Justinian II by Peter Crawford

Author:Peter Crawford
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY / Royalty
Publisher: Pen and Sword History
Published: 2021-11-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Mutilation and Exile: The Revolt of Leontios

‘He that is taken and put into prison or chains is not conquered, though overcome; for he is still an enemy.’

Thomas Hobbes

A Caged Lion Bites Back

That languishing prisoner was the previously reliable former Anatolic strategos Leontios. For a man about to be catapulted to the highest position in the land, very little is known about his early life, aside from him being ‘a native of Isauria’.1 A reading of the Chronicle of 1234 might suggest that Leontios had some Armenian origins, although this is unclear. This may just be a slightly confused passage highlighting that Leontios had recently campaigned in Armenia.2 At some point, Leontios joined the Roman army and must have served with sufficient distinction to climb the ranks and come to the attention of Constantine IV. It could even be that Leontios had served long enough to have first come to the attention of Constans II. Nevertheless, it was Constantine who appointed him patricius and strategos of the Anatolic theme in c.682. Beyond that, any attempt to reconstruct Leontios’ military career under Constantine is merely speculative. To be in a position to be appointed to one of the most important military commands in the empire might suggest service in the defence of Constantinople against Muawiyah’s ‘siege’ and/or a leading position in the productive counterattacks in Anatolia and the Levant that produced the advantageous treaty of c.678.

That Leontios’ lofty position was not just down to a personal friendship with Constantine, but based on a strong military reputation, may be seen in Justinian II’s maintaining of him as Anatolic strategos in an age where leading commanders were liable to be transferred to various posts. It could be that Leontios served as Anatolic strategos for a full decade. Leontios repaid that trust placed in him by the new emperor by leading the successful Roman campaign of 686, driving into Armenia, Transcaucasia and possibly even into Umayyad Media. This brought about the even more favourable ‘treaty of 688’ with its condominiums and increased tribute payments.

But if the Anatolic strategos had provided such good service to the empire, how did he come to be languishing in a Constantinopolitan prison in 695? The sources do not mention why, but the timing would suggest some connection to the poor Roman showing in the war with the Umayyads in 692. His thematic command in Anatolia, proven track record and experience must have seen him given a prominent position – perhaps even general in command – in the force Justinian brought together at Sebastopolis. His previous success in taking the fight to the Umayyads would also have made Leontios a prime candidate to lead any Roman strike into Arab territory in the run-up to that battle. Whether he was present at the battle or absent on another raid, it would seem that Leontios’ imprisonment was due to Justinian placing blame for the catastrophic defeat at Sebastopolis on his shoulders.3 However, the extent of Leontios’ imprisonment could suggest that there was something more to this punishment.

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