Trocundus
Encyclopedia
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
.
, successor of Emperor Leo I
, was deposed by Basiliscus
, the brother of Leo's widow Verina
. Zeno, expelled from Constantinople
, fled to the mountains of Isauria, his home country. Basiliscus sent to chase him two of his generals, the brothers Trocundus and Illus
, who were both of Isaurian origin. They defeated the ex-Emperor in July 476, and blocked him on a hill called "Constantinople" by local populations.
While Illus and Trocundus besieged Zeno, Basiliscus was losing the support of the aristocracy and the Church in the capital because of his religious position; he also lost Illus and Trocundus' support, as he allowed the population of the capital to massacre all Isaurian who had not left the city with Zeno. Illus and Trocundus were instigated by the Senate of Constantinople to betray Basilisus. Since they had captured Zeno's brother, Longinus
, and therefore they thought they could control Zeno.
The two generals Isaurian therefore had every reason to accept the promises and gifts of their fellow former-Emperor. They decided to betray Basiliscus and march together to the forces of Zeno on Constantinople, where Basiliscus was deposed (476) and later killed.
, the relationship between the Emperor and the two general degenerated. Illus and Trocundus left Constantinople for Asia Minor: here, in 483 or 484, revolted against Zeno and acclaimed Emperor Leontius
, a Syrian
and an officer of high reputation.
The rebels were defeated by the army of Zeno, formed by Romans and Ostrogoths led by Theodoric the Amal
and John the Scythian
(then a consul), near Antioch
. Leontius, Illus and Trocundus were forced to take refuge in the fortress of Papurius
, where they were besieged by the army of Zeno. Trocundo tried to escape the blockade, in order to raise an army in opposition to Zeno, but was captured and killed. Leontius and Illus, ignoring the fate of the general, waited in Papurius for almost four years, but then were betrayed by the brother-in-law of Trocundus, who had been sent from Constantinople to that end, captured and beheaded (488).
Basiliscus
Basiliscus was Eastern Roman Emperor from 475 to 476. A member of the House of Leo, he came to power when Emperor Zeno had been forced out of Constantinople by a revolt....
and the rebellion against 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...
.
Trocundus was the brother of 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...
, another Roman general, both from the region of 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...
.
Support and betrayal of Basiliscus
In 475, the Eastern Roman Emperor ZenoZeno (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...
, successor of Emperor Leo I
Leo I (emperor)
Leo I was Byzantine Emperor from 457 to 474. A native of Dacia Aureliana near historic Thrace, he was known as Leo the Thracian ....
, was deposed by Basiliscus
Basiliscus
Basiliscus was Eastern Roman Emperor from 475 to 476. A member of the House of Leo, he came to power when Emperor Zeno had been forced out of Constantinople by a revolt....
, the brother of Leo's widow Verina
Verina
Aelia Verina was the Empress consort of Leo I of the Byzantine Empire. She was a sister of Basiliscus. Her daughter Ariadne was Empress consort of first Zeno and then Anastasius I. Verina was the maternal grandmother of Leo II.-Family:...
. Zeno, expelled from 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:...
, fled to the mountains of Isauria, his home country. Basiliscus sent to chase him two of his generals, the brothers Trocundus and 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...
, who were both of Isaurian origin. They defeated the ex-Emperor in July 476, and blocked him on a hill called "Constantinople" by local populations.
While Illus and Trocundus besieged Zeno, Basiliscus was losing the support of the aristocracy and the Church in the capital because of his religious position; he also lost Illus and Trocundus' support, as he allowed the population of the capital to massacre all Isaurian who had not left the city with Zeno. Illus and Trocundus were instigated by the Senate of Constantinople to betray Basilisus. Since they had captured Zeno's brother, Longinus
Longinus (consul 486)
Flavius Longinus was a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire, brother of Emperor Zeno and twice consul .- Biography :Longinus came from the region of Isauria, in Asia Minor...
, and therefore they thought they could control Zeno.
The two generals Isaurian therefore had every reason to accept the promises and gifts of their fellow former-Emperor. They decided to betray Basiliscus and march together to the forces of Zeno on Constantinople, where Basiliscus was deposed (476) and later killed.
Rebellion against Zeno
During the reign of Zeno, the two brothers received many honours. Trocundus was consul in 482, his brother was consul and Patricius. But, because of the hostility of VerinaVerina
Aelia Verina was the Empress consort of Leo I of the Byzantine Empire. She was a sister of Basiliscus. Her daughter Ariadne was Empress consort of first Zeno and then Anastasius I. Verina was the maternal grandmother of Leo II.-Family:...
, the relationship between the Emperor and the two general degenerated. Illus and Trocundus left Constantinople for Asia Minor: here, in 483 or 484, revolted against Zeno and acclaimed Emperor 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...
, a Syrian
Syria (Roman province)
Syria was a Roman province, annexed in 64 BC by Pompey, as a consequence of his military presence after pursuing victory in the Third Mithridatic War. It remained under Roman, and subsequently Byzantine, rule for seven centuries, until 637 when it fell to the Islamic conquests.- Principate :The...
and an officer of high reputation.
The rebels were defeated by the army of Zeno, formed by Romans and Ostrogoths led by Theodoric the Amal
Theodoric the Great
Theodoric the Great was king of the Ostrogoths , ruler of Italy , regent of the Visigoths , and a viceroy of the Eastern Roman Empire...
and John the Scythian
John the Scythian
John the Scythian was a general and a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire who fought against the usurper Leontius and in the Isaurian War .- Biography :John was an officer of the East Roman army...
(then a consul), 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...
. Leontius, Illus and Trocundus were forced to take refuge 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...
, where they were besieged by the army of Zeno. Trocundo tried to escape the blockade, in order to raise an army in opposition to Zeno, but was captured and killed. Leontius and Illus, ignoring the fate of the general, waited in Papurius for almost four years, but then were betrayed by the brother-in-law of Trocundus, who had been sent from Constantinople to that end, captured and beheaded (488).