Varanes (consul 410)
Encyclopedia
Varanes was a politician and general of the Western
and Eastern Roman Empires.
origin. In 393, Varanes was at the court in Constantinople
. He probably followed Emperor Theodosius I
in the West in 394, in his war against usurper Eugenius
, and remained there, after Theodosius' death, under his son and successor Honorius
.
In 408, after the death of Stilicho
(August 22), he was appointed Magister peditum, but a little later his office was given to the Magister equitum Turpilio
. The following year he was again in Constantinople, where he probably had received the office of Magister militum praesentalis; on this occasion, he suppressed a popular revolt caused by a food shortage with the collaboration of Arsacius and Synesius.
He was appointed Consul
for the year 410, without colleague. That year Rome
was besieged by the Visigoths of Alaric I
, who would eventually sack
the city; the usurper Priscus Attalus
chose Tertullus as consul, but neither the Western Emperor Honorius, nor the Eastern court of Theodosius II
recognised him.
Western Roman Empire
The Western Roman Empire was the western half of the Roman Empire after its division by Diocletian in 285; the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire, commonly referred to today as the Byzantine Empire....
and Eastern Roman Empires.
Biography
His name suggests a PersianPersian people
The Persian people are part of the Iranian peoples who speak the modern Persian language and closely akin Iranian dialects and languages. The origin of the ethnic Iranian/Persian peoples are traced to the Ancient Iranian peoples, who were part of the ancient Indo-Iranians and themselves part of...
origin. In 393, Varanes was at the court in Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
. He probably followed Emperor Theodosius I
Theodosius I
Theodosius I , also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman Emperor from 379 to 395. Theodosius was the last emperor to rule over both the eastern and the western halves of the Roman Empire. During his reign, the Goths secured control of Illyricum after the Gothic War, establishing their homeland...
in the West in 394, in his war against usurper Eugenius
Eugenius
Flavius Eugenius was an usurper in the Western Roman Empire against Emperor Theodosius I. Though himself a Christian, he was the last Emperor to support Roman polytheism.-Life:...
, and remained there, after Theodosius' death, under his son and successor Honorius
Honorius (emperor)
Honorius , was Western Roman Emperor from 395 to 423. He was the younger son of emperor Theodosius I and his first wife Aelia Flaccilla, and brother of the eastern emperor Arcadius....
.
In 408, after the death of Stilicho
Stilicho
Flavius Stilicho was a high-ranking general , Patrician and Consul of the Western Roman Empire, notably of Vandal birth. Despised by the Roman population for his Germanic ancestry and Arian beliefs, Stilicho was in 408 executed along with his wife and son...
(August 22), he was appointed Magister peditum, but a little later his office was given to the Magister equitum Turpilio
Turpilio
Turpilio was a Roman military commander, a Magister peditum.At the recommendation of his superior officer, Olympus, the emperor Honorius appointed Turpilio to be Magister equitum after the removal and execution of the emperor's kinsman Stilicho .Following the downfall of Olympus , Turpilio was...
. The following year he was again in Constantinople, where he probably had received the office of Magister militum praesentalis; on this occasion, he suppressed a popular revolt caused by a food shortage with the collaboration of Arsacius and Synesius.
He was appointed Consul
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
for the year 410, without colleague. That year Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
was besieged by the Visigoths of Alaric I
Alaric I
Alaric I was the King of the Visigoths from 395–410. Alaric is most famous for his sack of Rome in 410, which marked a decisive event in the decline of the Roman Empire....
, who would eventually sack
Sack of Rome (410)
The Sack of Rome occurred on August 24, 410. The city was attacked by the Visigoths, led by Alaric I. At that time, Rome was no longer the capital of the Western Roman Empire, replaced in this position initially by Mediolanum and then later Ravenna. Nevertheless, the city of Rome retained a...
the city; the usurper Priscus Attalus
Priscus Attalus
Priscus Attalus was twice Roman usurper , against Emperor Honorius, with Visigothic support.Priscus Attalus was a Greek from Asia whose father had moved to Italy under Valentinian I. Attalus was an important senator in Rome, who served as praefectus urbi in 409...
chose Tertullus as consul, but neither the Western Emperor Honorius, nor the Eastern court of Theodosius II
Theodosius II
Theodosius II , commonly surnamed Theodosius the Younger, or Theodosius the Calligrapher, was Byzantine Emperor from 408 to 450. He is mostly known for promulgating the Theodosian law code, and for the construction of the Theodosian Walls of Constantinople...
recognised him.