Verina

Aelia Verina (died 484) was the Empress consort of Leo I of the Byzantine Empire. She was a sister of Basiliscus. Her daughter Ariadne was Empress consort of first Zeno and then Anastasius I. Verina was the maternal grandmother of Leo II.

Family

The origins of Verina and her brother Basiliscus are unknown. They are considered likely to have ancestry in the Balkans [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/basilis.htm Hugh Elton, "Flavius Basiliscus (AD 475-476)"] ] but nothing more specific is known. They are assumed to have at least one sister as a hagiography of Daniel the Stylite names a brother-in-law of Verina and Basiliscus as Zuzus. [ [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/dan-stylite.html "The Life of Daniel The Stylite", translation by Elizabeth Dawes (1948)] , chapter 69)"]

Stefan Krautschick in his historical work "Zwei Aspekte des Jahres 476" (1986) advanced a theory that the two siblings were related to Odoacer, the first barbarian King of Italy. [Patrick Amory, "Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" (2003)] , page 282] The theory relies on passage 209.1 in the fragmentary chronicle of John of Antioch, a 7th century monk. The chronicler has been tentatively identified with John of the Sedre, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch from 641 to 648 [ [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08468a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia, "John of Antioch"] ] . The passage records the assassination of Armatus by Onoulphus. Based on interpretation Odoacer was brother to either Onoulphus alone or to both men. The second interpretation was introduced by Krautschick and has gained the support of (among others) Alexander Demandt and Patrick Amory. Armatus was identified as nephew of Verina and Basiliscus in other Byzantine sources, including a hagiography of Daniel the Stylite [ [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/dan-stylite.html "The Life of Daniel The Stylite", translation by Elizabeth Dawes (1948)] )"] and the Suda. The theory would make both Onoulphus and Odoacer nephews of Verina and Basiliscus. [Patrick Amory, "Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" (2003)] , page 282]

However a counterargument to the theory is given by Penny Macgeorge in her own study "Late Roman Warlords" (2003), pages 284-285, based on the silence of both John Malalas and Malchus on a blood relation of Odoacer to the House of Leo. Both historians were chronologically closer to the recorded events than John of Antioch.

If accepted the theory of Krautschick would give Verina a barbarian origin. Her ancestry would still be uncertain due to contradictory accounts on the ancestry of Odoacer. Various sources have identified him as one of the Goths, the Rugians, the Scirii and the Thuringii. [Patrick Amory, "Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" (2003)] , page 282] All four were Germanic peoples, with the Goths, Rugians and Scirii grouped by ethnologists within the East Germanic tribes. His father Edeko was leader of the Scirii but it is unclear if he was born in the tribe or married into it. Other sources identify Edeko as one of the Huns, possibly because of his service under Attila the Hun. [Patrick Amory, "Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" (2003)] , page 282] According to Amory, the varying ethnographic identities of both men may reflect both their mixed ancestry and their political association with the various groups.

The presence of Verina in the Roman court has been attributed by Demandt to "the osmosis of the late Roman and Germanic aristocracies". In other words the practice of intermarriage between the Roman military aristocracy and the dynasties derived from it on the one hand and various Germanic families of foederati. [Patrick Amory, "Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" (2003)] , page 282]

Marriage

Verina married Leo, a Thraco-Roman officer of the East Roman army. According to Jordanes and John Malalas, her husband was one of the Bessi, a tribe of Thracians. Theodorus Lector, Theophanes the Confessor, Georgios Kedrenos and Michael the Syrian report Leo born in Thrace. However the Bibliotheca of Patriarch Photios I of Constantinople quotes Candidus in placing his birthplace in Dacia. [Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2]

Leo was not from a prominent family. His only known relation prior to his marriage was a sister named Euphemia. According to "Patria", attributed to George Codinus, Euphemia never married. She resided in Constantinople and was visited by her brother on a weekly basis. She reportedly erected a statue in honor of her brother. The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire notes that the source is not considered particularly reliable. [Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2] The Patria was written during the reign of Basil II (976 - 1025) and revised during the Alexios I Komnenos (1081 - 1118). So at least five centuries separate the time of Leo and Euphemia and this written account of their relationship.

