Heraclius (son of Constans II)
Encyclopedia
Heraclius was Byzantine co-emperor from 659 to 681. He was the focus of a military revolt and was eventually dethroned by his brother, the senior emperor Constantine IV
.
. His mother was Fausta
, daughter of the Patrician Valentinus
. Although his elder brother Constantine IV
had been raised to the rank of co-emperor in 654, in 659, prior to his departure for Italy, Constans II also elevated Heraclius to the rank of co-emperor, alongside his brother Tiberius
. In 663, Constans tried to have his sons join him in Sicily
, but this provoked a popular uprising in Constantinople
, and the brothers remained in the imperial capital.
With Constans II’s death in 668, Constantine IV became the senior emperor. He attempted to demote his brothers from the imperial position, but this provoked a military revolt in the Anatolic Theme
. The army marched to Chrysopolis, and sent a delegation across the straits of the Hellespont to Constantinople
, demanding that the two brothers should remain co-emperors alongside Constantine IV. They based their demand on the belief that, since Heaven
was ruled by the Trinity
, in the same way the empire should be governed by three Emperors. Confronted by this situation, Constantine kept a close eye on his brothers, and sent across a trusted officer, Theodore, the captain of Koloneia
, giving him the delicate task of praising the soldiers for their devotion and agreeing with their reasoning, with the objective of persuading them to return to their barracks in Anatolia. He also invited the leaders of the rebellion to come over to Constantinople and consult with the Senate
in order that they may begin the process of confirming the army’s wishes. Happy with this apparently positive outcome, the army departed back into the interior of Anatolia, while the instigators of the movement entered the city. With the military threat now gone, Constantine moved against the leaders of the revolt, captured them and had them hung at Sycae.
Throughout all this, Heraclius was kept under close observation, and it was only the fact that it appeared that he had no knowledge of the plot, nor did he express any desire to rule in tandem with Constantine, that saved his life, and he was allowed to retain his imperial title and status. Yet his being the focus of a plot to curtail Constantine’s power meant that both he and his brother were now suspect in the senior emperor’s eyes. It was inevitable that problems would arise, and so it was in 681, during the Sixth Ecumenical Council (also known as the Third Council of Constantinople) that something happened that caused Constantine to dethrone Heraclius and his brother. The exact reason is unclear, but it may have been related to the brothers' continued support of Monotheletism, as reported by Michael the Syrian
. Sometime between 16 September and 21 December 681, Constantine ordered the mutilation
of his brothers by slitting their noses, and ordered that their images no longer appear on any coinage, and that their names be removed from all official documentation.
After 681, Heraclius and his brother disappear from the historical record.
Constantine IV
Constantine IV , , sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was Byzantine emperor from 668 to 685...
.
Life
Heraclius was one of the sons of Constans IIConstans II
Constans II , also called Constantine the Bearded , was Byzantine emperor from 641 to 668. He also was the last emperor to become consul in 642, becoming the last Roman consul in history....
. His mother was Fausta
Fausta, wife of Constans II
Fausta was the Empress consort of Constans II of the Byzantine Empire-Family:Fausta was a daughter of Valentinus, a general of Armenian origins, reputedly a descendant of the Arsacids....
, daughter of the Patrician Valentinus
Valentinus (usurper)
Valentinus was a Byzantine general and usurper.According to Sebeos, Valentinus was of Armenian origin, being descended from the royal Arsacid clan...
. Although his elder brother Constantine IV
Constantine IV
Constantine IV , , sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded", by confusion with his father; was Byzantine emperor from 668 to 685...
had been raised to the rank of co-emperor in 654, in 659, prior to his departure for Italy, Constans II also elevated Heraclius to the rank of co-emperor, alongside his brother Tiberius
Tiberius (son of Constans II)
Tiberius was Byzantine co-emperor from 659 to 681. He was the focus of a military revolt and was eventually dethroned by his brother, the senior emperor Constantine IV.-Life:...
. In 663, Constans tried to have his sons join him in Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, but this provoked a popular uprising in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, and the brothers remained in the imperial capital.
With Constans II’s death in 668, Constantine IV became the senior emperor. He attempted to demote his brothers from the imperial position, but this provoked a military revolt in the Anatolic Theme
Anatolic Theme
The Anatolic Theme , more properly known as the Theme of the Anatolics was a Byzantine theme in central Asia Minor...
. The army marched to Chrysopolis, and sent a delegation across the straits of the Hellespont to Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
, demanding that the two brothers should remain co-emperors alongside Constantine IV. They based their demand on the belief that, since Heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
was ruled by the Trinity
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity defines God as three divine persons : the Father, the Son , and the Holy Spirit. The three persons are distinct yet coexist in unity, and are co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial . Put another way, the three persons of the Trinity are of one being...
, in the same way the empire should be governed by three Emperors. Confronted by this situation, Constantine kept a close eye on his brothers, and sent across a trusted officer, Theodore, the captain of Koloneia
Koloneia
Koloneia |Colonia]]) can refer to:* Koloneia on the Lykos in Pontus, a Byzantine military centre and metropolitan bishopric* Koloneia , a Byzantine province centered in and named after the above...
, giving him the delicate task of praising the soldiers for their devotion and agreeing with their reasoning, with the objective of persuading them to return to their barracks in Anatolia. He also invited the leaders of the rebellion to come over to Constantinople and consult with the Senate
Byzantine Senate
The Byzantine Senate or Eastern Roman Senate was the continuation of the Roman Senate, established in the 4th century by Constantine I. It survived for centuries but was increasingly irrelevant until its eventual disappearance in the 13th century....
in order that they may begin the process of confirming the army’s wishes. Happy with this apparently positive outcome, the army departed back into the interior of Anatolia, while the instigators of the movement entered the city. With the military threat now gone, Constantine moved against the leaders of the revolt, captured them and had them hung at Sycae.
Throughout all this, Heraclius was kept under close observation, and it was only the fact that it appeared that he had no knowledge of the plot, nor did he express any desire to rule in tandem with Constantine, that saved his life, and he was allowed to retain his imperial title and status. Yet his being the focus of a plot to curtail Constantine’s power meant that both he and his brother were now suspect in the senior emperor’s eyes. It was inevitable that problems would arise, and so it was in 681, during the Sixth Ecumenical Council (also known as the Third Council of Constantinople) that something happened that caused Constantine to dethrone Heraclius and his brother. The exact reason is unclear, but it may have been related to the brothers' continued support of Monotheletism, as reported by Michael the Syrian
Michael the Syrian
Michael the Syrian , also known as Michael the Great or Michael Syrus or Michael the Elder, to distinguish him from his nephew, was a patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1166 to 1199. He is best known today as the author of the largest medieval Chronicle, which he composed in Syriac...
. Sometime between 16 September and 21 December 681, Constantine ordered the mutilation
Political mutilation in Byzantine culture
Mutilation in the Byzantine Empire was a common method of punishment for criminals of the era but it also had a role in the Empire's political life. The mutilation of political rivals by the Emperor was deemed an effective way of sidelining from the line of succession a person who was seen as a...
of his brothers by slitting their noses, and ordered that their images no longer appear on any coinage, and that their names be removed from all official documentation.
After 681, Heraclius and his brother disappear from the historical record.
Sources
- Dumbarton Oaks, Catalogue of the Byzantine Coins in the Dumbarton Oaks Collection, Vol. II, Part 2 (1968)