Mezezius
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mezezius | |
| Usurper of the Byzantine Empire | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A solidus of Mezezius struck in Syracuse. | |
| Reign | 668–669 |
| Born | ? |
| Died | 669 |
| Predecessor | Constans II |
| Successor | Constantine IV |
For the Armenian ruler of the same name, see Mjej Gnuni.
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 patrician. 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]
[edit] References
[edit] Bibliography
- De Imperatoribus Romanis: Mezezius, Revolt and Brief Reign
- History of the Longobards from Paulus Diaconus
- Coin minted by Mezezius
- death of Mezesius
- Reign of Mezezius
