John Mystacon

John Mystakon (* 545, † 591 ) was 579-591 commander of the Eastern Roman Empire to the Persian front (also see Roman- Persian Wars).

Origin

The name of John Mystakon based Christian Settipani According to a Roman corruption of his nickname " Moustakon " ( mustache), for which he was famous among his contemporaries. John Mystakon was after Settipani Armenian origin and that a prince of the royal house of the Arsacid Parthian originally.

His father was probably Prince Artabanus (* c. 510 in Thrace, † AD 554), Captains of Armenia, who was with Praejecta, a sister of the Emperor Justin II, engaged. His mother's name is not known.

Life

First, he was deputy to the commander Maurikios. As Maurikios 582 ascended the throne, John Mystakon became his successor. John Mystakon fought - apart from a defeat against the Persian generals Kardarigan on Nymphios River in the years 583 - successfully in the Armenian section, where the Romans were almost constantly on the offensive and were supported by Armenian partisans. 584 he was replaced by Philippikos, but took no later than the end of the revolt of the Roman troops 589 again in command of a Roman army and also wrote history; during the civil war chaos to Bahram Chobin he besieged and pushed Dvin in 590 the Atropatene (Azerbaijan ) ago. This was the previously deepest thrust of a Roman army on Persian territory and was only surpassed by Heraclius at the Battle of Nineveh. The following year he again led an army into the Atropatene and defeated along with Narses the Persian usurper Bahram Chobin the river Blarathon (or Blarathos ). Shortly after the campaign he died.

Marriage and issue

John Mystakon was with Placida (* c. 560), a daughter of Anastasius ( grandson of the Empress Theodora, the wife of the Byzantine emperor Justinian I (527-565 ) from their previous marriage ) and Juliana married. This Juliana was about her mother Proba a descendant of the fifth generation of the Western Roman Emperor Valentinian III. ( Flavius ​​Placidus Valentinian ) ( 425-455 )

Children:

John Mystakon had at least the following children:

• Valentinos (* c. 590, † 644 ), commander, pretender to the Byzantine crown, received 641 entitled " Caesar " and was 642/43 de facto ruler of the Byzantine Empire
• Manuel (* 585, † 651 ), 651 " Magistros "