Procopius (counter-emperor)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Siliqua of Procopius

Procopius ( ancient Greek Προκόπιος Prokopios , * around 326 in Corycus ; † May 27, 366 ) was a Roman nobleman who was proclaimed anti -emperor of Valens in 365 .

Life

Procopius was born and raised in Corycus, Cilicia . He came from a noble family who - presumably through Procopius' mother - were related to the imperial family . Under Constantius II (337–361) he was initially a notary and then rose to the position of tribune . After the death of Constantius, Julian became emperor, a man to whom Procopius was particularly connected through close relatives. This appointed him comes .

Procopius took part in Julian's campaign against the Sassanids in 363 . When Julian's death there were rumors that he intended to make Procopius his successor if he died. But when Jovian was elected by the Roman army, Procopius went into hiding out of fear for his life. Most modern researchers doubt that Procopius was planned by Julian as his successor, because no action by the emperor points in this direction. The ancient historians give different accounts of Procopius' life in secret, but agree that he finally reappeared in public in Chalcedon in front of the house of Senator Strategius, suffering from hunger and not informed about current events.

By this time Jovian had already died and Valentinian I shared the imperial dignity with his brother Valens . Procopius succeeded in winning two legions, which were resting in Constantinople , for his endeavors - his kinship with the former imperial family was undoubtedly decisive, because the Roman soldiers traditionally attached great importance to the dynastic principle. Shortly afterwards, on September 28, 365, he was proclaimed emperor and quickly had the province of Thrace and later Bithynia on his side.

The following year there was an open battle: the usurper's troops, led by General Gomoarius , including some Goths who were called to help , met the emperor's army near Thyatira . Valens emerged victorious from the battle and Procopius had to flee. At Nakoleia he and his remaining loyal followers were confronted, defeated and taken prisoner. Valens had his adversary executed on May 27, 366. Procopius' follower Marcellus , who had grabbed the purple himself, was also executed shortly afterwards.

A great-grandson of Procopius, Anthemius , was emperor in the Western Roman Empire from 467 to 472 .

literature

  • Kay Ehling : Procopius (counter-emperor). In: Real Lexicon for Antiquity and Christianity . Volume 28, Hiersemann, Stuttgart 2018, ISBN 978-3-7772-1815-1 , Sp. 186-198.
  • Konstantin Olbrich: True Emperor and Kaiserling. Emperor Procopius' program of rule as reflected in his coinage (365–366 AD). In: Yearbook for Numismatics and Monetary History. Volume 58, 2008, pp. 89-100.

Web links

Commons : Procopius  - album with pictures, videos and audio files

Remarks

  1. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus 26.6.1.
personal data
SURNAME Procopius
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman counter-emperor
DATE OF BIRTH at 326
PLACE OF BIRTH Korykos
DATE OF DEATH May 27, 366