Anthemius (praetorian prefect)

Flavius ​​Anthemius ( † about 415) was a high Roman official during the late antiquity. From 405-414, he served as praetorian prefect de facto regent for the young Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II

Anthemius came from an influential family, which traced to the Constantinian dynasty over the rival emperors Procopius; his grandfather Philip was from 346 praetorian prefect under Constantius II. Under Arcadius Anthemius rose shortly before the 400 comes sacrarum largitionum, later to magister officiorum on, and thus held important offices at court. Presumably he took part in 400 an imperial legation to Sassanian Yazdgerd I, who set the course for a relaxation of the Roman -Persian relations. After the death of the Empress Eudoxia, he held 405 together with Stilicho the consulship and took over the office of praetorian prefect of the East of the Roman Empire. This was Anthemius, who was also raised on April 28, 406 in the rank of patricius, has become the second most powerful man in the Empire after the Emperor. In the remaining two years of the reign of Arcadius Anthemius drew virtually the affairs of state, he said, although less dramatically, generally held at the Anti-Germanic policy of his predecessor Eutychianus and emphasized the de facto independence of the Eastern Empire. This brought him into conflict with the Western Roman regent Stilicho, who wanted to recover the Illyrian prefecture and secure the Western Kaiserhof the lead role in the overall realm. At the same time, Anthemius had to deal with the Goths of Alaric in the Balkans and Isaurian rebels in the south of Asia Minor. Furthermore, Anthemius issued on behalf of the Emperor several laws against pagans, Jews and " heretics ".

When Arcadius died in 408, Anthemius took over the regency for its first seven years of successor Theodosius II The historians attest to the prefect extraordinary internal and external political skills. Anthemius ended with the Sassanid a contract that beilegte various points of contention, and could - thanks to Stilicho's death - the harmony of the two imperial courts of Constantinople and Ravenna Opel restore. He strengthened the fleet to protect the border on the lower Danube after 409, an invasion of the Huns had been repelled by King Uldin. For the capital, he improved after several famines, the supply of grain from the granary of Egypt. His most notable achievement accomplished with Anthemius of 413 completed reaffirmation of Constantinople ( Walls of ).

In the year 414 Anthemius suddenly disappeared from the scene, while Theodosius ' older sister Aelia Pulcheria officially the guardian and regent for the Emperor took over - apparently it has been removed from power, but perhaps also died. The family still remained influential: Anthemius ' son Isidore also held high office, and his grandson of the same would be almost 457 ruler of the Eastern Empire became and was then 467-472 Western Roman Emperor.