Chilbudius

Chilbudius
Died	533 Wallachian Plain
Allegiance	Byzantine Empire
Rank	magister militum

Chilbudius ^[1] or Chilbuldius ^{[2][dubious – discuss]} (Greek: Χιλβούδιος, Chilbudios) was a Byzantine general, holding the rank of magister militum per Thracias in the early 530s. He was apparently killed in battle c. 533, but an impostor claimed his identity c. 545-546. The only source for both men is Procopius.^[1]

Origin

According to some scholars Chilbudius was probably a Slav.^[2] Florin Curta argues this view was misled by the story of the Antian namesake who claimed his identity. ^[3]

The name is considered of Germanic origin.^[4] Bohdan Strumins'kyj suggested a Gothic name, *Hil(i)baudeis / *Hil(i)būdeis, a name attested in Old High German as Hillibodo.^[5]

Biography

Chilbudius served as a member of the household of emperor Justinian I (r. 527-565). Procopius introduces him as a vigorous soldier and comments him for his lack of avarice. He claims that Chilbudius was not seeking to amass wealth for himself.^[1]

Chilbudius was appointed magister militum per Thracias "in the fourth year" of Justinian' reign (530/531). He was the direct successor of Germanus in that post. He was tasked with defending the Danube limes against barbarian incursions. He served for three years (c. 533/534), eventually moving his forces to the north of the Danube. In this manner, Chilbudius prevented invasions in Byzantine territories while taking the battle to hostile territory. He was reportedly killed in battle with Slavs (South Slavs) at the end of this period.^[1][6]

In 545/546, one of the Antae, held captive by the Sclaveni, claimed to be Chilbudius. With the Antes and the Sclaveni temporarily at peace with each other, the Chilbudius impostor passed to the hands of another member of the Antae. A Roman (Byzantine) captive held by the same man, persuaded their master that his fellow slave was the real Chilbudius. He also tried to convince said master to return the captive to Justinian, which would require a journey through Byzantine areas. When among the other Antae, the impostor revealed his actual identity and tried to claim the status of a freedman. His tribesmen found him more useful as Chilbudius, rather than one of them. He was pressured to continue the pretense.^[1][7]

At about this time, Justinian started negotiations with the Antae. He offered to them the ancient city of Turris, "to the north of the river Ister" (the Danube), and its vicinity. The city had been reportedly built by Trajan (r. 98-117) but lay deserted at the time. The Antae would be allowed to settle in this area and receive payment for guarding the Byzantine borders against the Huns, effectively gaining foederati status. The Antae accepted, but on the condition that "Chilbudius" would be restored to office, attempting to raise their man to the rank of magister militum. The plot was reportedly unveiled by Narses, who captured the Chilbuldius impostor and transported him to Constantinople. His subsequent fate is unknown. Whatever his real identity, the impostor reportedly spoke Latin fluently.^[1][7]

Interpretation

The relevant narrative of Procopius has been compared to the typical plots of the Ancient Greek comedy (New Comedy in particular) and/or Plautus. Florin Curta argues that Procopius' tale should not be taken at face value. The story probably has a historic basis. But Procopius "surely reworked the account and arranged it according to comic narrative paterns".^[7]

Curta suggests that the Antae might have understood "Chilbudius" as a title, rather than a name. Thus naming a Chilbudius of their own. The activities of Narses do not seem to have disrupted the alliance. A number of Antae seem to have joined the Byzantines in the ongoing Gothic War (535-554), recorded fighting against the Ostrogoths in Lucania.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Martindale, Jones & Morris (1992), p. 286-287
2. ^ ^{a b} Cameron, Ward-Perkins, Whitby (2000), p. 474
3. ^ Curta (2001), p. 76
4. ^ Amory, p.484 : "Other Byzantine officers active in the Balkans and bearing Germanic names included Baduarius dux Scythiae, Ascum MVM per Illyricum ... and Chilbudius MVM per Thracias"
5. ^ Strumins'kyj (1979-1980), p. 790-791
6. ^ Curta (2001), p. 76
7. ^ ^{a b c d} Curta (2001), p. 79-81

Sources

• Amory, Patrick (2003). People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0521526357. http://books.google.com/books?id=7ndeDi_fwq0C&printsec=frontcover&hl=el&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false. 
• Cameron, Averil (2000). Averil Cameron, Bryan Ward-Perkins and Michael Whitby. ed. Late Antiquity: Empire and Successors, A.D. 425–600. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0521325919. http://books.google.com/?id=Qf8mrHjfZRoC. 
• Curta, Florin: The Making of the Slavs: History and Archaeology of the Lower Danube Region c. 500-700; Cambridge University Press, 2001, Cambridge&New York; ISBN 978-0-521-03615-3
• Martindale, John R.; Jones, A.H.M.; Morris, John (1992), The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire - Volume III, AD 527–641, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0521201608, http://books.google.gr/books?id=fBImqkpzQPsC 
• Strumins'kyj, Bohdan (1979-1980). "Were the Antes Eastern Slavs?". Harvard Ukrainian Studies 3-4: 786-796. 

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Date of death	533
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