Verina and Leo had three children. Their eldest daughter Ariadne was born prior to the death of Marcian (reigned 450 - 457). [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/leo1.htm Hugh Elton, "Leo I (457-474 A.D.)"] ] . Ariadne had a younger sister, Leontia. Leontia was first married to Patricius, a son of Aspar. Their marriage was probably annulled when Aspar and another of his sons, Ardabur, were assassinated in 471. Leontia then married Marcian, a son of Anthemius and Marcia Euphemia. The couple led a failed revolt against Zeno in 478-479. They were exiled to Isauria following their defeat. [Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2]

An unnamed son was born in 463.He died five months following his birth. The only sources about him are a horoscope by Rhetorius and a hagiography of Daniel the Stylite. [Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2]

Empress consort

In January, 457 Marcian succumbed to a disease, allegedly gangrene. He was survived by his daughter Euphemia and his son-in-law Anthemius. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/marcian.htm Geoffrey S. Nathan, Marcian (450-457 A.D.)] ] . Leo was at this point the tribune of the Mattiarii, a regiment wielding the mattea (Latin for mace) as their weapon.

Marcian had been proclaimed an Augustus as consort of Pulcheria, a member of the Theodosian dynasty. With his death the dynastic succession ended. His only daughter was from a previous marriage and thus not considered heiress to the dynasty. The Byzantine army and the Byzantine Senate had to elect a new Augustus. Aspar, the magister militum ("Master of soldiers") of the Eastern Roman Empire, was unable to claim the throne for himself due to his origins and religious affiliations. [ [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/BURLAT/10*.html#1 J. B. Bury, "History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian" (1923)] ] . He was one of the Alans, a Sarmatian tribe. Though his family had served in the Roman military for generations, Aspar was still considered a barbarian. He was also an adherent of Arianism while the majority of the ruling class of the Eastern Roman Empire had accepted the Nicene Creed. Therefore an unpopular choice for the throne.

Aspar used his influence in order to be become a kingmaker. He was able to pick a candidate among his own subordinate officers, probably counting on their continued loyalty. He chose Leo and the Senate accepted the choice. [ [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/BURLAT/10*.html#1 J. B. Bury, "History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian" (1923)] ] . On 7 February, 457, Leo was crowned by Patriarch Anatolius of Constantinople, the first such coronation known to involve a Patriarch. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/leo1.htm Hugh Elton, "Leo I (457-474 A.D.)"] ] . At this point Verina became the Empress consort. She probably added "Aelia" to her name at her proclamation as an Augusta. The name had become standard for Augustas of the Theodosian dynasty. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

In 461, Leo founded the Excubitors as a counterbalance to the Germanic soldiers under Aspar. He recruited the majority of its members from among the sturdy and warlike Isaurians. In 466, Tarasicodissa, an Isaurian officer of the Excubitors came forth with evidence that Ardabur, a son of Aspar, was guilty of treason. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/zeno.htm Hugh Elton, Zeno (AD 474-491)] ] . The scandal caused a rift in the relations of Leo and Aspar, leaving the former relying even more on the Excubitors.

In 467, the alliance of Leo and Tarasicodissa was sealed with the marriage of Ariadne to the officer. To make himself more acceptable to the Roman hierarchy and the native Greek-speaking population of Constantinople, the new son-in-law of the imperial couple changed his name to Zeno. Their only known son of Ariadne and Zeno, Leo II, was born within the year.

In 471, Aspar and Ardabur were murdered within the Great Palace of Constantinople by orders of Leo. Leo earned the nickname "Macelles" (the Butcher) for the manner of the deaths. [Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire, vol. 2] Zeno was left by default as the main supporter of Leo within the Byzantine army. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/leo1.htm Hugh Elton, "Leo I (457-474 A.D.)"] ] .

Leo II was proclaimed Caesar in October, 473 and effectively became the designated heir to the throne. By virtue of being the closest male relative of Leo I. On 18 January, 474, Leo I died of dysentery. Their grandson immediately succeeded him. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/leo2.htm Hugh Elton, Leo II (AD 474)] ] . Verina remained at the Palace.

Widowed empress

Since Leo II was too young to rule himself, Verina and Ariadne prevailed upon him to crown Zeno as co-emperor, which he did on February 9, 474. When Leo became ill and died on November 17, Zeno became sole emperor with Ariadne as his Empress consort.

