John the Scythian
Encyclopedia
John the Scythian was a general and a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire who fought against the usurper Leontius
(484–488) and in the Isaurian War
(492–498).
. In 482 he was sent to Illyricum
together with Moschianus to fight the Ostrogoths of Theodoric the Amal.
In 483 the Emperor Zeno
decided to get rid of his magister militum per Orientem ("Commander in Chief of the East") Illus
, replacing him with John.
In 484 Illus rebelled and opposed to Zeno the civil officer Leontius
, whom he appointed emperor. John and Theodoric, with a large army, defeated Illus and Leontius near Antioch
in September of that year. Illus and Leontius fled to Isauria
and locked in the fortress of Papurius
. John laid siege to the fortress; towards the end of the 484 he captured and killed Trocundus
, the brother of Illus who had gone out to seek reinforcements. The siege lasted until 488, when the fortress fell to the treachery and both Illus and Leontius were put to death.
During the reign of Emperor Anastasius I
, John fought in the Isaurian War
(492–498), obtaining the joint command of the army are with John the Hunchback
. He was one of Roman commanders in the battle of Cotyaeum
of 492, while in 497 defeated the Isauria
ns, capturing and killing their leaders Longinus of Cardala
and Athenodorus, and sending their heads to Constantinople.
Anastasius was very pleased with the victory in the war and honoured his generals: John Scythian was appointed consul for 498.
Leontius (usurper)
Leontius was a general of the Eastern Roman Empire and claimant to the throne who led a rebellion against emperor Zeno in 484–488.- Biography :Leontius was of Syrian origin, coming from Dalisandus...
(484–488) and in the Isaurian War
Isaurian War
The Isaurian War was a conflict that lasted from 492 to 497 and that was fought between the army of the Eastern Roman Empire and the rebels of Isauria. At the end of the war, Eastern Emperor Anastasius I regained the control of the Isauria region and the leaders of the revolt were killed.-...
(492–498).
Biography
John was an officer of the East Roman armyEast Roman army
The East Roman army refers to the army of the Eastern section of the Roman Empire, from the empire's definitive split in 395 AD to the army's reorganization by themes after the permanent loss of Syria, Palestine and Egypt to the Arabs in the 7th century...
. In 482 he was sent to Illyricum
Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum
The praetorian prefecture of Illyricum was one of four praetorian prefectures into which the Late Roman Empire was divided.The administrative centre of the prefecture was Sirmium , and, after 379, Thessalonica...
together with Moschianus to fight the Ostrogoths of Theodoric the Amal.
In 483 the Emperor Zeno
Zeno (emperor)
Zeno , originally named Tarasis, was Byzantine Emperor from 474 to 475 and again from 476 to 491. Domestic revolts and religious dissension plagued his reign, which nevertheless succeeded to some extent in foreign issues...
decided to get rid of his magister militum per Orientem ("Commander in Chief of the East") Illus
Illus
Illus was a Byzantine general, who played an important role in the reigns of the Byzantine Emperors Zeno and Basiliscus.Illus supported the revolt of Basiliscus against Zeno, then switched sides, supporting the return of Zeno...
, replacing him with John.
In 484 Illus rebelled and opposed to Zeno the civil officer Leontius
Leontius (usurper)
Leontius was a general of the Eastern Roman Empire and claimant to the throne who led a rebellion against emperor Zeno in 484–488.- Biography :Leontius was of Syrian origin, coming from Dalisandus...
, whom he appointed emperor. John and Theodoric, with a large army, defeated Illus and Leontius near Antioch
Antioch
Antioch on the Orontes was an ancient city on the eastern side of the Orontes River. It is near the modern city of Antakya, Turkey.Founded near the end of the 4th century BC by Seleucus I Nicator, one of Alexander the Great's generals, Antioch eventually rivaled Alexandria as the chief city of the...
in September of that year. Illus and Leontius fled to Isauria
Isauria
Isauria , in ancient geography, is a rugged isolated district in the interior of South Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surroundings in the Konya province of Turkey, or the core of the Taurus Mountains. In...
and locked in the fortress of Papurius
Papurius
Papurius or Papyrius was a fortress in Cilicia Campestris, near Tarsus.It was in this fortress that the usurper Marcian was held prisoner after his failed revolt in 479, and where Leontius and his general and king-maker Illus were besieged between 484 and 488 by the army of Emperor Zeno.- Sources...
. John laid siege to the fortress; towards the end of the 484 he captured and killed Trocundus
Trocundus
Flavius Appallius Illus Trocundus was a general of the Eastern Roman Empire, involved in the rise and fall of Emperor Basiliscus and the rebellion against Emperor Zeno.Trocundus was the brother of Illus, another Roman general, both from the region of Isauria....
, the brother of Illus who had gone out to seek reinforcements. The siege lasted until 488, when the fortress fell to the treachery and both Illus and Leontius were put to death.
During the reign of Emperor Anastasius I
Anastasius I (emperor)
Anastasius I was Byzantine Emperor from 491 to 518. During his reign the Roman eastern frontier underwent extensive re-fortification, including the construction of Dara, a stronghold intended to counter the Persian fortress of Nisibis....
, John fought in the Isaurian War
Isaurian War
The Isaurian War was a conflict that lasted from 492 to 497 and that was fought between the army of the Eastern Roman Empire and the rebels of Isauria. At the end of the war, Eastern Emperor Anastasius I regained the control of the Isauria region and the leaders of the revolt were killed.-...
(492–498), obtaining the joint command of the army are with John the Hunchback
John the Hunchback
John the Hunchback or John Gibbo was a general and a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire.- Biography :John was a native of Selymbria, modern Silivri in Turkey....
. He was one of Roman commanders in the battle of Cotyaeum
Battle of Cotyaeum
The Battle of Cotyaeum of 492 was fought in Phrygia Epictetus between the rebel Isaurian army led by Longinus of Cardala and the Eastern Roman army of Emperor Anastasius led by John the Scythian and John the Hunchback .The rebel forces were...
of 492, while in 497 defeated the Isauria
Isauria
Isauria , in ancient geography, is a rugged isolated district in the interior of South Asia Minor, of very different extent at different periods, but generally covering what is now the district of Bozkır and its surroundings in the Konya province of Turkey, or the core of the Taurus Mountains. In...
ns, capturing and killing their leaders Longinus of Cardala
Longinus of Cardala
Longinus of Cardala or Longinus the Bald was a high-ranking Eastern Roman Empire official and rebel leader from Isauria.- Biography :...
and Athenodorus, and sending their heads to Constantinople.
Anastasius was very pleased with the victory in the war and honoured his generals: John Scythian was appointed consul for 498.