name="Pyatnitsky 113–122" />
A 40-nummi coin of Anastasius is depicted on the obverse of North Macedonia's 50 denar banknote, issued in 1996.<ref>National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia Template:Webarchive. Macedonian currency. Banknotes in circulation: 50 Denars Template:Webarchive. – Retrieved on 30 March 2009.</ref>
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
SourcesEdit
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- Zacharias of Mytilene, Syriac Chronicle, Book VII, Chapter VI
External linksEdit
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