Philippicus (general)
Encyclopedia
Philippicus or Philippikos was an East Roman
general, comes excubitorum, and brother-in-law of Emperor Maurice
. His successful career as a general spanned several decades, chiefly against the Persians
.
, the imperial bodyguard), and in 584, he replaced John Mystacon
as magister militum
for the East, becoming thus responsible for the conduct of the ongoing war against the Persians
.
He commanded numerous campaigns in 584 through 585, ravaging the plains near Nisibis
, and making inroads in the regions of Arzanene and eastern Mesopotamia
. During the same period, he actively tried to improve the discipline and efficiency of his troops.
He spent the winter of 585-586 in Constantinople
, and returned to his headquarters in Amida
in the spring. After Persian peace proposals were rejected, he advanced his troops to the frontier, where he defeated a superior Persian force under Kardarigan
at the Battle of Solachon
. He then proceeded to invade and plunder Arzanene and besieged the fortress of Chlomaron. However, the approach of a Persian relief army panicked the Romans, who fled in disorder back into Roman territory. There, possibly due to illness, he handed over command of his army to his hypostrategos (lieutenant general) Heraclius
, the father of the future emperor Heraclius
. In spring 587, he was again ill, and unable to campaign in person. He assigned two thirds of his army to Heraclius and the remainder to generals Theodore and Andreas, and sent them to raid Persian territory. He did not campaign himself that year, and in the winter, he set off towards Constantinople. On his way, he learned that he had been replaced by Priscus
.
However, when Priscus arrived in the East, the soldiers refused to obey him, and elected dux Germanus in his stead. Philippicus, who was soon re-appointed as commander of the East, could only assume his command after the mutiny was quelled through the intervention of the patriarch of Antioch
. After a public reconciliation with his troops, in the summer of 589 he campaigned against the city of Martyropolis
, which had recently fallen to the Persians through treason. He was however unable to retake it, and was defeated by a Persian relief force. Upon this failure, he was replaced by Comentiolus
.
Except for a diplomatic mission in 590 to the deposed Persian ruler Khosrau II
, who had taken refuge in Roman territory, Philippicus disappears from the scene for several years. In 598, he was briefly appointed general in the Balkans
, and is credited by some sources with a victory over the Avars
in Thrace
, although this is most likely due to a confusion with general Priscus.
). Indeed soon after, Maurice was deposed and killed by a revolt led by Phocas
. As a close associate of Maurice, Philippicus was forced to enter a monastery in Chrysopolis as a monk. He was still at the monastery when Heraclius
overthrew Phocas in 610, and was sent by the new emperor to negotiate with Phocas' brother, Comentiolus
, who commanded the eastern army. He was imprisoned by Comentiolus and was to be executed, but was saved when Comentiolus himself was murdered.
In 612, he was again appointed by Heraclius as magister militum per Orientem succeeding the disgraced Priscus
, and campaigned against the Persians in Armenia. In 614, as a Persian army under Shahin invaded Asia Minor
and reached the shores of the Bosporus
at Chalcedon
, Philippicus invaded Persia, hoping to cause Shahin to withdraw in order to confront him.
Philippicus died shortly after, and was buried in a church he had built at Chrysopolis.
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
general, comes excubitorum, and brother-in-law of Emperor Maurice
Maurice (emperor)
Maurice was Byzantine Emperor from 582 to 602.A prominent general in his youth, Maurice fought with success against the Sassanid Persians...
. His successful career as a general spanned several decades, chiefly against the Persians
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
.
Under Maurice
Little is known about his early years. He was married to Maurice's sister Gordia, probably in 583, and was at some point raised to the high rank of patricius. At about the same time, he was appointed comes excubitorum (Commander of the ExcubitorsExcubitors
The Excubitors were founded in circa 460 AD as the imperial guards of the early Byzantine emperors. Their commanders soon acquired great influence and provided a series of emperors in the 6th century...
