European Kingdoms

Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire
Dynasty of Leo (AD 457-518)

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From the start, the capital of the newly-created Eastern Roman empire was based at Constantinople, dedicated by Emperor Constantine 'the Great' in AD 330. In AD 395, the Roman empire finally suffered a permanent split, creating formal Eastern Roman and Western Roman empires within Europe and beyond, acknowledging what had existed in practise for many years.

The 'Dynasty of Theodosius' had seemingly delivered Constantinople from the domination of the Huns and their repeated demands for payment as tribute. The last of the dynasty was Marcian, who in AD 457 left behind him a treasury surplus.

His successor was largely chosen by the powerful General Flavius Ardabur Aspar, magister militum who commanded a Germanic army in Roman service. Thinking he would be able to control Marcian's successor he passed over Marcian's son, Anthemius, instead selecting Leo as the first emperor of the 'Dynasty of Leo'. Leo would have him killed in AD 471, thereby also ending Germanic influence over Constantinople's imperial policy.

During his seventeen years on the throne, Leo oversaw a number of ambitious political and military plans, for the most part aiming these at supporting the increasingly fragile and diminished Western Roman empire to reclaim lost territory. He is also notable for being the first emperor to legislate in 'Koine' Greek rather than late Latin, part of a process of shifting towards the establishment of a truly Greek identity for the empire.

The last Western Roman emperor was removed from office in AD 476 and Odoacer, the Gothic commander of the army, ruled Italy directly. Constantinople still regarded one Julius Nepos as rightful emperor of the west until the latter's death in 480, and Odoacer was persuaded to accept this (in name, at least).

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(Information by Peter Kessler, with additional information from The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, Byzantine and Near Eastern History, AD 284-813, Cyril Mango & Roger Scott (1997), from Prosopographie der mittelbyzantinischen Zeit, Volume 1, Ralph-Johannes Lilie, Claudia Ludwig, Thomas Pratsch, & Ilse Rochow, from the World Heritage Encyclopaedia, from the BBC series, Mary Beard's Ultimate Rome: Empire Without Limit, presented by Mary Beard and first screened between 27 April-18 May 2016, from Encyclopaedia of the Roman Empire, Matthew Bunson (1994), and from External Links: History Extra, and Encyclopaedia Britannica, and Jewish Encyclopaedia, and History of the Byzantine Empire (Live Science), and The Cambridge History of the Byzantine Empire, Jonathan Shepard (Ed, Revised Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2008, and available via the Internet Archive).)

457 - 474

First successor to the Theodosius dynasty.

459 - 462

Unchallenged by the now-dissipated power of the Huns, the Ostrogoths under Valamir are themselves powerful. A dispute with Leo I (sometimes termed 'the great') causes Valamir to lead the his Ostrogoths against him. With the barbarians at the gates, Leo agrees to pay an annual subsidy of gold.

Soon after the middle of the fifth century AD the Hunnic empire crashed into extinction, starting with the death of Attila in 453. His son and successor, Ellac, was killed in battle in 454, and the Huns were defeated by the Ostrogoths in 456, ending Hunnic unity (click or tap on map to view full sized)

460

As a result of the sack of Rome and piracy in the Mediterranean, both Western Roman and Eastern Roman empires send a fleet against the Vandali. The western fleet is captured, and the eastern one is destroyed through the use of fire ships. The Vandali invade the Peloponnese in retaliation but are driven back with heavy losses by the Maniots at Kenipolis. Rome soon abandons its policy of warfare against the Vandali.

468

The Vandali-occupied island of Sardinia is liberated by Marcellin, newly arrived from Constantinople. He frees Sardinia and then Sicily before joining up with the forces of Flavius Basilisk, later Eastern Roman emperor. Thanks to the latter's ineptitude the expedition ultimately fails and Marcellin is assassinated by one of his captains. Upon his death, Sardinia is retaken by the Vandali.

Shown here are both sides of a coin which was issued by Genseric of the Vandali in the name of Emperor Honorius, at some time between 428-477

469

With battles by the Kutrigurs and Utigurs against the Ostrogoths and Eastern Romans seemingly ongoing for the past decade, Dengisich son of Atilla the Hun is now killed by Anagastes, the Roman general in Thrace, and his head is taken to Constantinople to be paraded through the city. His brother, Ernakh, is probably now the dominant Hunnic ruler on the Pontic-Caspian steppe via the Utigurs and Altyn Ola.

473

Leo sends his own candidate to rule the remains of the Western Roman empire. Upon the arrival of Julius Nepos, Glycerius immediately surrenders. Leo also names his grandson as his junior co-ruler and designated successor as he thinks Zeno, his own son-in-law through his daughter, Ariadne, will be an unpopular choice.

474

Grandson (son of Zeno), caesar in 473. Died very young.

474 - 475

Father. Deposed and restored through political manoeuvring.