Verina was not content in the role of a widow. According to both Candidus and John of Antioch, she found a lover in the person of Patricius, a former Praetorian prefect. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] . Verina had originally supported Zeno while the young emperor Leo II was still alive. Not long after her grandson's death, Verina turned against her son-in-law. John Malalas attributes her hostility to an argument between them over a request the senior Augusta had made on her son-in-law. Malalas does not clarify what was the request. A modern interpretation suggests that the request concerned her second marriage to Patricius. Which Zeno had reasons to refuse to prevent Patricius from emerging as a rival candidate for the throne. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ]

Verina conspired against Zeno with her lover Patricius, her brother Basiliscus, the Isaurian general Illus, and general Theodoric Strabo, forcing Zeno to flee Constantinople in 475. Verina, who fomented a popular revolt against the emperor. The uprising, supported by Theodoric Strabo, Illus and Armatus, was successful, and Verina convinced the emperor to leave the city. Zeno fled to his native lands, bringing with him some of the Isaurians living in Constantinople, and the imperial treasury. Basiliscus was then acclaimed as "Augustus" on 9 January 475 [There exists a horoscope made on the day of Basiliscus' coronation —12 January 475, at 9 am—, probably by a supporter of Zeno. The horoscope, preserved with the horoscopes of other two usurpers of Zeno through Arab sources, correctly predicts the end of Basiliscus' rule in two years. See cite book |last=Barton |first=Tamsyn |title=Power and knowledge: Astrology, physiognomics, and medicine under the Roman Empire |year=2002 |month=Dec |publisher=University of Michigan Press |id=ISBN 0-472-08852-1 |pages=p. 60 ] at the Hebdomon palace, by the palace ministers and the Senate.

John of Antioch and the hagiography of Daniel the Stylite imply that Verina was tricked in supporting the conspiracy. Candidus and John of Antioch report that Verina was hoping to use the conspiracy to replace Zeno with Patricius. Restoring herself to the position of Empress consort in the process. Yet, Basiliscus was crowned as soon as Zeno had abandoned the city. According to Malalas, Verina had to crown Basiliscus herself as the only person of imperial rank present within the capital. There is some doubt whether the description of Verina's motivation by Candidus and John of Antioch was accurate or reflecting the hostility of the chroniclers to her [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

Whatever the case, Patricius served early in the new reign as the "Magister Officiorum". Eventually, Basiliscus ordered the death of Patricius, as the officer was a natural candidate to overthrow the new emperor; as a consequence, Verina later intrigued against Basiliscus, because of her lover's execution. [ [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/secondary/BURLAT/12*.html J. B. Bury, "History of the Later Roman Empire from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian" (1923)] ] . According to Candidus, after the death of Patricius, Verina intrigued in favour of Zeno, but her plan was discovered by Basiliscus, and only the intercession of Armatus spared her life. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

In 476, both Illus and Armatus defected to the side of Zeno In August, Zeno besieged Constantinople. The leader of the Pannonian Goths, Theodoric the Amal (later known as Theodoric the Great) had allied to Zeno. Theodoric would have attacked Basiliscus and his Thracian Goth "foederati" led by Theodoric Strabo, receiving, in exchange, the title of "magister militum" held by Strabo and the payments previously given to the Thracian Goths. It has been suggested that Constantinople was defenseless during Zeno's siege because the "Magister Militum" Strabo had moved north to counter this menace. The Senate opened the gates of the city to the Isaurian, allowing the deposed emperor to resume the throne. Ariadne still being his Empress consort.

Rivalry with Illus

The brief reign of Basiliscus does not seem to have resulted in lasting hatred between Verina and either Zeno or Ariadne. However it did result in hatred between Verina and Illus. The hagiography of Daniel the Stylite considers Illus responsible for pulling Verina into the initial conspiracy while hiding its actual goals. Directly or indirectly responsible for the death of Patricius. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

In 477, a first assassination attempt on Illus was contacted by a slave. Though primary sources do not associate Verina with the first attack, later historians have suggested this was the case. In 478, a second assassination attempt on Illus was contacted by Epinicus, a long-time favourite of Verina. Epinicus allowed Illus custody of the prisoner and the interrogation resulted in a confession implicating Verina in the plot. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

Illus recuperated from the attack in his native Isauria. He reportedly refused to return to Constantinople with Verina still residing in the Palace. Zeno agreed to banish her from the capital. She indeed never returned during her life. According to John of Antioch, Verina was at first confined in a monastery located at Tarsus. She was then sent first to Dalisandus (two namesake cities existed in Isauria and Pamphylia) and secondly to Cherris in Isauria. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

In 478-479, the revolt of Marcian, a son of Anthemius took place. He was married to Leontia, the second daughter of Leo I and Verina. His claim to the throne relied on his wife being a Porphyrogenita. In theory Leontia outranking her older sister Ariadne who was born previous to the elevation of her parents to the throne. Marcian and his brothers Procopius and Romulus launched their coup d'état in Constantinople. They were besieging the palace when Illus arrived with reinforcements from Chalcedon. John of Antioch attributes the entire revolt to Verina but the actual extent of her involvement is uncertain. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] .