, the imperial bodyguard), and in 584, he replaced John Mystacon
John Mystacon
John, surnamed Mystacon, "the mustachioed", , was a prominent East Roman general in the wars with Sassanid Persia during the reigns of Byzantine emperors Tiberius II and Maurice ....
as magister militum
Magister militum
Magister militum was a top-level military command used in the later Roman Empire, dating from the reign of Constantine. Used alone, the term referred to the senior military officer of the Empire...
for the East, becoming thus responsible for the conduct of the ongoing war against the Persians
Sassanid Empire
The Sassanid Empire , known to its inhabitants as Ērānshahr and Ērān in Middle Persian and resulting in the New Persian terms Iranshahr and Iran , was the last pre-Islamic Persian Empire, ruled by the Sasanian Dynasty from 224 to 651...
.
He commanded numerous campaigns in 584 through 585, ravaging the plains near Nisibis
Nisibis
Nusaybin Nisêbîn) is a city in Mardin Province, Turkey, populated mainly by Kurds. Earlier Arameans, Arabs, and Armenians lived in the city. The population of the city is 83,832 as of 2009.-Ancient Period:...
, and making inroads in the regions of Arzanene and eastern Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. During the same period, he actively tried to improve the discipline and efficiency of his troops.
He spent the winter of 585-586 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 returned to his headquarters in Amida
Amida (Roman city)
Amida was an ancient city located where modern Diyarbakır, Turkey. The Roman writers Ammianus Marcellinus and Procopius consider it a city of Mesopotamia, but it may be more properly viewed as belonging to Armenia Major....
in the spring. After Persian peace proposals were rejected, he advanced his troops to the frontier, where he defeated a superior Persian force under Kardarigan
Kardarigan (6th century)
Kardarigan was a Sassanid Persian general of the late 6th century, who fought in the Byzantine–Persian War of 572–591. Since he is recorded as being old enough to have an adult nephew in 586, it is uncertain whether he is the same as the general of the same name who fought in the later wars of the...
at the Battle of Solachon
Battle of Solachon
The Battle of Solachon was fought in 586 CE in northern Mesopotamia between the East Roman forces, led by General Philippicus, the brother-in-law of Emperor Maurice The Battle of Solachon was fought in 586 CE in northern Mesopotamia between the East Roman (Byzantine) forces, led by General...
. He then proceeded to invade and plunder Arzanene and besieged the fortress of Chlomaron. However, the approach of a Persian relief army panicked the Romans, who fled in disorder back into Roman territory. There, possibly due to illness, he handed over command of his army to his hypostrategos (lieutenant general) Heraclius
Heraclius the Elder
Heraclius the Elder was an East Roman general and the father of Byzantine Emperor Heraclius . Of Armenian origin, the elder Heraclius distinguished himself in the wars against the Sassanid Persians in the 580s. Ca. 600, he was appointed as the Exarch of Africa. In 608, he rebelled with his son...
, the father of the future emperor Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
. In spring 587, he was again ill, and unable to campaign in person. He assigned two thirds of his army to Heraclius and the remainder to generals Theodore and Andreas, and sent them to raid Persian territory. He did not campaign himself that year, and in the winter, he set off towards Constantinople. On his way, he learned that he had been replaced by Priscus
Priscus (general)
Priscus was a leading East Roman general during the reigns of the Byzantine emperors Maurice , Phocas and Heraclius . Although the contemporary sources are markedly biased in his favour, Priscus comes across as an effective and capable military leader...
.
However, when Priscus arrived in the East, the soldiers refused to obey him, and elected dux Germanus in his stead. Philippicus, who was soon re-appointed as commander of the East, could only assume his command after the mutiny was quelled through the intervention of the patriarch of 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...
. After a public reconciliation with his troops, in the summer of 589 he campaigned against the city of Martyropolis
Martyropolis
Martyropolis was the former name of a city in Turkey, now known in Turkish as Silvan, in Aramaic as Meiafarakin .It is a Catholic titular see....
, which had recently fallen to the Persians through treason. He was however unable to retake it, and was defeated by a Persian relief force. Upon this failure, he was replaced by Comentiolus
Comentiolus
Comentiolus was a prominent Eastern Roman general at the close of the 6th century, during the reign of Emperor Maurice . He played a major role in Maurice's Balkan campaigns, and fought also in the East against the Persians.- Life :...