476

The last Western Roman emperor is removed from office and Odoacer, the Gothic commander of the army, rules Italy directly. Zeno still regards Julius Nepos as rightful emperor of the west until the latter's death in 480, and Odoacer is persuaded to accept this (in name, at least).

This half-siliqua was the only silver coinage to be issued during the short reign of Romulus Augustus, puppet and final official Western Roman emperor

A similar situation obtains in the Roman domain of Soissons in northern Gaul where the Roman general Syagrius mints coins in Nepos' name until his own defeat in 486. By a collusion of convenience the western empire continues to exist after 476, but only as a legal formality.

Christians flock to Palestine and the Eastern Roman empire in general in the hope of avoiding the chaos in the west. The Jewish population in Palestine becomes even more heavily outnumbered.

475 - 476

Coup conspirator supported by dowager empress. Had to flee.

475 - 476

Basiliscus is the former magister militum of Thrace. His sister is Empress Verina, who now conspires to install as emperor the magister officiorum, Patricius, her lover. The plot is supported by Basiliscus, while Zeno is forced to flee.

Basiliscus then convinces the senate to acclaim him instead. He quickly loses his support, not least when he executes Patricius, but also for political miscalculations and even a natural disaster. Zeno proves himself a skilled Roman when he uses military force and political persuasion to regain his throne.

As recorded in the Notitia Dignitatum, Palestine was Sub dispositione viri spectabilis ducis Palaestinae, 'Under the control of the worshipful duke of Palestine'

476 - 491

Restored. Sent Ostrogoths to regain Italy for the east.

489

The Ostrogoths having been settled in Pannonia and nominally Eastern Roman allies are problematic at best. The Romans have already used the Bulgars to help subdue them in 480. Their restlessness is creating increasing problems in their management for Emperor Zeno.

Working with Theodoric of the Ostrogoths to find a solution, the emperor invites him to invade Italy and overthrow the troublesome Gothic viceroy there, Odoacer. The Ostrogoths immediately win the Battle of Isonzo on 28 August 489, close to Aquileia, and Odoacer is forced to withdraw. A second battle is fought at Verona in the same year.

490 - 493

A further battle is fought on the River Adda in 490, and in 493 Theodoric takes Ravenna. On 2 February the same year, Theodoric and Odoacer sign a treaty which divides Italy between them.

At a banquet to celebrate the terms, Theodoric murders Odoacer with his own hands. Now unopposed, he is able to found an Ostrogothic kingdom which is based in Rome rather than the former western capital at Ravenna.

The boy emperor Romulus Augustus was formally removed from office by Odoacer in AD 476, and despite Odoacer's governance of Italy being no different from that of any recent emperor (albeit he was no one's puppet), this date is still viewed as being the end of the Roman empire

491 - 518

Civil servant. Selected by Empress Ariadne. Died in office.

497

Anastasius returns the Western Roman imperial regalia which Constantinople had received in 476, confirming acceptance of Theodoric's Ostrogothic kingdom of Italy.

502 - 505

The second half of the reign of Anastasius seems beset by mounting popular unrest. Ostensibly this is due to the emperor's religious policy, but behind this may lie growing economic difficulties and an increasing sense of insecurity within the empire.

In the last few years the long peace has ended with the Sassanid empire. Their failure to restore Nisibis to the Roman empire in accordance with a fourth century treaty has led the Eastern Romans to withhold tribute payments.

This prompts the Sassanids to invade the Roman empire and they quickly take a number of frontier towns, including the city of Amida (former capital of Bit Zamani, today's Diyarbakır in Turkey). Initial Roman resistance is weakened by a divided command, and it is not until 505 that Amida is recovered.

512

Some Heruli do not join the migration of the rest of their people to Scandinavia. After seeking refuge with the Gepids, some of them are now allowed to resettle depopulated land in Singidunum (modern Belgrade) by the emperor.

This artist's reconstruction shows the Roman city of Singidunum, the name originating in the preceding Celtic town, while the Serbs would settle it from the 520s, making it their on-off capital of Belgrade

512

Doctrinal disputes continue to be highly relevant and often violent within the empire as the Christian Church develops its understanding of the nature of theology. One such dispute now leads to popular demands for the emperor to be deposed which Anastasius only just about manages to quell.

513

Military comes who challenged for the throne.

513

Anastasius faces a further challenge to his authority from Vitalian, a military comes (count) who claims to represent the reaction of the orthodox to his policies. Although unsuccessful in his challenge to the throne, he outlives the emperor.

518

Emperor Anastasius dies without deciding the question of the succession. He is succeeded by Justin I, a peasant from Illyria who has risen through the ranks to become count of the excubitors, but who is also the father of the namesake of the Justinian dynasty.

Shown here are two sides of a type of coinage which was typical of that being issued under Eastern Roman emperors, Justin I and Justinian I, during the height of Eastern Roman power in the aftermath of the collapse of the western empire