Marcian (usurper)

Marcian the Younger, Flavius ​​actually Marcianus (Greek Μαρκιανός; † after 484 ), was 479-480 usurper against Emperor Zeno in the Eastern Roman Empire.

Marcian came from an influential family. His father Anthemius was Western Roman Emperor, his eponymous grandfather Eastern Roman Emperor Marcian. In addition, he was by marriage to Leontia since 471 son Emperor Leo I.. Additional ancestors dressed for many generations the highest public offices.

Marcianus accompanied his father Anthemius 467 to the West, where he held 469 the consulate. To 470/71, probably in connection with the fall of Aspar, he must be returned to Constantinople Opel, where he married the emperor's daughter and 472 may again served as consul.

To Marcianus 479 skipped 474 for the succession of Leo I., rose, spurred on by the Dowager Empress Verina and the Heermeister Theodoric Strabo, with his brothers, Anthemius and Romulus against Zenon and demanded the throne. His partisans stormed the Imperial Palace, but were repulsed by loyal troops under the command of the Isaurian Illus. Marcian was ordained a presbyter and exiled to Tarsus ( according to another tradition to Caesarea in Cappadocia ), his wife Leontia entered the convent of the Akoimeten. Escaped with the help of monks, he instigated 480 in Galatia a renewed uprising that was put down by Trocundes. Marcian was again caught and fixed in the fortress Papyrios in Isauria.

The last sign of life Marcianus dates from the year 484, when freed him of the now also rebellious against Zenon Illus from prison and was proclaimed rival emperor again. Illus then decided but Leontius and sent Marcianus with an ( unsuccessful ) request for assistance to Italy to Odoacer.