Olympius (Exarch)

Olympius (Greek Olympian Ὀλύμπιος; † around 651/52 ) was a Byzantine Exarch of Ravenna valet and from 649 to about 651/652 and usurper.

Based on Kubikularios title after, was Olympius eunuch, although this is nowhere explicitly mentioned. Olympius was sent by the emperor Constans II to Rome to monitor the implementing rules of the type of the Lateran Synod of the year 649. As Olympius arrived in Rome on 5 October, the Synod had already begun. Olympius had to arrest an order to enforce the type issued by Constans II in 648 in Italy and Pope Martin I.. One of his Spatharioi should assassinate the pope, which should have been prevented in the presentation of the Liber Pontificalis by a miracle. Olympius was reflected clearly on the side of the Pope. The dating of this rejection of Konstantin Opel is not sure, probably unclear to 651 remains Olympius behavior towards the Emperor of Constantinople Opel. The interpretations in modern literature vary between mere opposition through to attempt to gain the imperial dignity. In fact, the Liber Pontificalis is silent so eloquent that many interpretations remain possible.

It remains that the ratio Olympius to Pope Martin I, whose Lateran Synod of 649 after all, the Patriarch Pyrrhus, Petros and Paulos II, as well as the type of 648 anathematisierte, apparently was quite good. From the perspective of Constantinople the behavior of the Olympius could only be seen as usurpation. This is also the allegations that 653 Pope Martin I were made during his trial for high treason in the year. Martin I. officiated about three years probably in good agreement with Olympius, which the Pope then brought a charge of high treason. However, a previously overlooked passage in the interrogation of Pope Martin I seems to suggest that Olympius no means always a Rome dominated. Martin I threw during his trial the Patricius Troilus, who led the negotiations together with the Sakellarios Bukkoleon, before which he was an emissary of the Olympius occur, in the city, which shows the Troilus, who a few years later, the closest confidant of the Emperor was held for the emperor of Rome. However, it is also possible that Troilus was in Rome to negotiate with Olympius.

Olympius allegedly died on a train against the Arabs who threatened Sicily, an epidemic in 651 / 652. This is but doubted because there were no Arab attacks on Sicily at that time. If the accusation of high treason to be correct, the most likely explanation for the train to Sicily would be the that Olympius wanted to get the important hitherto loyal to the emperor island in his hand.