.
Except for a diplomatic mission in 590 to the deposed Persian ruler Khosrau II
Khosrau II
250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II 250px|thumb|Khosrau II (Khosrow II, Chosroes II, or Xosrov II in classical sources, sometimes called Parvez, "the Ever Victorious" – (in Persian: خسرو پرویز), was the twenty-second Sassanid King of Persia, reigning from 590 to 628...
, who had taken refuge in Roman territory, Philippicus disappears from the scene for several years. In 598, he was briefly appointed general in the Balkans
Maurice's Balkan campaigns
Maurice's Illyricum campaigns were a series of military expeditions conducted by emperor of Constantinopolis Maurice in an attempt to defend the Illyrian provinces of the East Roman Empire from Avars and Slavs...
, and is credited by some sources with a victory over the Avars
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
in Thrace
Thrace
Thrace is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. As a geographical concept, Thrace designates a region bounded by the Balkan Mountains on the north, Rhodope Mountains and the Aegean Sea on the south, and by the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara on the east...
, although this is most likely due to a confusion with general Priscus.
Under Phocas and Heraclius
At some point in 602, suspicions fell upon him of plotting against Maurice, since a prophecy stated that the name of Maurice's successor would begin with a Φ (PhiPhi (letter)
Phi , pronounced or sometimes in English, and in modern Greek, is the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet. In modern Greek, it represents , a voiceless labiodental fricative. In Ancient Greek it represented , an aspirated voiceless bilabial plosive...
). Indeed soon after, Maurice was deposed and killed by a revolt led by Phocas
Phocas
Phocas was Byzantine Emperor from 602 to 610. He usurped the throne from the Emperor Maurice, and was himself overthrown by Heraclius after losing a civil war.-Origins:...
. As a close associate of Maurice, Philippicus was forced to enter a monastery in Chrysopolis as a monk. He was still at the monastery when Heraclius
Heraclius
Heraclius was Byzantine Emperor from 610 to 641.He was responsible for introducing Greek as the empire's official language. His rise to power began in 608, when he and his father, Heraclius the Elder, the exarch of Africa, successfully led a revolt against the unpopular usurper Phocas.Heraclius'...
overthrew Phocas in 610, and was sent by the new emperor to negotiate with Phocas' brother, Comentiolus
Comentiolus (brother of Phocas)
Comentiolus or Komentiolos was the brother of the Byzantine emperor Phocas .Nothing is known of his early life except that he was the son of Domentzia, along with Phocas and the later magister officiorum Domentziolus...
, who commanded the eastern army. He was imprisoned by Comentiolus and was to be executed, but was saved when Comentiolus himself was murdered.
In 612, he was again appointed by Heraclius as magister militum per Orientem succeeding the disgraced Priscus
Priscus (general)
Priscus was a leading East Roman general during the reigns of the Byzantine emperors Maurice , Phocas and Heraclius . Although the contemporary sources are markedly biased in his favour, Priscus comes across as an effective and capable military leader...
, and campaigned against the Persians in Armenia. In 614, as a Persian army under Shahin invaded Asia Minor
Shahin's invasion of Asia Minor (615)
In 615, during the ongoing war with the East Roman Empire, the Sassanid Persian army under spahbod Shahin invaded Asia Minor and reached Chalcedon, across the Bosporus from Constantinople. The Sassanids had already captured Roman Syria and Palestine in the previous year...
and reached the shores of the Bosporus
Bosporus
The Bosphorus or Bosporus , also known as the Istanbul Strait , is a strait that forms part of the boundary between Europe and Asia. It is one of the Turkish Straits, along with the Dardanelles...
at Chalcedon
Chalcedon
Chalcedon , sometimes transliterated as Chalkedon) was an ancient maritime town of Bithynia, in Asia Minor, almost directly opposite Byzantium, south of Scutari . It is now a district of the city of Istanbul named Kadıköy...
, Philippicus invaded Persia, hoping to cause Shahin to withdraw in order to confront him.
Philippicus died shortly after, and was buried in a church he had built at Chrysopolis.