Longinus (consul 486)

Flavius ​​Longinus (Greek Λογγῖνος; † after 492 ) was an East Roman general, pretender to the throne and rebel against Emperor Anastasius I.

Longinus was the younger brother of Anastasios ' predecessor Zenon. The late ancient sources describe Longinus as incompetent and temperamentally ill-suited for the affairs of state, in the late phase of his reign, however, increasingly Zenon gave him more responsibility. 483 Longinus was as a commander in Syria, where he was taken by his rival Illus after an argument hostage. Zenon said Illus then enemy of the state, which answered this with open rebellion and the proclamation of Leontius the anti-emperor ( 484 ). After his escape ( or exemption ) and return to Constantinople Opel Longinus was appointed Master of the Soldiers praesentalis 485, 486 and 490, he held the consulate.

As Zenon 491 childless died, Longinus could make legitimate hopes for the succession. Not least because of Longinus ' Isaurian origin, the Dowager Empress Ariadne decided but for the high court officials Anastasios, whom she married and thus dynastic legitimacy as the new Augustus. Longinus, however, insisted on his claim to the throne and instigated a revolt in Constantinople Opel at the Isaurian, but this was suppressed. Anastasios banished his rival 492 to Upper Egypt, where it was probably placed in a convent. The bulk of the Isaurian leadership also had to leave the capital, but continued from Asia Minor away from the resistance which could be broken by Anastasios only after seven years of civil war.

The further fate of Longinus is unclear. Two other rebel leaders of that name, the former magister officiorum Longinus Longinus of Selinus and of Cardala were 497 and 498 captured in Isauria and executed at Tarsus or in Constantinople Opel.