Gregory the Patrician

Gregory (Greek Γρηγόριος, Latin Flavius ​​Gregory, † 647 ) was a Byzantine Patrikios, Exarch of Carthage and usurper.

Gregor took over in 645 part in a disputation between the two former Patriarch of Constantinople Pyrrhus Opel and Maximos Homologetes, which took place in his jurisdiction. In the year 646 he rebelled against Constans II, possibly in the context of Monothelete disputes in Byzantium, where rather an orthodox stance seems to have been taken in the Exarchate. His reign lasted a short time of Carthage in today's Tunisia to Tripoli in Libya today. There is evidence that even Maximos and Pope Theodore I have supported this usurpation, at least this is assumed in the trial of Maximus. Supposedly, the pope had the Abbot Thomas sent to 646 to Gregor to tell it a dream of Maximos, who should proclaim him the impending success of the uprising.

However, the revolt collapsed soon as they are exposed Gregor attacked in the following year at Carthage by an Arab army in the Battle of Sufetula ( Sbeitla, today Tunisia) was killed. Agapios of Hierapolis indicates that Gregor had fled after the defeat to Byzantium and made his peace with the emperor. The same report, the Syrian sources, suggesting a dependence on a common template; these are more recent research indicates that to Theophilus of Edessa. In contrast, the Arabic sources are consistently of the view that Gregor has died in battle. The daughter of Gregory was left after his death in an Arab leader as prey, who led them on a camel to Arabia. Because she made ​​disparaging remarks about him, it was overthrown by the camel, where they broke his neck and died.