Mezezius

For the Armenian ruler of the same name, see Mjej Gnuni.

Mezezius
Usurper of the Byzantine Empire
A solidus of Mezezius struck in Syracuse.
Reign	668–669
Born	622
Died	669
Predecessor	Constans II
Successor	Constantine IV

Mezezius (Greek: Μιζίζιος) was an Armenian noble who served as a general of Byzantium, later usurping the Byzantine throne in Sicily from 668 to 669.

According to a letter from Pope Gregory II to Emperor Leo III, he was Count of the Opsikion, the imperial retinue (Latin: obsequium), and a later Syriac chronicle describes him as a patrikios. After Constans' murder at the baths of Daphne in 668, he was proclaimed emperor by the army thereafter and reigned in Sicily for a few months; however, when the news of the assassination of Constans reached his son Constantine IV in Constantinople, an expedition was sent to depose and kill him. His court was deported to Constantinople.^[1]

References

1. ^ Online Encyclopedia of Roman Emperors

Bibliography

• De Imperatoribus Romanis: Mezezius, Revolt and Brief Reign
• History of the Longobards from Paulus Diaconus
• death of Mezesius
• Reign of Mezezius

Persondata
Name
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	622
Place of birth
Date of death	669
Place of death