Smaragdus
Smaragdus (also smaragdos, Smaracdus ) was an East Roman Patrician and Exarch of Ravenna from 584/585 bis 589/590 and 603-608 (?).
Life
The imperial court official and eunuch Smaragdus replaced in the year 584/585 on behalf of the Emperor Maurikios his predecessor Decius. In this time he managed the Eastern Roman troops in Italy in conjunction with the Lombard Duke Droctulft, who rebelled against the new king Authari to clinch advantages over the Lombards, leading to the conclusion of a three-year truce (probably the end of 585 ). Pope Pelagius II leads in a letter this success to the efforts of the Smaragdus, which he calls Exarchus and Chartularius back.
Immediately after the conclusion of the armistice, the negotiations began on the Elimination of incurred as a result of the Three Chapters controversy rift between the bishops of Italy. Alone: they led nowhere. Since Smaragdus intervened by letting dragged away from Grado the new bishop Severus of Aquileia and the Bishops John of Parenzo, Severus of Trieste, Vindemius of Pago and the defensor ecclesiae (defender of the Church ) Anthony of Grado, a year in Ravenna held and forced to reunite with the Roman Church. Perhaps these events and the actions of schismatics in Constantinople Opel have the recall of Smaragdus brought about ( 589/90 ).
After the assassination of Maurikios and the accession of Phocas Smaragdus 603 was re-appointed to the Exarch. According to the sources, it is not unlikely that he had to eliminate his predecessor Callinicus first forcibly, as this probably would not recognize the usurper Phocas as emperor. In the two letters which Pope Gregory the Great wrote to the new emperor, the facilitation of the Pope expressed that the relations between the Bishop of Rome and the emperor in Constantinople improved Opel. Because the voltage with Maurikios must previously have already progressed very far, as was present in the last few years, probably not even a papal legate in Constantinople Opel.
In July 603 left Agilulf Mediolanum ( Milan ) and besieged with Avar auxiliary troops Cremona, which he captured on August 21. On September 13, Mantua fell, whose garrison he again dismissed to Ravenna. The castrum Vulturina ( Valdoria ) surrendered, and the garrison of Brexillus ( Brescello ) put their city on fire and fled. It also corresponded to the wishes of the Pope, that even a truce was concluded with the Lombards in 603, when the conditions for the Romans were not very honorable - even though they result of a happy catch, the Callinicus had made, the daughter and the son- the Lombard Agilulf in hands had. The new Exarch of Ravenna, patricius Smaragdus concluded in September 604 with the Lombards a nine -month truce. Agilulfs daughter was released to her husband and her children and went to Parma in Tuscany, the Lombards conquered after the ceasefire in April 605 cities Balneus Regis ( Bagnarea ) and Urbs Vetus ( Orvieto) before Smaragdus in November one year of peace for 12,000 solidi -bought.
Peace was later extended by three years ( 606-609 ), so that the ceasefire in Italy was almost not interrupted during the reign of Phocas. In connection with the occurrence of the government is against the schismatics. The schismatic Patriarch was compared with a Verdammer of the three chapters.
About the end of Smaragdus ' Exarchate there is no message. The last dates from the year 608, when he Romanum in honor of the emperor on the forum had erected the so-called Phocas Column in Rome. Maybe he lost his position ( and his life? ) In connection with the fall of Phocas in 610
Swell
- Paul the Deacon, Historia Langobardorum