Patricius

Flavius Patricius (; died after 519) was a prominent Eastern Roman general and statesman during the reign of Byzantine emperor Anastasius I (r. 491–518).

Biography

Origins and early career Flavius Patricius was born in Phrygia, but otherwise nothing is known of his early life. Raised to the consulate in 500 along with Anastasius's nephew Hypatius, he was already considered elderly at the time. In the same year, he was placed as magister militum praesentalis (one of the two magistri militum "in the presence" of the emperor), a post he held until Anastasius's death in July 518. The bishop and historian Zacharias of Mytilene characteristically calls him "upright and trustworthy, but with slight intelligence."

Campaigns against Persia In 502, the Anastasian War with Sassanid Persia broke out. Thus in 503, along with Hypatius and Areobindus Dagalaiphus Areobindus, Patricius was sent east to campaign against the Persians. He invaded the Persian province of Arzanene, sacking various forts and taking prisoners, before returning to join forces with Hypatius.

In early 504, Patricius successfully intercepted a supply convoy for the garrison of Amida. He then defeated the Persian reinforcements, capturing their commanders, and resumed the siege of the city.

Imperial candidacy In 518, at the death of Anastasius, Patricius was put forward as one of the candidates to succeed him by the men of the Scholae Palatinae. His candidacy, however, was not accepted by the imperial bodyguard, the excubitores, who tried to set upon him; his life was saved by the intervention of Justinian, the nephew of the excubitores' commander and eventual emperor, Justin I (r. 518–527).

End of career The last reference to Patricius occurs in November 519, when he was at Edessa, where he was sent to persuade its bishop to accept the Chalcedonian doctrines or abdicate voluntarily. Upon his refusal, Patricius forcibly deposed him and exiled him.