Sittas

Sittas († 539 ) was an East Roman general of the 6th century.

A native of Goth was initially an elite soldier ( bucellarius ) and rose under Emperor Justin I initially on the dux, before he was appointed by Justinian I. 528 for Master of the Soldiers by Armeniam et Pontum Polemonicum. Sittas fought successfully against the Sassanids. Since 530 he held the influential office of magister militum praesentalis. He was considered a very capable military, but in modern terms ( probably thanks Prokopios of Caesarea ) is rather in the shadow of Belisarius; as he seems to have possessed considerable diplomatic skills. His meteoric career he owed not only his undoubted military competence but also its connection to the imperial family: He was the brother of the Empress Theodora, and possibly the father of the future Empress Sophia. 535 he won a significant victory over the (proto - ) Bulgarians, for which he was probably awarded the dignity of Patricius. Sittas found 539 in a skirmish with insurgent Armenians death.