Ursus (praefectus urbi)
Encyclopedia
Ursus was a politician of the Eastern Roman Empire, praefectus urbi
of Constantinople
in 415-416.
of Constantinople
. On September 4, he escorted the relics of Joseph and Zechariah
that were brought in the Great Church; he is attested in office by laws issued on October 31, 415, and February 17, 416. In 415 the Western Emperor, Honorius
, had defeated an usurper, Priscus Attalus
; on June 28, 416, Ursus celebrated the event with shows in the theatre. That same year, he is also attested in office by a law addressed to him and issued on July 23, while on September 30 he escorted Emperor Theodosius II
, returning to Constantinople from Heraclea
.
Praefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
of 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:...
in 415-416.
Life
In 415 Ursus was praefectus urbiPraefectus urbi
The praefectus urbanus or praefectus urbi, in English the urban prefect, was prefect of the city of Rome, and later also of Constantinople. The office originated under the Roman kings, continued during the Republic and Empire, and held high importance in late Antiquity...
of 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:...
. On September 4, he escorted the relics of Joseph and Zechariah
Zechariah (priest)
In the Bible, Zechariah , is the father of John the Baptist, a priest of the sons of Aaron, a prophet in , and the husband of Elisabeth who is the cousin of Mary the mother of Jesus.In the Qur'an, Zechariah plays a similar role as the father of John the Baptist and ranks him as a prophet alongside...
that were brought in the Great Church; he is attested in office by laws issued on October 31, 415, and February 17, 416. In 415 the Western Emperor, Honorius
Honorius (emperor)
Honorius , was Western Roman Emperor from 395 to 423. He was the younger son of emperor Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the eastern emperor Arcadius....
, had defeated an usurper, Priscus Attalus
Priscus Attalus
Priscus Attalus was twice Roman usurper , against Emperor Honorius, with Visigothic support.Priscus Attalus was a Greek from Asia whose father had moved to Italy under Valentinian I. Attalus was an important senator in Rome, who served as praefectus urbi in 409...
; on June 28, 416, Ursus celebrated the event with shows in the theatre. That same year, he is also attested in office by a law addressed to him and issued on July 23, while on September 30 he escorted Emperor Theodosius II
Theodosius II
Theodosius II , commonly surnamed Theodosius the Younger, or Theodosius the Calligrapher, was Byzantine Emperor from 408 to 450. He is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian law code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople...
, returning to Constantinople from Heraclea
Heraclea
-Ancient cities:* Heraclea Cybistra, Konya Province, Turkey* Heracleia by Latmus, near Lake Bafa, Turkey* Heraclea Lucania, Lucanian district of southern Italy...
.
Sources
- John Robert Martindale, "Vrsus 3", The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, Volume 2, Cambridge University Press, 1980, ISBN 0521201594, p. 1192.