Olympius (Exarch)

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Olympius ( Middle Greek Ὀλύμπιος Olympios ; † around 651/52) was a Byzantine valet and Exarch of Ravenna from 649 to around 651/652 and a usurper.

Life

The Kubikularios -Titel judging by Olympius was a eunuch , although this is never explicitly mentioned. Olympius was sent to Rome by Emperor Constans II to oversee the implementation of the Lateran Synod of 649. When Olympius arrived in Rome on October 5th, the synod had already begun. Olympius was commissioned to enforce the type enacted by Constans II in 648 in Italy and to arrest Pope Martin I. One of his Spatharioi was supposed to murder the Pope, which, according to the Liber Pontificalis , is said to have been prevented by a miracle. Olympius apparently sided with the Pope. The date of this turning away from Constantinople is not certain, probably around 651. Olympius' behavior towards the Emperor of Constantinople remains unclear. The interpretations in modern literature vary from mere opposition to an attempt to gain imperial dignity. In fact, the Liber Pontificalis is so eloquently silent that many interpretations remain possible.

It should be noted that the relationship between Olympius and Pope Martin I, whose Lateran Synod of 649 at least anathematized the patriarchs Pyrrhus , Paulus II and Petros and the type of 648 , was evidently quite good. From the point of view of Constantinople, Olympius' behavior could only be seen as a usurpation. This is also shown by the accusations made in 653 to Pope Martin I during his high treason trial. Martin I held office for about three years, presumably on good terms with Olympius, which then brought the Pope an indictment of high treason. A passage that has not yet been taken into account during the interrogation of Pope Martin I seems to suggest that Olympius by no means always ruled Rome. During his trial, Martin I accused Patricius Troïlus, who led the trial together with Sakellarios Bukkoleon, of allowing an envoy from Olympius to appear in the city, which shows that Troïlos, who a few years later was the emperor's closest confidante , thought Rome was for the emperor. However, it is also possible that Troïlus was in Rome for negotiations with Olympius.

Olympius allegedly died on a train against the Arabs who threatened Sicily in an epidemic in 651/652. But this is doubted because at that time there were no Arab attacks on Sicily. If the accusation of high treason is true, the most likely explanation for the move to Sicily would be that Olympius wanted to get his hands on the important island that had been loyal to the emperor until then.

literature

predecessor Office successor
plato Exarchs of Ravenna-Italy Theodorus Calliopas
personal data
SURNAME Olympius
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Olympios; Ὀλύμπιος (Greek)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Byzantine exarch of Ravenna
DATE OF BIRTH 6th century or 7th century
DATE OF DEATH at 651-652