In 480, Verina was still confined in Isauria under the custody of Illus. However she was able to correspond with Ariadne and convinced her daughter to intervene on her behalf. Ariadne endea­voured to obtain her release, first from Zeno, and then from Illus, to whom the emperor referred her. Illus not only refused her request, but charged her with wishing to place another person on her hus­band's throne. This irritated her; and she, like her mother, attempted to assassinate Illus. Jordanes ascribes her hatred to another cause: he says that Illus had infused jealous suspicions into Zeno's mind which had led Zenoan attempt on her life, and that her knowledge of these things stimu­lated her to revenge. The assassin whom she em­ployed failed to kill Illus, but cut off his ear in the attempt. The assassin was taken, and Zeno, who appears to have been privy to the affair, was un­able to prevent his execution. [ [http://www.ancientlibrary.com/smith-bio/1677.html Smith, "Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology", v. 1, page 569-570] ] [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ]

Alliance with Illus

In 483 or 484, Illus rose in rebellion against Zeno. Verina still had her imperial rank and so could still crown another Augustus. He released her from confinement and had her crown Leontius, a general, as an Augustus in Tarsus. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ] The revolt also had religious meaning as the rebels were Chalcedonian Christians while Zeno was an adherent of Monophysitism. [ [Warren T. Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society (1997), pages 161-174] ]

John Malalas describes that Verina joined the new alliance with fervor, corresponding with various cities and trying to win their support for the revolt. However there is some doubt over the sincerety of both her new convictions and her political "friendship" with her old enemy. She may in effect have still been Illus' prisoner and acted under his command to preserve her safety. She notably did not join Leontius and Illus in their campaign for Antioch but was sent to the fortress of Papirius in Isauria. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ]

The revolt failed to gain sufficient support and the rebels had to withdraw from Antioch back to Papyrius. Zeno sent an army including both Romans and Ostrogoths under John the Scythian which managed to defeat them. The fort was besieged from 484 to 488. Verina died early in the siege [ [Warren T. Treadgold, A History of the Byzantine State and Society (1997), pages 161-174] ] Whether her death was violent or not is uncertain. According to Malalas, when the siege ended the corpse of Verina was recovered and send to Ariadne for burial. [ [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm Geoffrey B. Greatrex , "Aelia Verina, Wife of Leo I"] ]

Possible descendants

The "Georgian Chronicle", a 13th century compilation drawing from earlier sources, reports a marriage of Vakhtang I of Iberia to Princess Helena of Byzantium, identifying her as a daughter of the predecessor of Zeno. [ [http://rbedrosian.com/gc5.htm"Georgian Chronicle", Chapters 13-14. Translation by Robert Bedrosian (1991)] ] . This predecessor was probably Leo I, the tale attributing a third daughter to Verina.

Cyril Toumanoff identified two children of this marriage. Mithridates of Iberia and Leo of Iberia. This younger Leo was father of Guaram I of Iberia. The accuracy of the descent is unknown.

References

External links

* [http://www.roman-emperors.org/verina.htm An article on her by Geoffrey B. Greatrex]
* [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/BYZANTIUM.htm#_Toc176857612 Her profile, along with her husband in "Medieval Lands" by Charles Cawley]
* [http://books.google.gr/books?id=7ndeDi_fwq0C&pg=PA282&lpg=PA282&dq=%22Stefan+Krautschick%22&source=web&ots=4dA6nKzXaP&sig=r9XzZAVm0_c99C1RXPEFQgbeEgI&hl=el- - Passage of "People and Identity in Ostrogothic Italy, 489-554" of Patrick Amory, discussing theory of barbatian origins]
* [http://books.google.gr/books?id=QCIaBQTCg0IC&pg=PA663&lpg=PA663&dq=%22Leo+I%22+Prosopography&source=web&ots=5PKdli7Cv4&sig=L94Fr773Kx2IAswBunGQ8K0cBTc&hl=el#PPA663,M1- - Profile of her husband in The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire]
* [http://books.google.gr/books?id=QCIaBQTCg0IC&pg=PA423&lpg=PA423&dq=%22Euphemia%22+Prosopography&source=web&ots=5PKdlj-Ev6&sig=rt9CYszBPn9f2jDYRZ1V9KlE1J0&hl=el#PPA422,M1- - Profile of her sister-in-law Euphemia in The Prosopography of the Later Roman Empire]
* [http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~cousin/html/p221.htm#i25460 A pedigree of her alleged daughter Helena]