Basiliscus

Basiliskos (Greek Βασιλίσκος, Latin Flavius ​​Basiliscus; † 476) was Eastern Roman Emperor as a usurper in the years 475 and 476

Basiliscus was the brother of the Empress Verina and thus the brother of the eastern emperor Leo I, who reigned 457-474. He was consul of 465 and commander in the failed expedition against the Vandal king Genseric 468 In later sources Basiliskos is accused in this context either betrayal or failure.

The antipathy towards the new Emperor Zeno, whose legitimacy was disputed, leading end 475 to a conspiracy in the palace of the Zenon however learned. He preferred to flee out of the city on January 9, 475. A day later we got Basiliskos to the emperor, who ascended the throne with the approval of the Eastern Roman Senate. Basiliscus was from the western emperor (probably Romulus Augustulus, who was himself a usurper, and not by Julius Nepos ) recognized and crowned his wife Zenonis to the Empress, his son Marcus, he rose to Caesar. However, when Zenon returned from Isauria and Konstantin Opel besieged, led the previously prevailing mismanagement of Basilikos and the resulting inter alia from its religious policy dissatisfaction with him cause he was soon abandoned by his troops in the lurch. Basiliscus was overthrown under the generals Illus and Armatus significant participation, they opened the gates Zenon, and this ascended in July or August 476 back the throne.

Some late antique sources report that Basiliscus fled to the protection of a church, himself and his family but then Zenon surrendered under the solemn promise that no blood would be shed. Zenon, it is said, kept his promise in his own way: He imprisoned his prisoners in a dry cistern, where they died. Whether this story is true is uncertain; the only certainty is that Basiliskos met his death.