Basiliscus

• Basiliscus (474 CE) was a Roman Emperor of the East.
• He usurped the unpopular Zeno (Emperor), but was displaced by him after only 20 months in power.

1. BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS

• NAME:
  • Flavius Basiliscus
  • Leonid Dynasty
•  DABASILISCUS’ DATES OF REIGN AS EMPEROR:
  • 12 January 475 CE to August 476 CE.
• BASILISCUS’ DATE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Died Winter of 476-7 CE.
• PLACE OF BIRTH AND DEATH:
  • Died in Cappadocia
• BASILISCUS’ PREDECESSOR:
  • Zeno (Emperor)
• BASILISCUS’ SUCCESSOR:
  • Zeno (Emperor)
• HEIR TO THE THRONE BECAUSE:
  • He was a Usurper who created a Plot which forced Zeno (Emperor) to flee the capital.
• WIVES AND CHILDREN:
  • Aelia Zenonis
    • Marcus
• DIED PEACEFULLY OR ASSASSINATED:
  • He, his wife and son were left to die in a Cistern by Zeno (Emperor).
• WHERE BURIED:
  • Unknown.
• BASILISCUS WAS FAMOUS BECAUSE:
  • He was a Usurper who promoted Monophysitism.
• EVENTS:
• MONUMENTS:

2. BRIEF SYNOPSIS

Rise to Power

• Zeno (Emperor) was forced to flee the capital in a Plot organised by Verina, sister of Basiliscus and wife of Leo I.
• Basiliscus became Emperor and it was 20 months before Zeno (Emperor) was able to oust him.

Monophysitism

• However, Basiliscus opposed the Council of Chalcedon and Dyophysitism, instead promoting Monophysitism.
• By this he managed to make himself extremely unpopular with both the Church and the population of Constantinople, who welcomed Zeno (Emperor) back with open arms.

Return of Zeno (Emperor)

• Basiliscus organised a mob to massacre the Issaurians living in Constantinople.
• He sent an army to defeat Zeno (Emperor), but Zeno bribed its Generals who then joined him in the siege of Constantinople.
• The Senate opened the Gates, and Basiliscus and his wife and child were taken prisoner and executed, being left to die in a cistern without food or water.

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

• CLASSICAL SOURCES:
  • Evagrius Scholasticus: Ecclesiastical History (431-593 CE) Published c.593 CE.