Arsaber
Arsaber (Greek: Ἀρσαβήρ, from Armenian Arshavir), was a Byzantine noble who attempted an unsuccessful usurpation of the Byzantine throne in 808.
Arsaber was of noble of Armenian origin, holding the rank of patrikios, and had served as quaestor. In February 808, a group of secular and ecclesiastic officials, who were dissatisfied with the rule of Emperor Nikephoros I Logothetes (r. 802–811), formed a conspiracy and acclaimed Arsaber as emperor.[1] Nikephoros however discovered the plot and arrested the participants, who were beaten, their properties confiscated and exiled. Arsaber himself was tonsured and exiled to a monastery in Bithynia. Arsaber's daughter, Theodosia, was married to the future Emperor Leo V the Armenian (r. 813–820).[1] Leo, then a general and hitherto enjoying Nikephoros' favour, was exiled, likely on account of this connection to Arsaber.[2]
References
Sources
- Kazhdan, Alexander, ed. (1991), Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium, Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-504652-6